Have you ever had that terrible and unpleasant burning feeling in your chest? That could be indigestion, also known as heartburn, and affects more people than you realise. The good news is, the causes are well-known and there are plenty of ways to treat and prevent indigestion from happening again.
Ways to get heartburn
1. Any acidic foods
Any food that contains a lot of acid, like oranges and lemons, causes the acid level in your stomach to increase. If you have too much, that acid will rise into your oesophagus (or throat) causing a burning and uncomfortable pain in your chest. Another big culprit is fizzy cooldrinks! The gas itself is acidic and may be behind your indigestion.
Other foods that may cause heartburn:
- Spicy food
- Fatty food/ Fried food
- Too much dairy
- Too much alcohol
2. How you eat
Other than being very specific about the foods that cause heartburn, you also need to look out for how much you eat! Overeating is one of the main causes of indigestion and if it happens to you quite often, you’d better avoid a second helping – portion control is very important! You can make a significant difference by buying a smaller plate and using that instead of a bigger plate.
Ways to beat heartburn
1. Buy an antacid
The name sounds a bit silly, but an antacid is the best and most effective thing you can take to beat heartburn. Most antacids work immediately, so you’ll feel better in no time. They work by balancing out the acid that is building up in your oesophagus. Ask your pharmacist for an over-the-counter antacid and store it in your bathroom cabinet.
2. Avoid food that triggers your heartburn
Our second tip requires a little bit of time, research and patience. Sometimes heartburn is triggered by one food in particular.
For one of our Hello Doctor members, coffee is his only cause of heartburn. To figure out what’s your heartburn trigger, all you need to do is write down what you eat and when you eat it. If you start feeling heartburn, take a look at your diary and see what the last thing you ate was. Once you’ve found it, try to avoid it as best as possible.
References:
http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/treating-heartburn-over-counter-medicine
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20443643,00.html
http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/features/top-10-heartburn-foods