Acid Heartburn - Hints and TIPS:
Most of the time it isn't necessary to suffer from heartburn
or rather the effects can be dramatically reduced. The
following information is included to provide some additional
useful techniques on reducing or eliminating your heartburn.
Heartburn can be helped by making changes in your diet.
So what exactly is heartburn?
Heartburn is a burning feeling in your chest and can often
be experienced after eating, though people will suffer it at
other times. Sometime severe heartburn is also felt in the
throat. Heartburn is also a very common problem during
pregnancy.
Heartburn usually isn't serious, but can be very
uncomfortable.
Follow these tips to help relieve acid heartburn symptoms:
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Eat small meals instead of three big meals.
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Avoid greasy fried or spicy foods.
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Avoid citrus foods which are acidic and bring on
heartburn.
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Avoid tobacco and alcohol.
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Wear clothing that is loose around your waist.
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Do not lie down after eating.
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Sleep with the head of your bed elevated.
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Do not take baking soda.
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Sipping on water, milk, carbonated water or small amounts
of yogurt.
It is also the case that certain
medications can cause heartburn, these include apparently
minor medicines like aspirin or ibuprofen. These tips are
provided as exactly that 'tips, and are not intended as
medical guidance so please check with your physician.
Heartburn tips
8 foods that can worsen heartburn:
1. Chocolate
2. Peppermint
3. Fatty foods
4. Coffee
5. Alcoholic beverages
6. Citrus fruits
7. Tomato products
8. Pepper
Source: National Digestive Diseases
Information Clearinghouse (NIH)
Is heartburn ever serious?
If heartburn is severe or persistent and does not respond to
medication, it could be a symptom of a more serious
condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD
(see potential symptoms.) If left untreated, GERD can cause
or contribute to a wide range of problems such as
inflammation and ulcers of the esophagus (called esophagitis).
Some patients with esophagitis develop
strictures (narrowing of the esophagus due to scar tissue)
which can lead to problems swallowing food or pills. GERD
can also contribute to asthma, pneumonia, hoarseness,
chronic cough, abnormal functioning of larynx and dental
problems.
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Additionally, people with GERD also
have a higher risk of developing Barrett's esophagus, a
condition marked by severe damage to the lining of the
esophagus and possibly linked to an increased risk of cancer
of the esophagus.
Fortunately, both heartburn and the
symptoms of GERD can be treated, and many of these
complications can be avoided with proper monitoring from a
physician.
This information supplied courtesey of
the Heartburn Alliance, see:
http://www.heartburnalliance.org/section3/1005.jsp |
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