Do your heartburn symptoms interfere with your ability to sleep or work?
Antacids, Histamine2-receptor antagonists, and Proton Pump Inhibitors are medications that can be used to treat heartburn. You can find these over-the-counter and some are available with a prescription from your doctor.
Since all medications have a risk of side effects and drug interactions, here are some tips to help your heartburn symptoms without medications.
Tip #1 - Avoid food and beverages that increase the frequency and severity of your symptoms
Coffee | Tea | Chocolate | Citrus fruit or juices |
Fatty Foods | Spicy Foods | Salt and salt substitutes | Garlic or onions |
Mint | Alcohol | Caffeinated beverages | Carbonated beverages |
Tomatoes/tomato juice/tomato paste | | |
Tip #2 - Avoid, if possible, medications that may make your symptoms worse
Medications that can cause heartburn
Bisphosphonates
Aspirin/NSAIDs
Iron
Potassium
Quinidine
Tetracycline
Zidovudine
Anticholinergic Agents
Alpha-adrenergic antagonists
Barbiturates
Beta2-adrenergic agonists
Calcium channel blockers
Benzodiazepines
Dopamine
Estrogen
Narcotic analgesics
Nitrates
Progesterone
Prostaglandins
Sildenafil
Theophylline
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Chemotherapy
"Heartburn can often be avoided through changing certain habits." – American Gastroenterological Association
Tip #3 - Avoid activities that can contribute to heartburn symptoms
Exercise (weight lifting, cycling, sit-ups)
Stress
Supine (laying horizontally, face-up) body position
Tight-fitting clothing
Smoking
Eating large meals
Bending over
Tip #4 - If you have symptoms at night:
Avoid lying down or going to bed within 3 hours of a meal
Elevate the head of the bed using 6-inch blocks or use a foam pillow wedge (symptoms may be worse if you use traditional pillows because it will cause you to bend at the waist and this can increase the pressure in your stomach)
Tip #5 - Lose weight if overweight and not pregnant
Being overweight contributes to heartburn symptoms because direct pressure is being applied to the intra-abdominal (stomach) area.
If you are pregnant, please do not self-treat your heartburn symptoms. See your OB/GYN for treatment recommendations.
I hope these tips help relieve the frequency and severity of your symptoms.
If you have tried all of these tips, but you still experience heartburn symptoms, let's meet to talk about other things that you can do. We can also discuss over-the-counter and prescription medication options, adverse effects to look out for and potential drug interactions with other medications you may be taking.
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Learn more here:
Beradi, R., Ferreri, S., Hume, A., Kroon, L., Newton, G., Popovich, N., Remington, T., Rollins, C., Shimp, L. and Tietze, K., 2009. Handbook of nonprescription drugs. 16th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Pharmacists Association, pp.231-245.