Heartburn is extremely uncomfortable yet extremely common, and the causes are not always clear. For some people, heartburn may be attributed to certain foods or eating habits, for others heartburn may be attributed to tight clothing, excess weight, or smoking. There are also many different ways to relieve heartburn, from changing your eating habits, adopting a new sleeping position, and trying over the counter or prescription medicines. Keep reading to learn more about how to relieve heartburn.
Part 1 Changing Your Eating Habits and Changing Bad Habits
Pay attention to the foods that cause heartburn for you. While there are some common foods that cause heartburn, everyone has different trigger foods. Keep track of the foods that seem to cause heartburn for you and try to avoid or at least limit your intake of those foods.Try keeping a food diary to help you keep track of the foods that cause you heartburn. Common heartburn trigger foods include peppermint, caffeine, sodas, chocolate, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, onions, and high-fat foods.
1 Quit smoking. Not only does smoking cause cancer and many other health problems, it may also be the cause of your heartburn. Smoking has been linked with heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
2 Stop eating a bad food and alcohol at least three hours before bedtime. Plan to have your last meal of the day at least three hours before bedtime, since your body requires about two hours to digest the food that you have eaten. If you lay down while there is still food in your stomach, you have a higher chance of getting heartburn.
3 Eat your food slowly. One study found that eating your food too quickly can increase the risk of heartburn. People who eat their food too fast are also more likely to suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. Take your time while you are eating to eliminate fast eating as a factor in your heartburn. Try putting down your fork between bites and chewing your food more to help slow yourself down while you eat.
4 Drink a glass of low-fat or skim milk as a snack between meals. The calcium in milk can act as a temporary acid buffer, which may help to relieve your heartburn. Keep in mind that the effects of drinking milk are only temporary, so you may need to use other methods to help stave off heartburn. A cup of yogurt might provide the same benefit as drinking milk, helping to relieve heartburn.
5 Chew a piece of sugar-free gum after meals. Chewing gum causes your mouth to produce more saliva, which acts as an acid buffer. While you chew gum you also swallow more often, pushing acid back down into your stomach. Chew a piece of gum for 30 minutes after each meal to help relieve heartburn symptoms.
6 Sip a cup of herbal tea after meals. Some studies have found that chamomile and licorice tea are effective against heartburn symptoms when taken after a meal. Chamomile and licorice both have anti-inflammatory properties, which may be why they help to relieve heartburn for some people. Try both kinds of tea to see if either one works for you. Ginger has also been found effective against heartburn. You can make your own ginger tea by adding a few slices of fresh ginger to boiling water. Cover the water and allow the ginger to steep for 30 minutes before drinking. For best results, drink ginger tea about 20 minutes before a meal. Be aware that licorice should not be used long term because it contains a chemical called glycyrrhizin, which can cause tissue swelling and high blood pressure. As with any herbal medicine, talk to your doctor first.
7 Try Intra Herbal Juice 20 minutes before meals and when a Heartburn occurs
- Tips
Try eating an apple or banana every day. These fruits contain natural antacids that may help relieve your heartburn over time. - Try apple cider vinegar. Some people find relief by drinking a mixture of 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar in 8 ounces of water before each meal.
- Try either an aspirin or roll-aids. Snacking on carrots may help. Carrots contain alkaline compounds that help neutralize the acids in your throat.
8 Lose weight. Being overweight is thought to be a contributor to heartburn because the excess fat on your abdomen puts pressure on your stomach and may force your stomach contents back up into your esophagus. Studies have shown that a drastic weight loss is not necessary to help relieve heartburn caused by being overweight. Even a small weight loss, 5 to 10% of your body weight, may help relieve your heartburn. To lose weight, try to limit calories to 1800 to 2000 kcal a day, while also exercising for 30 minutes five times per week. You can use a fitness tracker or application to log your food and keep track of your activity.
9 Wear loose fitting clothing. Tight pants and belts may be contributing to your heartburn by causing too much pressure on your abdomen and causing your stomach contents to back up. Make sure that your pants fit comfortably and that you do not wear your belt too tight. Choose clothing that is a size too big or that has an elastic waistband if your heartburn is severe.
10 Change your usual sleeping position. If you often suffer from nighttime heartburn, there are two positions that seem to be the most effective against heartburn: sleeping on your left side and sleeping with your upper body elevated. Try one or both of these sleep positions to see if either one helps to relieve your heartburn. Sleeping on your left side helps aid digestion. Try sleeping on your left side if elevating your upper body does not seem to help.
11 Relax every day. Stress may contribute to your heartburn symptoms by causing your stomach to produce more stomach acid. Incorporating relaxation techniques into your daily routine, especially after you eat, may help to relieve heartburn. Try meditation, yoga, massage, Intra, aromatherapy, deep breathing, or something else to help yourself relax every day.
- Warnings
When heartburn symptoms become severe, keep you up at night, or occur at least twice a week, you may have Acid Reflux Disease. If not controlled, this can lead to esophageal cancer. - Chronic use of Proton Pump inhibitors may be associated with a slight increase in risk of bone fracture and vitamin B-12 deficiency.
- If you are having chest pain and you think that you might be having a heart attack, seek medical attention immediately.
- Heartburn, also known as acid indigestion, is a burning sensation in the central chest or upper central abdomen. The pain[citation needed] often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. Heartburn is usually due to regurgitation of gastric acid (gastric reflux) into the esophagus and is the major symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD). In about 0.6% of cases it is a symptom of ischemic heart disease.
Source: Google.com, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, wikihow.com
Heartburn, also known as acid indigestion, is a burning sensation in the central chest or upper central abdomen. The pain[citation needed] often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. Heartburn is usually due to regurgitation of gastric acid (gastric reflux) into the esophagus and is the major symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD). In about 0.6% of cases it is a symptom of ischemic heart disease. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
