Heartburn is signified by a painful burning sensation in the chest that can feel like a heart attack to some people who experience it. It is caused when the cardiac sphincter located in the lower esophagus allows hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach back up into the esophagus. These tips will help you relieve heartburn and its painful symptoms.
Instructions
1. Avoid acidic foods. Foods with a high level of acid such as orange juice and tomatoes are known for increasing the risk of experiencing heartburn. However, if you are suffering with persistent heartburn you should also avoid mashed potatoes, ground beef, cottage cheese, sour cream, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and aspirin which have also been linked with causing heartburn.
2. Decrease your portion sizes. Eating smaller meals more often throughout the day will aide in the relief of heartburn because your stomach will not be forced to produce large amounts of acid in order to break down a large meal. Instead, less acid is necessary to digest a small meal meaning less acid to potentially end up in your esophagus causing heartburn.
3. Allow ample time for your food to digest before going to bed. Lying down after eating forces the stomach acids up into your esophagus causing heartburn. Eat your last meal of the day at least two to three hours before going to bed to provide sufficient time for your food to digest before lying down.
4. Shed excess weight. Extra weight puts more pressure on your esophagus which leads to heartburn. Losing the excess weight will alleviate the pressure and likely alleviate the heartburn as well.
5. Take a dose of soda water when you experience heartburn. Mix about one tablespoon of baking soda into an 8-ounce glass of water. Drink it quickly to relieve heartburn.
6. Use over-the-counter antacids to relieve heartburn symptoms.
7. Eat one banana every day to prevent heartburn.
8. Take one teaspoon of vinegar to cure heartburn symptoms.
9. Chew a stick of sugar-free gum after meals to prevent heartburn. The excess saliva created when you chew gum will help coat the esophagus and prevent heartburn.
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