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Heartburn - Prevention
You can make changes to your lifestyle to prevent your symptoms of heartburn. Here are some things to try:
- Change your eating habits.
- It’s best to eat several small meals instead of two or three large meals.
- After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down. Late-night snacks aren't a good idea.
- Chocolate, mint, and alcohol can make heartburn worse. They relax the valve between the esophagus and the stomach.
- Spicy foods, foods that have a lot of acid (like tomatoes and oranges), and coffee can make heartburn symptoms worse in some people. If your symptoms are worse after you eat a certain food, you may want to stop eating that food to see if your symptoms get better.
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
- If you get heartburn at night, raise the head of your bed 6in. to 8in. by putting the frame on blocks or placing a foam wedge under the head of your mattress. (Adding extra pillows does not work.)
- Do not wear tight clothing around your middle. Lose weight if you need to. Losing just 5 to 10 pounds can help. For more information, see the topic Healthy Weight.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
September 06, 2007
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
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Heartburn Topics
It’s not just what you eat that can cause your stomach to churn. It’s also how much you eat and what you do after meals.
