OVERINDULGED? Tips for Treatment and Prevention of Heartburn
Reflux, commonly known as heartburn can cause a burning discomfort or pain in the chest usually after eating. With almost 1 in 5 of Australians experiencing some form of reflux once a week, it is a common ailment that tends to be more prevalent during the holidays when rich food and drink are a plen
What causes Heartburn?
Heartburn occurs when the stomach contents leak out of the stomach up into the oesophagus. This can be due to a weakening of the ring of muscle that allows food into your stomach, or if your stomach is producing a lot of acid, such as in when people are stressed.
Heartburn can also occur during pregnancy. The combination of pregnancy hormones and the upward pressure of the baby on the stomach makes reflux a common discomfort experienced by pregnant women.
What to do?
- 1. Enjoy Smaller Portions.
Eating smaller, more frequent meals instead of large meals, will decrease the amount of acid produced the stomach and create less pressure to force food upwards.
- 2. Avoid Trigger Foods
Food that can commonly trigger heartburn include
- coffee and cola drinks
- citrus fruits, capsicum, tomatoes
- chocolate
- fatty, or spicy food
- alcohol
3. Avoiding lying down soon after a meal. Minimize food intake before sleep by not eating 2-3 hours before bedtime. This allows time for the stomach to empty, decreasing the chance of reflux.
4.Use Gravity and Elevate the head of your bed Alternatively use pillows so you are raised from the waist up. Using gravity can help keep reflux under control.
5. Shed the extra Kilos Losing weight can help decrease fat around the stomach and intestines, decreasing pressure on the stomach that forces food to leak out.
Treatment for Heartburn
Antacids, such as GAVISCON are a fast and effective way of alleviating the discomfort caused by heartburn. Other drug options are available without a prescription if you are considering an alternative. Chat to your Chemsave pharmacist about what is the most suitable treatment for your symptoms.
References:
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/gord-symptoms
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/indigestion
Posted in: Health hub
