Heartburn is an uncomfortable but common feeling of burning or warmth in the chest. Although the pain of heartburn is felt in the chest, heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. Instead, heartburn is caused by stomach acid.

Read more on Home Remedies for Acidity and Herbal Remedies for Heartburn and Herbal Supplement

Causes of Hyperacidity and Heartburn

The two problems have been associated with anxiety, tension and worry, constipated individuals, those with flatulence, those who do not partake of food at regular intervals, and those whose food habits are abusive to the body, some medical conditions and systemic illnesses like hyperthyroidism.

Alcohol abuse, smoking, carbonated drinks, fast and fried foods, hot and spicy foods must be particularly noticed as causative in nature.

Tomato sauce, citrus fruits and chocolates have also been deemed as possible causative factors.

Lying down immediately after meals, wearing uncomfortably tight clothes or belts or drinking orange juice on an empty stomach are probable reasons too.

Symptoms

The symptoms of heartburn are very easy to spot. That is because you do not see them, you feel them. Thus, they are very hard to turn a blind eye to. Most of the time, you will feel burning pain in your chest at the onset of your heartburn. This is a feeling that is most likely going to be felt just under your breast bone. This is a pain that may just get worse if you lie down or bend over. Eating more food is always a bad idea as well.

A lot of people get heartburn at night if they eat too close to bedtime. When they go to lay down, the onset of their heartburn starts up.

Treatment

If your heartburn is not too bad, then heartburn treatment is easy to find. In fact, you can go to your local store and find some heartburn relief. These are known as antacids. They are used to neutralize your stomach acid which will keep it from burning your esophagus. If that does not work, then your doctor may have to give you H 2 receptor blockers. These are taken to actually reduce the amount of acid your body makes.

Heartburn Diet Tips

Heartburn Diet Tips to make necessary dietary modifications:

1. Decrease total fat intake – High fat meals tend to decrease LES pressure and delay stomach emptying thereby increasing the risk of reflux.

2. Avoid large meals – Large meals increase the likelihood of increased gastric (stomach) pressure and reflux.

3. Decrease total caloric intake if weight loss is desired – Since obesity can promote reflux, weight loss may be suggested by your healthcare provider to control reflux. Reducing both total fat and caloric intake will aid in weight loss.

4. Avoid chocolate for healthy Heartburn Diet- Chocolate contains methylxanthine, which has been shown to reduce LES pressure by causing relaxation of smooth muscle.

Prevention Tips for Heartburn

1. Monitor which foods cause you to suffer heartburn. Often times, eliminating certain gas forming foods (such as beans, cabbage, cucumbers and onions) from the diet, brings an end to suffering.

2. Eat at a dinner table in an upright, sitting position.

3. Go for a small walk after eating, which will help stimulate the digestive system.

4. Don’t chew gum before meals, which also causes one to swallow air.

5. Never exercise following a large meal.

6. Avoid wearing tight or restrictive clothing.

7. Chew food thoroughly and slowly, allowing for a leisurely meal.

8. Don’t consume alcohol with food.

More Heartburn Articles