Managing Heartburn: Living With The ‘Burn’ For Life
Getting diagnosed with heartburn is life changing, that is, in a positive way.
When your doctor writes in heartburn, at least there’s nothing too emotional about it, no flashbacks, or thinking of what might have been. Heartburn is essentially a condition triggered by your lifestyle; it is not something that you’ve inherited and can blame your parents for. ‘You’ is the operative word and determining factor that have let this condition get in your life. What you did and have done contributed to the gravity of the symptoms and how often you will experience it in a lifetime. Taking an active role in managing heartburn is the most important thing you can do in preventing and how you can decrease the occurrence of heartburn. We have put together tips on how you can manage heartburn and live your life to the fullest.
Getting Fit Without The Burn
You know the feeling: That burning sensation that takes over you and washes you with fear as your ‘heart’ burns after minutes jumping in the treadmill. Fortunately, the last time you checked with your doctor, he diagnosed you with heartburn, even though it feels like you’re having a major heart attack. But should heartburn get in the way of your fitness routine? In most people, getting fit and moderate exercise is a great way to keep the burn at bay, notes Dr. Venkat Mohan, a gastroenterologist based at Bellevue, Wash. Here are some tips to keep that bod in tip top shape and still not get ‘burned’.
Don’t eat before exercise, even if two hours have already lapsed, notes Mohan. Eating (even if you don’t feel stuffed) gets your stomach, acids, and sphincter all busy. The pressure is on and, worst, if the esophageal sphincter gets too ‘tired’, chances are jumping in the treadmill or getting on the downward dog yoga position will lead to acid reflux.
Eat healthy, before you exercise. Fill your plates with healthy items, not the things that may trigger acid reflux. Chocolates (no matter how you need those carbs for energy), cola, caffeinated drinks, citrus fruits, fatty and greasy items, and even spicy, hot foods are some of the things that you should stir away from before exercising. What are the best things that should color your plate? According to the National Heartburn Alliance, a high carb and low protein diet is the best pre-exercise menu that anyone can learn to enjoy, even after a good exercise.
Learn what heartburn is. Unfortunately some people mistake heartburn with pain caused by serious heart problems, says Dr. David Locke of Women’s Hospital in Boston. Learn to distinguish the pain. A persistent burn is one of the best signs that you need to check again with your doctor, says Dr. David Taylor. A heartburn that does not go away can be a symptom of ulcer in the duodenum or stomach, hiatal hernia, coronary disease, and even cancer. Play safe.
Take your meds, even if you had taken your morning dose already. Ask your doctor if he recommends taking an antacid before you hit the gym, says Dr. Patrick Waring of Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. OTC antacids and H2 blocker can help decrease the occurrence of heartburn. Some of the items that experts recommend include Zantac, Pepcid, Axid, and Tagamet. But if the burn doesn’t go away, your doctor may sign a prescription med to help you.
Sign off from intense routines. Doing a lot jiggling and bouncing can trigger acid reflux or GERD symptoms. Sign up with calmer and moderate routines like walking and even a stretching class. These activities may be less intense but it what is important is that you keep moving. Do not let heartburn get in the way of your fitness routine and exercise, says Dr. Lawrence Cheskin of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Getting and staying active has so many wonderful benefits that you cannot afford to miss just because of heartburn, says Cheskin
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