1. Feeling the Burn
Nighttime heartburn can be dangerous because the acid from your stomach creeps into your esophagus and can stay there all night. Acid in your esophagus can damage the lining, which leads to scar tissue; in some cases, it can even cause esophagus cancer. Before you try medication, you should take a hard look at your eating habits to see if they're the culprit. But if lifestyle changes don't improve your nighttime heartburn, seek medical attention so you can get relief before you do serious damage to your health.
2. Heartburn Home Remedies
There are some simple things you can try on your own to eliminate nighttime heartburn. Start by skipping your late night snack, as this can trigger heartburn. If that doesn't work, lift the head of your bed 4 inches or more from the floor by placing bricks or boards underneath the legs. Raising your head while you sleep helps prevent acid reflux, the condition that leads to acid backup in your esophagus. Lifting your bed helps gravity force the acids back into your stomach. Chew gum before you go to bed, as this increases the amount of saliva you produce, which in turn helps prevent acid reflux.
3. Live the Heartburn-Free Life
Acid reflux is a serious issue, but it's usually a condition you can control with healthy living. If you smoke, stop immediately. Get regular exercise to maintain your weight. Both smoking and obesity increase the frequency and the severity of heartburn. Keep a food diary and learn what foods triggers your acid reflux. The most common triggers are fatty foods, acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus fruits, carbonated drinks and caffeine products. Eliminate those from your diet to see if that helps you reduce your heartburn symptoms.
4. Extinguish the Fire With Medication
Try some of the over-the-counter heartburn medications to see if they provide you with the relief you need. If not, take your food diary and a list of all of your medications to your doctor. Some medications can cause heartburn, so your doctor may be able to substitute them for less abrasive alternatives. You may also want to try overt-the-counter heartburn medicine, such as histamine-2 blockers like Zantac or Pepcid to block the production of stomach acid. Or you might get a prescription for proton pump inhibitors, commonly known as PPIs, such as Previcid or Prilosec. PPIs are stronger than histamine-2 blockers and reduce acid for longer periods of time to prevent heartburn.
