Heartburn is a common affliction, particularly as we age. While infrequent bouts are nothing to be concerned about, chronic heartburn can be a sign of more serious health problems, and can lead to long term discomfort. By understanding some common chronic heartburn causes, you may be able to eliminate the pain and sleeping trouble associated with this issue. Remember, not all causes will correspond to all cases. In so cases, some trial and error may be necessary to find the trigger and eliminate it.
How much you eat and when you eat can have a big impact on how you feel. Big meals have always been a trigger for mild and severe heartburn, and many experts recommend that sufferers eat more small meals throughout the day to avoid getting overstuffed. In addition to the size of your meals, the time at which you take them can also have an affect. Eating late at night is, for many, a prescription for heartburn, which can keep them up and make getting the rest you need more difficult. Many adults have found that eating nothing for the last few hours before they turn in for the night is the best way to cut back on their symptoms and feel better.
For some sufferers, eating less on its own may not be enough. Even if you eat only reasonable portions long before bedtime, there is still a chance that you will not feel well. One of the reasons why this issue happens is that stomach acid is allowed out of the stomach through your lower esophageal sphincter. Certain highly acidic foods, like tomatoes, and highly fatty foods, like red meat, make the loosening of your LES that much more likely. The best way to isolate which foods seem to be triggering your symptoms is to keep a food journal. This will allow you to make a note of exactly what you ate before you felt this way, enabling you to avoid it in the future.
Surprisingly, exercise can also be one of your chronic heartburn causes. Exercises that involve bending at the waist or time spent upside down can affect the digestive tract and lead to heartburn or acid reflux. One of the best ways to minimize the effect of exercise is to avoid exercising on a completely full stomach. Those who are dealing with a lot of heartburn may also want to amend their workout regimen to avoid exercises that seem to be disrupting digestion.
By being able to identify some of the common chronic heartburn causes, patients may be able to find heartburn triggers on their own. This will enable them to create their own plan for avoid this uncomfortable condition, taking their individual sensitivities into account. If you are making an effort to eat right and avoid know triggers but are still suffering, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with your doctor. He or she will be able to help you get to the root of the problem and determine whether it is symptomatic of an underlying health condition.