Chronic heartburn is that which occurs at least two times a week, and it is the major symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Heartburn gets its name from the awful burning sensation you feel in the middle of your chest. This is actually stomach acid surging into your esophagus due to the opening of the stomach staying open and letting the overflowing acid move upwards. Treatment ranges from medication to lifestyle changes to surgery. While heartburn once in a while is common, if it is happening regularly, you must see a doctor.
Step 1
Write up a list of foods that you know aggravate your heartburn and avoid them. Add to the list the foods that NYU Medical Center says are to be avoided in general when dealing with GERD: fatty, acidic and spicy foods; peppermint; alcohol, carbonated drinks and coffee; chocolate and dairy products; and strong tea. Columbia University includes spearmint as something else to avoid. Show the list to your doctor to ensure you haven't missed any potential problem foods.
Step 2
Adjust your diet to include lower-fat foods and leaner proteins. Columbia University notes that fattier substances keep the sphincter between your esophagus and stomach open for a longer time, increasing the chances of reflux.
Step 3
Avoid physically stressing your stomach through stretching or squeezing it. Eat small meals and wear looser clothes.
Step 4
Avoid psychological stress as well -- keep mealtime calm.
Step 5
Stay upright after meals so food can't flow back out into a horizontal esophagus. Wait from two to four hours, with three to four being a common recommendation from institutions such as Penn State and NYU Medical Center.
Step 6
Lead a healthy life -- lose weight, avoid snacking and get a proper amount of exercise. Stop smoking as well.
Step 7
Adjust the head end of your bed so it is raised up by about 6 inches. Use sturdy material to raise the mattress. Don't use lots of pillows as a cheap substitute. The University of Pennsylvania warns that sleeping on a bunch of pillows can make your body "jackknife," constricting your stomach and adding pressure rather than relieving it.
Step 8
Review your medications with your doctor to determine which might be contributing to the reflux. Medications like beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, sedatives and some asthma medicines can increase the risk of GERD.
Step 9
Discuss with your doctor whether surgery or medication plus lifestyle changes might be a better course of action. Repeated, chronic heartburn can change the lining of the esophagus and lead to a precancerous condition called Barrett's esophagus about 10 percent of the time. Progression to full-fledged esophageal cancer happens in about 5 percent of those cases. In an interview with the University of Cincinnati Academic Medical Center's Health Line, Dr. Thomas Husted says, "When the problem is identified early, surgery can stop the tissue changes that lead to esophageal cancer."
