Heartburn produces a burning sensation in your upper chest and throat. The pain or discomfort can last for a few seconds, several minutes or hours. Heartburn may involve several factors, including foods and beverages that trigger symptoms. Caffeine in drinks or certain food items may cause heartburn. However, people respond differently to foods and may have their own particular triggers.
Products
Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees tend to increase acid secretion. Even many decaffeinated products contain some caffeine because manufacturers cannot remove all of it through the process. Chocolate often contains enough caffeine to cause heartburn. Some medicines contain caffeine, including pain relievers, cold remedies and prescription medications. Read the ingredients on product labels if you find caffeine results in heartburn.
Stress and Anxiety
Stress increases the risk of heartburn. Digestive problems worsen during stressful conditions, causing indigestion, bloating and stomach acid backup that causes heartburn. Caffeine interferes with your body's ability to combat stress by increasing stress hormones and causing dehydration. If you have a caffeine dependency with coffee, tea or sodas throughout the day, reducing or eliminating your intake will help you deal better with anxiety that results from stress, according to Psych Central. These stimulants may add heartburn symptoms to your reactions to stress. Reduce your intake gradually and replace your caffeinated drinks with water or natural fruit juices to help avoid dehydration.
Triggers
Heartburn is the result of acid reflux. Certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine, may relax an esophageal muscle to trigger acid reflux. The muscle normally opens as foods and drinks enter the stomach and then closes afterward. A weakened muscle does not contract tightly and allows the backup of stomach acid. Acid reflux and heartburn result. Other items known to trigger symptoms include fried foods, citrus fruits and tomato-based foods.
Dietary Changes
Overeating also causes acid reflux because of indigestion or other digestive problems that increase the risk of heartburn. While avoiding trigger foods and drinks helps control symptoms, eating frequent, smaller meals instead of three large meals during the day may reduce or eliminate symptoms. Add more fiber-rich foods to your diet and eat fewer high-fat foods. Fiber aids in digestion. High-fiber fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains also fill you up to satisfy your hunger. Cutting the size of fat portions in your diet and eating more natural, whole foods helps maintain a healthy weight. Excess pounds may increase heartburn symptoms by putting pressure on your abdomen. With a healthy diet and weight, you may be able to enjoy caffeine occasionally without the worry of heartburn.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Heartburn --- Prevention; June 2009
- Psych Central; Beating Stress Through Nutrition; Jane Collingwood; May 2007
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD); May 2007
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