Heartburn Doesn't Need to Be a Constant Problem

Heartburn is one of the most common medical conditions that people end up dealing with today. It’s quite common for a person to get occasional bouts of heartburn. However, if it’s happening repeatedly, that’s a sign that a person is potentially causing their own heartburn. The burning sensation of heartburn in the chest is often accompanied by acid reflux as stomach acid travels the wrong way up the throat. 

By determining what the common causes of heartburn are, it’s possible to avoid them. Many of the common triggers of heartburn are diet based, but there are also several other triggers and causes that people may have to deal with. What follows are some of the most common causes and triggers of uncomfortable heartburn. 

1 - Large Meals

When a person eats too much food, their stomach will stretch to try to accomodate. That’s what causes a person to feel overly full or “stuffed”. Unfortunately this puts a lot of pressure on the ring of the muscle which is responsible for keeping stomach acid from rising up through the esophagus. In turn, the acid can return and cause a lot of discomfort. 

2 - Fatty Foods

Fatty foods are more likely to cause heartburn than leander options. This is because the high fat foods remain in the stomach for a longer period of time. Since they are there longer, the body produces more acid to try and break down foods. In addition, fat and grease can relax the muscle keeping the acid from moving back up the throat. This combination of additional acid, and acid moving back up is an obvious recipe for heartburn. 

3 - Stress

People who are under large amounts of stress may often find that they are suffering from heartburn. Stress can come from a number of different sources. Work stress, financial stress and family stress can strike anyone. Getting rid of stress is a lot easier said than done. There are plenty of methods to try to reduce stress. Practices like meditation, breathing exercises and yoga can be of great benefit. 

4 - Medication

There’s a lot of medications that can make cases of heartburn worse than they would be otherwise. Many of the medications are simple over the counter painkillers or other drugs that stop inflammation. It’s unlikely to cause heartburn when taken in small amounts occasionally. When taken habitually, they can be a real problem for people dealing with heartburn. Other medications that can cause a problem include those used for chemotherapy and blood pressure. 

5 - Poor Lifestyle Choices

There are several lifestyle choices that can lead to excessive heartburn. The first is obesity. People who live with an unhealthy weight may find that heartburn is more common, especially when they lay down. Another lifestyle mistake is smoking. This certainly isn’t a surprise to most people as smoking is one of the least healthy things that anyone can do. Quitting smoking can help reduce heartburn. 

6 - Alcohol and Coffee

There’s plenty of food and drink which can cause heartburn. Among the most common is coffee. Part of the issues with coffee is that many people who drink it, simply drink far too much of it! Coffee is much like most things in life, when taken to excess, it can cause problems. Alcohol is much the same. Drinking alcohol can cause heartburn and repeatedly drinking alcohol can cause it more often and with more severity.