| Dear
Reader, Welcome
to this week’s quick health capsule:
HeartBurn
Despite its name, heartburn doesn't affect the heart. Heartburn
is a burning feeling in the lower chest, along with a sour
or bitter taste in the throat and mouth. It usually occurs
after eating a big meal or while lying down. The feeling can
last for a few minutes or a few hours. Many things can make
heartburn worse. Heartburn is most common after overeating,
when bending over or when lying down. Pregnancy, clothing
that's so tight it puts pressure on your stomach, stress and
certain foods can also make heartburn worse
More»
Things
that can make heartburn worse
- Cigarette
smoking and Alcohol
- Coffee
(both regular and decaffeinated) and other drinks that contain
caffeine
- Citrus
fruits
- Chocolate,
mints or peppermints
- Fatty
foods or spicy foods (pizza, chili, curry)
- Excess
weight
- Aspirin
or ibuprofen (one brand name: Motrin)
Can
heartburn be serious?
If you
only have heartburn now and then, it's probably not serious.
However, if you have heartburn frequently, it can lead to esophagitis
(an inflamed lining of the esophagus). If esophagitis becomes
severe, your esophagus might narrow and you might have bleeding
or trouble swallowing. If you get more than occasional heartburn,
it may be a symptom of acid reflux disease of gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD), or even an inflamed stomach lining (gastritis)
or peptic ulcer
More»
Tips
on preventing heartburn
- Place
4- to 6-inch blocks under the legs at the head of the bed
to raise it.
- Try
to eat at least 2 to 3 hours before lying down. If you take
naps, try sleeping in a chair.
- Lose
weight if you're overweight.
- Don't
overeat.
- Avoid
tight clothes and tight belts.
- Avoid
foods and other things that give you heartburn
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