1. Change Your Diet
Avoid high-acidic foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes and juices and those containing caffeine such as coffee, tea and chocolate. Likewise, eat low-fat and high-fiber foods to help increase the rate at which food moves along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Keep a food diary to help you identify which foods and beverages cause heartburn and work to reduce or eliminate those foods from your diet. Eat five to six small meals throughout the day and keep your body elevated for at least two hours after eating.
2. Put a Pack in Your Pocket
Chew gum to increase saliva production and prevent the symptoms of heartburn. A non-peppermint flavored gum chewed after a meal increases the amount of bicarbonate which helps to neutralize acid in the stomach. Likewise, chewing gum encourages peristalsis which is the coordinated muscle contraction of the GI tract that helps to move food through the alimentary canal.
3. Stop the Bad Habits
Adopt a healthy lifestyle by giving up vices that contribute to heartburn. The nicotine found in cigarettes weakens the esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to enter into the esophagus. In addition, alcohol can also cause heartburn. If you find you need to unwind after a stressful day, try exercising, yoga or meditation. Not only is exercise a healthy form of stress relief and an alternative to smoking and drinking alcohol, it may also help you lose the extra weight that may be contributing to recurrent heartburn.
4. Pop a Pill
Consult with your physician about taking an over the counter antacid or prescription strength heartburn medication. For episodic heartburn, an over the counter antacid, such as Mylanta or Alka Seltzer, can relieve a sour stomach and excess acid. Your doctor may prescribe a heartburn medication, such as Pepcid-AC or Tagamet HB, for persistent or severe heartburn. In either case you should take all heartburn medications according to the manufacturer's or doctor's direction and report all side effects, including abnormal fatigue, bleeding and irregular heartbeat, directly to your physician.
5. Recurring Heartburn Could Be Something Else
Determine if an underlying medical condition is responsible for your heartburn. A change in the lining of the lower esophagus, often caused by an over production of acid, is indicative of Barrett's esophagus. A doctor can diagnose Barrett's esophagus with an upper endoscopy and treat the heartburn-like symptoms accordingly. People with a hiatal hernia, the displacement of the organ through the protective muscle wall, experience similar symptoms to those suffering heartburn. In instances when you cannot alleviate the symptoms with lifestyle changes or medication, a doctor may perform surgery to reduce the size of the hernia.
