| Is a plate of spaghetti a prescription for heartburn? | | | | also be helpful. |
| Does eating Mexican keep you up half the night? | | | | 3. Avoid drinking alcohol with your spicy meal. Alcohol |
| If so, you're among the millions of people who suffer | | | | intake is another source of stomach irritation over |
| from an acid reflux condition. The most common | | | | which you have control. Enjoy the tacos or lasagna, |
| symptom is a burning sensation that moves from the | | | | but save the wine or beer for another day. |
| stomach area up into the chest. Some people | | | | 4. Don't eat late at night. Acid reflux is partly a matter |
| experience this as chest pain instead, whereas others | | | | of gravity. When you are upright, it is more difficult for |
| complain of regurgitation or nausea. | | | | acid stomach contents to splash upwards into the |
| If you consult your physician, he'll say to avoid irritating | | | | esophagus. Lying down allows fluids to back-flow into |
| foods. But if pepperoni pizza is the spice of life, is there | | | | the esophagus, or even as high as the mouth or throat. |
| any answer to brighten your day? | | | | Remain seated (or standing) at least 2 hours after a |
| Here are 5 tips to avoid the heartburn: | | | | meal to minimize the reflux. |
| 1. Take an over-the-counter acid-reducing medicine at | | | | 5. Avoid overeating. Acid reflux is partly a matter of |
| least an hour before you plan to eat spicy foods. | | | | pressure. If you feel your stomach so full you're about |
| Medications such as Axid, Zantac, Pepcid, Tagamet, | | | | to burst, it's much easier for stomach acid to reflux |
| Prilosec, and Prevacid all work by first being absorbed | | | | upwards. Eat slowly and allow your stomach to empty |
| into your bloodstream, then returning to the cells of the | | | | a little along the way. |
| stomach, where they turn off the acid-producing | | | | Of course, the best thing is to avoid foods which |
| mechanism. Stomach irritation or heartburn are often | | | | cause acid reflux: tomato products, citrus juices, onions, |
| due to a combination of irritants, one of which is | | | | spicy foods, - even chocolate. For people with |
| stomach acid. By decreasing the amount of acid the | | | | occasional heartburn, occasional treatment with one of |
| stomach produces, a person is often able to tolerate | | | | the above products is reasonable. For those who |
| spicy foods without heartburn symptoms. | | | | experience daily heartburn or severe chest pain, |
| 2. Keep a roll of antacids in your pocket. Especially if | | | | seeking professional advice is advisable. You don't |
| you've forgotten to comply with tip #1, chew a few | | | | want to disguise a stomach ulcer or cancer, or treat a |
| antacids both at the beginning and end of your meal. | | | | heart attack with Rolaids. |
| This will neutralize at least some of the acid your body | | | | Copyright 2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, M.D. |
| produces. Chewing sugar-free gum after a meal may | | | | |