Tips to Prevent Nighttime Heartburn

There are at least 7.7 millions of Americans who suffer from heartburn, and 1 out of every 4 heartburn sufferers also experience nighttime heartburn symptoms. In the 2005 survey exploring heartburn and its effect on the sleeping pattern of those who suffers from it, over 50 percent of those who were surveyed admit that they [...]

There are at least 7.7 millions of Americans who suffer from heartburn, and 1 out of every 4 heartburn sufferers also experience nighttime heartburn symptoms. In the 2005 survey exploring heartburn and its effect on the sleeping pattern of those who suffers from it, over 50 percent of those who were surveyed admit that they are having difficulty staying asleep because of their condition.

Grab a snack. Contrary to the popular belief, grabbing a sandwich may put you to sleep faster than a glass of milk. But before you make yourself a baconator in the middle of the night, you may want to stick to healthy option and portion. To make a heartburn-free sandwich, make sure that you are not including the following: Tomato, catsup, and, of course, mustard.

Hit the gym. Most heartburn sufferers have weight problem. Studies show that obese, overweight, and even those who have some few extra pounds left are predisposed to suffering from heartburn and acid reflux than those who maintain a healthy weight.

This is why exercise is one of, if not, the most recommended remedies doctors can give their patients. Pursuing an active lifestyle will not only keep your heartburn symptoms at bay but will actually bring more benefits than you can imagine.

Chew gum after a meal. If you love spicy dishes and have been suffering heartburn for some time, make sure that you sneak a gum to your purse not only to banish the pungent onion smell (and taste) from your mouth but also to keep you heartburn-free all night. “Popping a gum right after dinner encourages the production of saliva, which acts as a great neutralizer against stomach acids,” says Chandler.

But don’t just pop in any gum; choose a flavor aside from peppermint and spearmint. Instead, have fruit-flavored gums in your purse.

Check your meds. If you have been consuming painkillers, calcium-channel blocker, chances are your heartburn symptoms immediately sets in as soon as you pop your meds in your mouth. But this doesn’t mean that you just go cold turkey; throwing your meds in your cabinet and never looking back may actually worsen your condition. Instead, call for an appointment and ask your doctor for better alternatives.

Nighttime Heartburn Relief – How to!

Nighttime heartburn not only disrupts your sleep but also negatively affects daytime productivity, impairing your ability to function, focus, and concentrate. Eight out of ten heartburn sufferers experience heartburn symptoms at night. Others get the worst part: heartburn during sleep. Heartburn during daytime is one thing. But waking up with heartburn is another. Find nighttime [...]

Nighttime heartburn not only disrupts your sleep but also negatively affects daytime productivity, impairing your ability to function, focus, and concentrate. Eight out of ten heartburn sufferers experience heartburn symptoms at night. Others get the worst part: heartburn during sleep.

Heartburn during daytime is one thing. But waking up with heartburn is another. Find nighttime heartburn relief with these tips:

Eat right. Plan your dinner – and the rest of your menu – around a light, low-acid diet. Have better and healthier options than acidic, spicy, and non-fatty foods. The DON’Ts of heartburn-safe menu are:

•    High-fat foods. Fatty and greasy foods stay longer in the stomach, which essentially cause more discomfort for many heartburn sufferers.
•    Acidic foods. Which include a seemingly healthy dish of tomatoes and anything tomato-based. Other heartburn no-nos are citrus fruits, such as lemons, grapefruits, and oranges.
•    Drinks that trigger heartburn. And these include some of our all-time fave: carbonated drinks, alcoholic beverages, and caffeinated drinks.
•    Chocolate. This temptation contains caffeine, which relaxes the LES making heartburn more likely. Eating more than the recommended serving is definitely a no-no.
•    Spicy foods. Anything peppery and showered with hot sauce provokes heartburn. Other items you need to include in your watch list are peppermint, onions, and garlic.

For dinner, try to limit your plate and palate with healthy alternatives, such as those that are prepared healthier (baked, broiled, or grilled), lean cuts of meat, and herbal teas or just plain water.

Savor foods. Managing heartburn is not only about eating the right foods but also eating it right. The best way to keep heartburn at bay? Take time to really taste your food. Don’t eat too quickly; multi-tasking while having dinner is definitely a no-no for heartburn nighttime sufferers. Don’t tackle your plate like some last-minute project.

To prevent nighttime heartburn, remember to:

•    Schedule your meal
•    Eat at least two hours before bedtime
•    Avoid nightcap
•    Eat more smaller meals than three large ones
•    Watch food portions
•    Avoid midnight or even bedtime snacks

Dress properly. Donning on tight clothes can trigger heartburn. Steer clear of anything with tight waistbands and belts. This probably should not be a problem if you’re heading to bed. But make sure that you wear only heartburn-safe clothes during daytime.

Relax more often. Stress essentially fuels stomach acid production, encouraging heartburn symptoms. Meditating or doing yoga poses is a better, healthier way to end the day than succumbing to stress eating after a long day at work.

Keep a food journal. By keeping track of your eating habits and activities, you can easily and accurately determine what triggers your heartburn and what doesn’t.

Exercise safely. Two things heartburn sufferers need to remember when exercising:  First, don’t workout immediately after a meal and, second, drink plenty of water.

Sleep correctly. Research shows that sleeping on the left actually aids digestion by encouraging the removal of stomach acids. Lying on the right side, on the other hand, has been shown to aggravate heartburn.

If you lay flat on your back, make sure that you sleep with your shoulders and head elevated. You can do this by either using a wedge pillow or placing sturdy blocks under the bedpost to raise your head.

How to Manage Severe Heartburn

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 [...]

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.