Things You'll Need:
- Lifestyle changes
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Step 1
About half of the American public has problems with indigestion and heartburn. For some of us it is a lot more. The most common of the two is heartburn. A burning chest pain which occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus The esophagus has no protective lining as the stomach does. This can lead to irritation and even ulcers. Being overweight and of course being pregnant can increase your chance of heartburn due to the upward pressure of the abdominal area forcing the acid into the esophagus. Hiatal Hernia can be another reason for heartburn.
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Step 2
Heartburn caused by reflux can usually be controlled by diet and lifestyle changes. Start with a low fat diet which has a balance of protein, starches, fruit and vegetable's. Avoid fatty foods which will take longer to digest and this will slow the stomach from emptying out.
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Step 3
Avoid things which will cause acid to develop in higher amounts. Examples of these are coffee, soda, tea, and smoking. Stress is also a great way to get heartburn. AVOID IT! Anything with caffeine will increase your acid production as well. Today that is a real challenge. It seems they put caffeine in everything to keep us going in this hectic lifestyle.
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Step 4
Avoid spicy foods if this causes heartburn or indigestion for you.
Avoid large meals especially late in the day. Try not to eat 2 hours before bedtime. Stay upright after eating. Do not lay down, slouch or bend over after meals for this can force the acid into the esophagus. -
Step 5
Do not smoke, besides being totally bad for you it will increase the chance of a flare-up. Limit yourself to an occasional glass of wine or beer. If these steps do not work for you see your doctor.
Comments
goodselfme said
on 9/9/2009 Good tips to avoid heartburn.