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Latest News
Resolved – No More Heartburn
More than half of those who make New Year’s resolutions are making self-improvement or health-related goals: Stop smoking. Change your eating habits. Get more exercise. All of those are good, and if you suffer from heartburn, committing to these positive changes may finally cool down that searing sensation in your chest after meals.
The problem, also known as acid reflux, happens when stomach acid escapes and irritates the esophagus. So, if your 2012 New Year’s resolution is to live without your chest on fire, here are some steps on how to succeed and keep heartburn under control:
Avoid acidic, fatty, spicy and caffeinated food and drink.
Eat small portions at each meal. The more food you eat, the more stomach acid is produced. More acid increases the risk of reflux.
Quit smoking cigarettes. Smoking reduces the amount of saliva you produce, relaxes the opening between the esophagus and the stomach, and increases stomach acid.
Get moving. A brisk walk or some other form of moderate exercise has been shown to help reduce heartburn, most likely because it cuts body mass index. Being overweight is a risk factor for heartburn. (Don’t eat right before exercising though, or it may bring on the pain.) Bear in mind that intense aerobic exercise can have the opposite effect and actually may cause acid reflux in some people.
Keep track of triggers. Whip out a small notebook or the notes app on your phone every time you have an attack of heartburn. Write down what you ate and what you did (or did not do) right before the pain started. When you see a pattern, address it. If you clutch your chest any time you eat onions, stay away from onions. Maybe you need to wait a few hours after eating before heading out to the gym. Write everything down, and cause and effect should become clearer to you.