Top tips to fix Heartburn

Tips to  Fix your Reflux ( Heartburn).

The  acid refluxing up from the stomach into the esophagus leads to heart burn, reflux esophagitis. The burning sensation below the breast bone.

“The main cause of the reflux is when the lower esophageal sphincter, the valve or ring of muscle between the stomach and the esophagus, opens when it’s not supposed to.”

It is a very common problem. Here are some tips to fix Heart burn

1. Lose weight. Your reflux symptoms will regress
2. Sleep with at least a 9-inch incline. This means your head and neck are at least 9 inches above your stomach. Keep head end of your bed elevated. The bed may appear slanting but it will help.
3. Eat smaller portions and lower fat meals so that contents of your stomach do not go up and irritate esophagus

4. Don’t lie down within 3 hours of eating. Make sure that at least 3 hours have passed between your last meal and the time you lie down to go to sleep, especially if you’ve been experiencing nighttime heartburn. Your stomach needs 3 to 4 hours to empty the contents of a meal. Should you lie down before then, if that sphincter valve does open, there’s no gravity to prevent the stomach contents from moving into your esophagus.

5. Move! Get up and move around or go for a walk after a meal, rather than dropping on the couch immediately to watch several uninterrupted hours of TV.

6. Sleep on your left side. When you sleep on an incline, sleep on your left side. A study done at Cleveland Clinic 10 years ago showed that doing so separates any acidic stomach contents from the lower esophageal sphincter.

7. Avoid excessive coffee, hot tea, chocolates and red pepper.

8.Never smoke

A word of caution. Do not attribute chest discomfort to reflux get evaluated to rule out cardiac cause. But if you have typical symptoms of sour erructation, water brash and anti acids relieve your symptoms then it is likely reflux.

In fact, there are several types of medicines available over the counter to treat heartburn. Medicines such as Chewable anti acid tablets can help to  neutralize acid.
Consult your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after above life style modification.
You may require further investigations.
Have a good day

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