Blog Stuck On You

Chronic heartburn is a problem that millions of people face each day. In fact, some people even begin dreading meals in fear of the chronic heartburn they may experience after they finish eating. Unfortunately, many of the people do not realize that chronic heartburn is not simply caused by the foods you eat. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid travels up into the esophagus and sometimes the windpipe. This happens most often when you lie down or bend over although, it can happen when you are sitting in an upright position or standing as well. Chronic heartburn can cause a lot of discomfort. It can make you feel like you are choking, cause chest pains and even wake you dramatically from a sound sleep.

Foods that make chronic heartburn worse include fatty foods, fried foods, chocolate and tomatoes. Beverages that can increase the symptoms include alcohol, caffeine and citrus juices. These foods and beverages can relax the esophageal sphincter muscles and increase the risk of the acid traveling back up the tube. Other things that can cause chronic heartburn symptoms is overeating and skipping meals. When you skip a meal you are more likely to overeat when you do have a meal. The more food you eat the more acid your stomach has to create and this puts you at a higher risk of suffering from heartburn. It is also best not to eat within a few hours of going to bed to help reduce these symptoms.

Other conditions that contribute to chronic heartburn include smoking tobacco, being overweight and wearing tight clothing. Anything that puts pressure on the abdomen, such as tight clothing, can press the contents in your stomach upward towards your esophagus. Being overweight puts a lot of pressure around the stomach area and losing a few pounds can greatly ease your symptoms. If you smoke and suffer from chronic heartburn it is advised that you quit or cut back as much as possible to relieve these symptoms. You can also try sleeping with your head elevated to relieve some of the pressure at night.

It is important that you learn what conditions trigger your chronic heartburn and that you take measures to avoid these things. Try the tips and suggestions above to see if you can get relief from this condition, but if the symptoms persist then you need to seek professional help. Do not leave chronic heartburn untreated because over time it can cause more serious problems to develop and do serious damage to your esophagus. The sooner you get it under control the better off you will be.

Tags: Health, Exercise, Fitness