If you’ve ever had heartburn, you know that it’s not a pleasant sensation. There are various recommendations on what to do if you have heartburn frequently. Some of these suggestions work, and others don’t. You may need to pay more attention to how often you get these heartburns.
Severe heartburns are a real thing, and many are unaware. Having back-to-back heartburn is something that you don’t want to have or experience. If that sounds like something you’re having now, then it’s time to look further into it and maybe speak to your doctor.
What is Heartburn?
An uncomfortable feeling in the middle of your chest is what heartburn feels like to most people. The majority of the time, this feeling happens after eating a meal. The acid in your stomach finds its way to the esophagus, which causes a burning pain in your chest area.
The pain can worsen if you lie down or bend down while having this sensation. If you’re occasionally getting heartburn, you might need to consider what you are eating. Occasional heartburn is normal and ultimately inevitable, especially if you like spicy foods.
Now imagine having this pain back-to-back every time you eat a meal. This is when you need to take a step back and think about what could be causing this. Frequent heartburn can interfere with your daily routine and end up being a symptom of something bigger or cause something bigger down the line.
Foods & Other Things That Cause Heartburn
- Spicy foods
- High-Fat foods
- Coffee & Caffeinated drinks
- Citrus fruits & juices
- Tomato products
- Chocolate & Peppermint
- Carbonated Drinks like soda
- Onions
- Alcohol
- Wearing tight clothes and belts
- High-Stress Levels
- Being overweight
- Certain medications (aspirin, ibuprofen, blood pressure prescriptions)
Treating Your Heartburn
Heartburn is usually treated with antacids. Antacids reduce the amount of stomach acid you have, which eventually relieves your heartburn. This medication is also used for stomach upsets, indigestion, and other stomach pains. There are many off-the-counter antacids that work just fine. Also, know that it is important to follow the instructions on the label for it to be effective.
There are some side effects to antacids, but for the most part, they are not significant. These side effects include constipation, diarrhea, white or pale bowel movements, and stomach cramps. If you overuse antacids, you are at risk for severe side effects. So, it is advised only to take it as needed.
What Happens If You Ignore Your Severe Heartburn For Too Long
To answer this, we have to go back to what heartburn is. The acid from your stomach is coming up into your esophagus, and that is what causes the pain in your chest. In reality, acid should not be getting to your esophagus at all. The acid in your stomach is very strong, which is why there is a burn. If your heartburn is severe and frequent, the acid coming up is damaging your esophagus. This damage can lead to cancer if not taken care of as soon as possible.
Prevent Your Heartburn
As mentioned earlier, some foods cause heartburn. If these foods are avoided or enjoyed in moderation, you can see that your heartburn frequency will reduce. There are additional ways to prevent heartburn. No one wants that burning sensation frequently, so it’s best to find a way to avoid or prevent it.
How to Prevent Heartburn
- Don’t go to bed with a full stomach: Try and have your last meal 3 to 4 hours before you go to bed and lie down.
- Eat Slowly: Eating slowly can prevent heartburn, so try not to eat quickly.
- Avoid certain foods & overeating: Check out the list of foods above and try eating them in moderation or avoiding them in general. In addition, cutting down your portion size reduces the risk of heartburn.
- Wear loose clothing: Tight clothing and belts can restrict your stomach, and that can cause acid to come back up. So, wearing looser clothing can assist with this.
- Maintain a healthy weight: It has been proven that maintaining a healthy weight can relieve heartburn. If you exercise, you can wait at least 2 hours after your meal before your exercise, and that won’t trigger your heartburn.
- Raise the head of your bed: By raising the head of your bed, your head and chest are higher than your feet. Using a pile of pillows is not ideal; this can put more pressure on your stomach and make your heartburn worse, so keep that in mind.
- Don’t Smoke: Nicotine is known to weaken the valve that separates your esophagus and stomach. So, know this can worsen your heartburn and isn’t good for your health.
Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
Other than the pain that comes with heartburn, there are other symptoms that come along with it. You should visit your primary care physician if you have these symptoms frequently.
Here is a list of symptoms that you should not ignore.
- A burning chest pain after eating and occurs at night
- Bitter or acidic taste in the mouth
- Pain that gets worse when lying or bending down
- Becomes hard or hurts to swallow
- You have weight loss and difficulty eating
- Your heartburn causes you to vomit
- You continue taking over-the-counter antacids for more than 2 weeks
- You have discomfort that disrupts your daily activities.
Catch these symptoms before they get worse. Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider and discuss your severe heartburn.
Resources
Mayo Clinic: Heartburn Overview
WebMD: Treatment Tips for Severe Chronic Heartburn
Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health-related topics. If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult your health care provider and seek professional medical treatment. Some of the information and content in this blog has linked materials. The links should and are not intended to be construed as medical advice and should not be supplemented as medical advice. If you think you may have a medical emergency, locate emergency services or dial 911.
