DIGESTIVE AND URINARY TRACTS

Avoiding heartburn

Heartburn results from a backup of acid-containing stomach
contents into your esophagus. Here are tips for prevention:

• Eat smaller meals
Too much food expands your stomach and puts pressure on
a band of muscle (the lower esophageal sphincter) that helps
keep food and acid from backing up into your esophagus.

• Avoid alcohol, fatty foods, chocolate, spearmint
and peppermint
These foods can relax your lower esophageal sphincter and
promote upward flow of stomach contents.

• Consider using an antacid or H-2 blocker
Antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums and others help neu-tralize stomach acids temporarily. Over-the-counter histamine
(H-2) blockers such as Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, Zantac 75
and others reduce stomach acid production, which may relieve
or prevent symptoms when taken before a meal. But overuse
of antacids or H-2 blockers can cause side effects.

• Don’t eat before sleeping
Wait two to three hours after eating before lying down. This
allows enough time for increased stomach acid produced after
a meal to taper off and for the stomach to empty from that meal.

• Stop smoking
The nicotine from cigarettes can relax your lower esophageal
sphincter, allowing acid to flow back into your esophagus.

• Lose excess weight
Slimming down if you’re overweight helps reduce the pressure
your abdomen puts on your stomach when you’re lying down.

• Wear loose clothes
A tight belt or waistband can put pressure on your stomach
and push acid into your esophagus, causing discomfort.