Common foods and drinks that can cause heartburn and interrupt sleep include alcohol; caffeinated drinks like colas, coffee, and tea; chocolate and cocoa; peppermint; garlic; onions; milk; fatty, spicy, greasy, or fried foods; and acidic foods like citrus or tomato products.
Fatty foods, large portions, and late-night meals are the top three triggers that affect many people with heartburn.
If you have frequent or constant heartburn (more than twice a week or heartburn everyday), you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a muscle that connects the esophagus and the stomach.
Stress can be a heartburn trigger. When too many things pile up at work, school, or home, or you experience a big life change, heartburn symptoms may worsen. Stress may also be connected to the conditions that cause heartburn: acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Lack of sleep and stress can also cause more acid to be formed in the stomach, which irritates the LES, allowing the acid to reach the esophagus and causing heartburn and acid reflux/GERD symptoms.
The Stress-Heartburn Connection
Stomach upset, regurgitation, chest pain, coughing and throat burning can cause loss of appetite, irritability and insomnia resulting in an intricate cycle of physical and emotional turmoil.
Heartburn and indigestion are often used interchangeably, but they're actually different conditions. Indigestion is a general term that speaks to a wide range of digestive issues. Heartburn, on the other hand, occurs when stomach acid escapes into your esophagus. It's one type of indigestion.
Heartburn that occurs frequently and interferes with your routine is considered gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD treatment may require prescription medications and, occasionally, surgery or other procedures.
If you have persistent chest pain and you aren't sure it's heartburn, call 911 or emergency medical help. Call your health care provider if you had an episode of unexplained chest pain that went away within a few hours and you did not seek medical attention.
Water. In general, drinking water can help balance the pH of a particularly acidic meal, which may help to lower the risk of acid reflux. Studies show that drinking mineral water with a high hydrogen carbonate content can help to alleviate the frequency and severity of acid reflux.
Yogurt that is not too sour is also excellent for acid reflux, because of the probiotics that help normalize bowel function. Yogurt also provides protein, and soothes stomach discomfort, often providing a cooling sensation. It is easy to choose foods by looking them up to see how acidic they are.
Chocolate — Everyone's favorite treat comes with a dark side; chocolate contains caffeine, cocoa, and plant chemicals that can all trigger heartburn. Also, a chemical in cocoa relaxes the LES, making it easier for stomach contents to leak into your esophagus.
Taking over the counter antacid medications and PPI's such as Omeprazole, Gaviscon, Tums and Rennie's provide immediate relief, but they also block the stomach from producing more stomach acid worsening the problem in the long term.
Heartburn that does not go away can result from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a hiatal hernia, Barrett's esophagus, or esophageal cancer. Heartburn refers to the burning sensation in the chest that happens as a result of stomach acid. This is called acid reflux. Occasional acid reflux is normal .
Is heartburn a symptom of a heart attack? Heartburn is often a symptom of GERD, but it can also be a symptom of a heart attack. In fact, heart attacks can cause other symptoms that usually happen with GERD, such as nausea, burping, and vomiting.
Milk and dairy products are high in fat and tend to make heartburn worse. When you have frequent GERD symptoms, like heartburn, eating high-fat dairy products like cheese can aggravate your symptoms. Furthermore, cold dairy products like ice cream can actually numb and inhibit the lower esophageal sphincter's function.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition in which the stomach contents move up into the esophagus. Reflux becomes a disease when it causes frequent or severe symptoms or injury. Reflux may damage the esophagus, pharynx or respiratory tract.
Stress can impact the gastrointestinal system in many different ways. This includes changing the way the stomach and intestines digest, which can lead to heartburn symptoms. Taking small steps to reduce your stress levels can have a big impact on both your mental and physical health.
Results. Compared with Gaviscon, Rennie alginate had a higher acid-neutralizing capacity, greater maximum pH and longer duration of antacid activity in vitro.
Heartburn is another digestive disorder that may cause pain in your back. Symptoms of heartburn caused by gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), include a burning sensation in the chest, a sour taste in the mouth, and pain the middle of your back.