Avoid rushing through meals
Avoid hurried meals because doing so can make your stomach produce more stomach acids. After meals, unwind, but don’t lie down; instead, try deep breathing exercises or meditation. Also, stay upright after eating to reduce the risk of acid splashing up your throat.
Rest after meals
Before indulging in strenuous exercise, wait a few hours after a meal to give your stomach a chance to empty. Don’t forget to stay upright while resting.
Chew sugar-free gum
Some study reveals that chewing gum after a large meal can lower acid levels in the esophagus and may help in preventing gastroesophageal reflux disease. This may help battle acid reflux and heartburn symptoms as well as freshen breath.
Talk to your doctor about your medication use
Some drugs, such as some NSAIDs, some blood pressure and heart meds, some hormone prescriptions, some asthma and depression drugs, can cause heartburn in various ways, just like different people’s food triggers can.
Heartburn: When to go to the Doctor
Heartburn that occurs at night or that gets worse could be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It can be brought on by a number of things, including eating particular foods, eating too close to bedtime, and using certain prescription medications. If lifestyle modification does not help you control your heartburn, it might be time for medication or another type of therapy.
Call your doctor if:
- Heartburn that won’t go away
- Having difficulty swallowing
- Your heartburn makes you throw up,
- Even after taking antacids for two weeks, you still get heartburn.
Consistent heartburn should never be ignored. At worst, it can be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can result in esophageal cancer. It can also scar and narrow your esophagus.
Key Takeaways
The influence of gravity on food passing through your digestive system is diminished when you are lying down. Many people find that their heartburn is worse at night. This is because lying down stops gravity from preventing bile and acids from flowing up into the esophagus and generating heartburn.
Learn more about Heartburn here.
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