Understanding Heartburn -- Prevention
How Can I Prevent Heartburn?
Heartburn prevention is often possible. The keys are maintaining a reasonable weight, avoiding any foods and beverages that worsen your symptoms, wearing clothes that are loose around the waist, eating smaller meals, not overeating, and not smoking. Getting enough sleep and minimizing stress may also help.
Elevation of the head of your bed six to eight inches may help reduce reflux. Also, it is best to wait three hours after eating before you lie down.
Understanding Heartburn -- the Basics
Despite its name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. Some of the symptoms, however, are similar to those of a heart attack or heart disease. Heartburn is an irritation of the esophagus that is caused by stomach acid. This can create a burning discomfort in the upper abdomen or below the breast bone. With gravity's help, a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, keeps stomach acid in the stomach. The LES is located where the esophagus meets the stomach -- below the...
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