Control Your Symptoms
Heartburn, a burning sensation behind your breastbone, typically occurs just after a meal and is usually not serious or life-threatening. However, frequent heartburn can interfere with daily activities, inhibit productivity and lead to health complications.
If you experience occasional heartburn, try these tips to reduce symptoms.
- Remain upright immediately after eating.
- Elevate the head of your bed four to six inches when you sleep at night.
- Lose weight if you are overweight.
- Stop smoking.
- Eat small, more frequent meals rather than large meals.
- Avoid consuming chocolate, coffee, alcohol, fried food, fatty foods, mint products (peppermint, spearmint), carbonated beverages, citrus fruits or juices, tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, vinegar and aspirin.
Don't add feelings of shame, blame and guilt to your heartburn discomfort. Lifestyle habits and the foods and beverages you eat and drink may intensify your symptoms, and you have the power to change those habits. But know that there are also biological causes for heartburn and that, for some people, lifestyle alone is not the sole cause.
Severe or chronic heartburn may indicate a more serious condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).