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Heart Burning Sensation Troubling You Too Often? Soothe It With These Tips

Healthy Trends

Heartburn, that agonizing burning feeling that shoots at the center of the chest, is a common digestive ailment. It’s the consequence of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), commonly known as acid reflux, in which stomach acid exudes upward from the tummy into the throat. The sensation can be quite unpleasant and uncomforting, to say the least.

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Gastroenterology Consultants of San Antonio | Heartburn is the result of GERD or acid reflux

While acid reflux mustn’t be overlooked, if you suffer from this ailment regularly, there are a few things you can do to soothe it at home, without having to rush to the doctor every time.

Organize your meals properly

What you consume contributes tremendously to acid reflux or heartburn. However, it’s important to remember that the timings of your meals also play a major role. Try to abide by the ‘smaller meals’ formulae (not eating at least 3 hours before bed, and not exercising or laying down just after eating).

Tilt your upper-body alongside a bed wedge

Raising your upper-body alongside a wedge-formed pillow lowers the stress on the LES and helps relieve night-time acid reflux. You can buy a physician prescribed a pillow wedge from a clinical shop. Avoid make-shift beg-wedges to prop your shoulders and head up with cushions. They can worsen heartburn.

Read – Guide to Buying the Best wedge pillows

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Medgadget | One solution to heartburn is sleeping with the upper-body propped up on a bed wedge

Discover your food triggers and avoid them

A few drinks and food items escalate the secretion of acid, delay stomach clearing, or loosen the LES. The most common culprits are spicy foods, fatty foods, garlic, tomatoes, coffee, milk, cola, tea, chocolate, and peppermint. Observe which of these troubles you the most and try to minimize their consumption.

Keep a close check on your medications

Consult your doctor to find out if any medicines you’re consuming are likely to worsen acid reflux. For instance, tricyclic antidepressants including amitriptyline relax the LES, and antibiotic medications such as doxycycline can cause inflammation in the esophagus.

Read – Antibiotics are known to cause side-effects. Then why do doctors prescribe them?

Maintain your body weight

Extra fat puts stress on your stomach, which can compel acid into your throat or esophagus. This is probably why several women experience heartburn during pregnancy.

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CNET | Keeping body weight in check is also advised since overweight people often suffer from acid reflux and consequent heartburn

Eat sugarless chewing gums after meals

Chewing gum leads to salivation, which assists in neutralizing stomach acid. It also helps calm the esophagus by washing down corrosive materials. But you should avoid peppermint-flavored chewing gums in particular as they might trigger acid reflux more than the rest of the flavors.

Stop smoking

You might not know this, but smoking also contributes to acid reflux. While you may consider it to be a go-to coping technique when you’re not comfortable, smoking will most likely give you severe heartburn.

The takeaway

When heartburn shoots up, over-the-counter treatments and some home remedies may provide help. Likewise, changing your lifestyle can also help cure acid reflux symptoms from evolving. But if all of this doesn’t give you the relief you’re looking for, do consult your doctor. They can guide you on how you can deal with the issue.

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