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If you have ever had a burning sensation in your chest after eating a heavy, spicy or very fatty food, you are probably familiar with heartburn. Millions of people suffer from this unpleasant phenomenon, which is often caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including gastritis, ulcers, and acid reflux.

As a rule, the doctor prescribes medication for this symptom. However, a simple lifestyle change can help you get rid of heartburn. It is enough to reconsider eating habits, sleep regime, and tormenting heartburn will pass on its own.

What is acid reflux? What are the symptoms?

Acid reflux is a condition in which a small amount of stomach contents is thrown back into the esophagus. This is conditioned by that that cardial sphincter, which prevents food from returning to the esophagus, can be weakened and be opened for a long time.

Reflux is a safe condition if it is not repeated regularly. However, in case of frequent reflux, too much gastric juice passes into the esophagus, which leads to burning and painful sensations of the mucous membrane. Heartburn is often accompanied by a sour taste in the mouth, difficulty in coughing, and sometimes a cough or hiccup.

Other causes of heartburn

Some common foods, medicines that we eat and drink, stimulate the production of gastric juice, contributing to heartburn.

Here are some of them.

• alcohol,
• coffee,
• carbonated beverage
• Sour juices
• chocolate,
• confectionery,
• Sour fruits and vegetables,
• aspirin,
• Ibuprofen
• naproxen.

Smoking also leads to increased acidity. It reduces the cardiac pressure of the esophagus.

In addition, reflux can be caused by obesity, in which the stomach is pressed against the surrounding excess tissue.

Heartburn complications

If the recurrent irritations of the esophagus are ignored, the unpleasant reflux-esophagitis disease develops. It is a chronic disease in which ulcers or even bleeding can occur in the lower part of the esophagus. In this case, constipation occurs, as a result of which normal digestion is disturbed. In addition, changes in the cells can lead to the so-called Barrett's esophagus (abnormal pink mucous membrane in the esophagus) and even cancer.

How to get rid of heartburn?

Here are some helpful recommendations to prevent heartburn.

1. Do not eat too much. Try to eat slowly and less. Stop eating 2-3 hours before going to bed so your stomach could be able to empty, preventing reflux.
2. Get rid of excess weight. Getting rid of excess belly fat relieves pressure on the stomach. This reduces the risk of stomach contents passing into the esophagus.
3. Follow a low carb diet. Undigested carbohydrates can promote bacterial growth and increase blood pressure in the abdomen. Some researchers claim that this is one of the most common causes of acid reflux. In addition, excess carbohydrates lead to fermentation, which contributes to increased acid production.
4. Alcohol abuse can increase the symptoms of acid reflux. If you suffer from heartburn, alcohol restriction will significantly improve the functional state of the stomach and esophagus.
5. Do not abuse coffee. This popular drink can reduce the tonus of cardial sphincter and cause a heartburn.
6. Limit carbonated beverages or absolutely exclude them. They cause hiccup, which can lead to acid reflux.
7. Exclude fresh bread and butter buns. Dry rye breads cause significantly less heartburn.
8. Raise the head of the bed or use an extra pillow. This can reduce the possibility of reflux.
9. Sometimes in severe, excruciating heartburn you can use a mixture of baking soda and hot water (1 teaspoon of soda in half a glass of water). This is an effective way, but it should not be abused.
10. Use ginger infusion․ It is the oldest proven method against heartburn.