A Battle Plan For Heartburn Relief
Heartburn is often caused by a variety of factors, so it will take a many-pronged plan of attack in order to gain heartburn relief. By making changes in your diet, exercise and how you handle stress, you can assure that any medicines for heartburn relief you are taking will work their best. If you have had heartburn for two weeks or more, go see your doctor. Heartburn gets worse if left alone.
Balanced Diet
Some foods and beverages stimulate the production of digestive acids. Too much stomach acids can't be held jut in the stomach. The excess acid has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is usually up your esophagus. If you keep a food journal, where you write down how you feel after eating what kinds of food and beverages, you'll be able to quickly pinpoint what are your trigger foods and either reduce them or cut them out. These strategies are often good for heartburn relief:
* Stop or reduce your intake of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol stimulates stomach acids. Even throwing up soon after binge drinking will still hurt your stomach and esophagus.
* Reduce your intake of fatty, salty foods. You know you should do this anyway for more reasons than just heartburn relief. Now you have extra incentive.
* Reduce your intake of citrus fruits, citrus fruit juices or any tomato products. Tomatoes, oranges, lemons and grapefruit all have acids in them that can trigger a sneaky heartburn attack. Either really water down your fruit juices or do not drink on an empty stomach.
Regular Exercise
It's not just the muscles on the outside of your body that can get flabby - so can the muscles of your internal organs. When the stomach loosens up due to overwork or a poor diet, the stomach acids go crazy. Regular exercise means being active for at least a half hour five days a week. This doesn't mean you have to join an expensive gym. Walk the dog more. Walk to and from a store of friend's home that is less than a mile away instead of driving. Change the sheets on your bed more often - that can be a surprisingly thorough workout! The first month of a new exercise routine is the hardest, as your body just isn't used to it. The more you stick at it, the easier and more fun it gets. You might finds it helps with stress.
Stress Handling
Stress can aggravate heartburn because you will not be able to digest your food properly. You may also make poor food choices when stressed out. Learning how to relax for even two ten minute periods a day is not only great for your mental health, but is great heartburn relief. Choices include:
* Gentle exercise like yoga or walking an older dog
* Meditation with or without a mantra
* Listening to music that calms you down
* Aromatherapy
