Heartburn sufferers are advised to: One, lose weight, two, regularly take their antacids, three, avoid foods that trigger heartburn, and, four, plan their menu around a low-acid diet. When religiously followed, such guideline should save others from the nagging pain of heartburn. But for others managing heartburn isn’t exactly that easy.
In spite following your doctor’s advice down to the last letter, you may wonder why you still suffer from heartburn. Here are some reasons why:
Eating more than what you need. And we’re not talking about what you can handle. I know a lot of people who feel that they need to reward themselves for eating right, that is, heartburn-safe foods. Though there is nothing wrong with this concept, rewarding yourself by eating too much of a good thing isn’t exactly healthy. A full stomach adds unnecessary pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which, in return, opens up allowing stomach contents back up the esophagus.
Managing heartburn not only requires eating right but also doing it right. Eating five – even six – smaller meals during the day is more recommended than having three large ones.
Trying new foods. Do you often find yourself hopping from one resto to another every night? Your palate may be having a blast but chances are you aren’t. Heartburn is one thing that you may expect after a night of trying out one signature dish after another.
But heartburn should not stop you from doing what you love most. Keeping a food diary can help you determine which food you need to eating and which resto you need to stop patronizing. Here you need to list what food you eat and when you eat it. One thing you could not afford to leave out: Whether you have had heartburn afterward. Try to see a pattern. If you have heartburn repeatedly after eating one of the foods on your list, you may want to avoid such for a week or so and see if your condition improves.
Not knowing your real condition. The most important question you can ask your doctor is what causes your heartburn. You may eat healthy, take antacids as prescribed by your doctor, and steadily make necessary changes in your lifestyle, but not treating what really causes the burn is like throwing everything that you have worked for straight to the bin.
See your doctor so you can rule out other conditions that may cause heartburn like hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Not sleeping right. If you have been awakened by heartburn at night, you may want to check some bedtime habits before you hit the sack: It could be that you are lying too flat or immediately dozing off after eating. For a heartburn-free sleep, you may want to: (1) Schedule dinner at least two hours before bedtime, (2) sleep on your left as studies show that sleeping on the left side actually reduces the occurrence of heartburn, and (3) elevate the head of the bed.
If you are still having difficulty managing your heartburn, you may want to visit your doctor and ask for your condition to be re-assessed. If you are already taking a proton pump inhibitor, you may need a new medication to better control your condition. Together you can formulate and decide on a more effective treatment plan that can truly work you.
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