mlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>
Each month Mayo Clinic brings you helpful tips to improve your health.
| | | Health Tips: Heartburn Relief | Hello ,
Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. The following lifestyle changes may eliminate or reduce the frequency of your symptoms:
Avoid your triggers — Most people have specific foods and beverages that trigger heartburn. Common offenders are fried or fatty foods, chocolate, mint, alcohol, coffee, carbonated beverages, onions, tomato-based and spicy foods, and citrus foods and juices.Lose excess weight — Excess pounds put pressure on your abdomen, which crowds your stomach and can cause acid backup.Avoid tightness at your waist — Reduce pressure on your abdomen by loosening your belt or by not wearing control-top stockings or body-shaping undergarments.Eat smaller meals — Doing so reduces pressure from the stomach on the lower esophageal sphincter and makes it less likely stomach acid will escape into your esophagus.Don’t lie down after a meal — Wait two to three hours after a meal before you lie down. If you nap, try doing so in a more upright reclining chair.Don’t use tobacco — Tobacco interferes with function of the lower esophageal sphincter.Raise the head of your bed — If you’re bothered by heartburn in the night, elevate the head of your bed 6 to 8 inches using blocks under the legs.An appointment with your doctor is warranted if these lifestyle changes don’t relieve your symptoms or if you have heartburn more than twice a week.
Yours in good health,
Daniel Roberts, M.D.Medical Editor, Mayo Clinic Health Letter | |
|
|
|
| Looking for more?Did you know 1 in 3 Americans regularly experiences some type of digestive difficulty — such as heartburn, gas, stomach acid, constipation, or a serious digestive disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis? Without a doubt, digestive problems are a day-to-day concern. Fortunately, Mayo Clinic can provide answers with Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health. | | LEARN MORE |
|
|
|
|
