IF YOU SUFFER FROM FREQUENT HEARTBURN, EVEN THE MOST BASIC DAY-TO-DAY LIFE ACTIVITIES CAN AFFECT YOUR SYMPTOMS.6 DISCOVERING EFFECTIVE HEARTBURN REMEDIES CAN BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR THOSE DEALING WITH GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL (OR GASTROESOPHAGEAL) REFLUX DISEASE (GORD/GERD).
Among the multitude of interventions, incorporating foods into your diet that help heartburn is a natural and sustainable approach.
Certain lifestyle and dietary changes can often help relieve symptoms of GORD.3 If you have mild symptoms, you can try these heartburn remedies before seeking medical attention. If your symptoms are more serious, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before making any changes, so they can advise you on how to incorporate these approaches into your treatment plan.3
RECOMMENDED LIFESTYLE CHANGES
LOSING
WEIGHT
If you are overweight or have recently gained weight, losing weight may help people reduce heartburn. In addition, weight loss has a number of other health benefits, including a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.3 Incorporating foods into your diet that help heartburn is also a natural and sustainable approach.
RAISING THE HEAD OF YOUR BED
If this can be done safely, raise the head of your bed by 15-20 cm. It can help gravity to keep acid from refluxing into the oesophagus. If you do this, do not use additional pillows because this may increase abdominal pressure.3,11
AVOIDING FOOD TRIGGERS
Excessive caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, peppermint, and fatty foods may cause bothersome heartburn in some people. If you notice that your symptoms are worse after you have certain foods or beverages ('trigger foods'), it’s reasonable to limit or avoid these things.3
QUITTING
SMOKING
Smoking lowers the pressure in the lower oesophageal sphincter and provokes coughing, causing frequent episodes of acid reflux in the oesophagus. In addition to having many other health benefits, quitting smoking can reduce or eliminate symptoms of mild reflux.3
TAKING YOUR MEDICINE
Don’t stop taking any prescribed medicine without speaking to a doctor first.
WHILE EVIDENCE IS LIMITED, OTHER CHANGES THAT ALSO SOMETIMES SEEM TO HELP, INCLUDE:3
AVOIDING LATE MEALS
Don’t eat within 3 or 4 hours before going to bed.2,3
WEARING LOOSE, COMFORTABLE CLOTHING
At a minimum, tight-fitting clothing can increase discomfort, but it may also increase pressure in the abdomen, promoting hiatus hernia and forcing stomach contents into the oesophagus.3
ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT ADCOCK INGRAM'S PRESCRIPTION TREATMENT FOR GORD
If you suffer from heartburn and regurgitation on 2 or more days per week, or these symptoms are troublesome enough to affect your daily life, you could be diagnosed with GORD.5 Please visit your doctor.
