How to Reduce the Risk of Heartburn Symptoms



Heartburn is an uncomfortable and sometimes painful symptom of acid reflux, which can cause chest pain, a sour taste in the mouth, and difficulty swallowing. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to reduce the risk of experiencing heartburn symptoms.

1. Avoid Trigger Foods: Certain foods and drinks can trigger heartburn symptoms by irritating the lining of your esophagus, including citrus fruits and juices, tomato-based products, spicy foods, fatty or fried foods, garlic and onions, caffeine-containing beverages (such as coffee), alcoholic beverages (especially red wine), mints and chocolate. Try to limit or avoid these items if you experience frequent heartburn.

2. Eat Smaller Meals: Eating large meals puts pressure on your stomach which can cause stomach acid to back up into your esophagus. To reduce this risk opt for smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large meals a day.

3. Don’t Lie Down After Eating: Lying down after eating allows stomach acid to travel up into your esophagus more easily so it’s best to wait at least two hours after eating before lying down or going to bed for the night.

4. Lose Weight: Excess weight puts pressure on your abdomen which makes it easier for stomach acid to back up into your esophagus so try to maintain a healthy weight with regular exercise and a balanced diet if you’re overweight or obese.

5. Quit Smoking: Smoking relaxes the valve between the esophagus and stomach which allows stomach acid to travel more easily up into your throat causing irritation that leads to heartburn symptoms so quitting smoking is recommended if you suffer from frequent heartburn episodes.

6. Elevate Your Head While Sleeping: Elevating your head while sleeping can help reduce nighttime episodes of heartburn by keeping stomach acid where it belongs - in the stomach - instead of traveling up into your throat while lying flat on your back during sleep time hours . You can use special pillows designed specifically for this purpose or simply stack extra pillows underneath your head before going off to sleep each night .

Tags:

Heartburn, Acid Reflux, Chest Pain, Sour Taste, Difficulty Swallowing, Trigger Foods, Smaller Meals, Lying Down After Eating, Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, Elevate Head While Sleeping,

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