Fatty And Acidic Foods Cause Heartburn

There are many different causes for heartburn, most of which have to do with a person's diet and exercise plan. There can be some physical issues that will also cause heartburn, but these are not as common as improper eating habits and lack of exercise. Heartburn treatment is most often achieved by changing the individual's diet and exercise plan so that he or she lives an overall healthier lifestyle.

Causes and Treatment

One cause of heartburn is when individuals eat too much food in one sitting. This is especially a problem if the foods that are consumed are high in fat or are highly acidic, such as with spicy foods. When these foods are eaten, the overflow of acid from the stomach goes into the esophagus, which causes the heartburn feeling. Often this feeling comes with pain, a sour taste in the mouth and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Sometimes the symptoms will feel so severe that individuals will mistake them for the symptoms of a heart attack, but there is no correlation to the heart, other than the cholesterol issues of eating fat filled foods on a regular basis.

There are other causes of heartburn that are also related to choices in consumption, such as drinking too much alcohol, eating too much chocolate, taking too much pain relief medications, or smoking regularly. In some cases, those who are pregnant can also experience heartburn since the baby is growing and pushing on the stomach area, which can cause the stomach acid to come up into the esophagus. In much the same way, those who are obese can suffer from heartburn because the fat pushes the stomach and causes the acid to come into the esophagus.

In most cases, taking antacid pills can solve the heartburn issue when it happens. To solve the issue in the long run, however, steps have to be taken to change the diet and health of the individual. In most cases, changing eating habits to take smaller meals on a regular basis throughout the day, such as eating five to eight small meals versus three per day can make a difference. Cutting out fatty foods, alcohol, smoking, spicy foods, and caffeine can also make a difference for individuals who are suffering from heartburn on a regular basis. Increasing exercise according to a doctor's plan is also good in a couple of ways. First, it helps to reduce or maintain a person's weight so that heartburn is less of an issue. Second, it helps to reduce stress, which can sometimes cause overeating as well as other stomach issues that lead to heartburn.