You may also need medication to control reflux even as you pursue lifestyle changes. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Heartburn can be difficult to cope with but many people manage it quite well. However, other people spend countless hours and untold sums of money looking for a way to spell relief.
This Harvard Medical School Guide: Cooling Heartburn , explains the causes of heartburn, and what you can do to prevent and treat it. Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.
Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Recent Blog Articles. Health news headlines can be deceiving. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Preventing preeclampsia may be as simple as taking an aspirin. Caring for an aging parent? As mentioned earlier, this muscle prevents excessive amounts of stomach acid from leaking up into the esophagus.
This condition is known as hiatus hernia. Hiatus hernia is the main reason obese people and pregnant women are at an increased risk of reflux and heartburn 7 , 8. Several observational studies show that extra pounds in the abdominal area increase the risk of reflux and GERD 9.
Controlled studies support this, showing that weight loss may relieve reflux symptoms Excessive pressure inside the abdomen is one of the reasons for acid reflux.
Losing belly fat might relieve some of your symptoms. Growing evidence suggests that low-carb diets may relieve acid reflux symptoms. Scientists suspect that undigested carbs may be causing bacterial overgrowth and elevated pressure inside the abdomen.
Some even speculate this may be one of the most common causes of acid reflux. Having too many undigested carbs in your digestive system makes you gassy and bloated. It also tends to make you belch more often 11 , 12 , 13 , Supporting this idea, a few small studies indicate that low-carb diets improve reflux symptoms 15 , 16 , Additionally, an antibiotic treatment may significantly reduce acid reflux, possibly by decreasing the numbers of gas-producing bacteria 18 , In one study, researchers gave participants with GERD prebiotic fiber supplements that promoted the growth of gas-producing bacteria.
Acid reflux might be caused by poor carb digestion and bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Low-carb diets appear to be an effective treatment, but further studies are needed. Drinking alcohol may increase the severity of acid reflux and heartburn. It aggravates symptoms by increasing stomach acid, relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter and impairing the ability of the esophagus to clear itself of acid 21 , Studies have shown that moderate alcohol intake may even cause reflux symptoms in healthy individuals 23 , Controlled studies also show that drinking wine or beer increases reflux symptoms, compared to drinking plain water 25 , Excessive alcohol intake can worsen acid reflux symptoms.
If you experience heartburn, limiting your alcohol intake might help ease some of your pain. Studies show that coffee temporarily weakens the lower esophageal sphincter, increasing the risk of acid reflux Some evidence points towards caffeine as a possible culprit. Similar to coffee, caffeine weakens the lower esophageal sphincter Additionally, drinking decaffeinated coffee has been shown to reduce reflux compared to regular coffee 29 , However, one study that gave participants caffeine in water was unable to detect any effects of caffeine on reflux, even though coffee itself worsened the symptoms.
The processing and preparation of coffee might also be involved Nevertheless, although several studies suggest that coffee may worsen acid reflux, the evidence is not entirely conclusive. One study found no adverse effects when acid reflux patients consumed coffee right after meals, compared to an equal amount of warm water. However, coffee increased the duration of reflux episodes between meals Additionally, an analysis of observational studies found no significant effects of coffee intake on the self-reported symptoms of GERD.
Yet, when the signs of acid reflux were investigated with a small camera, coffee consumption was linked with greater acid damage in the esophagus PPIs and H2 blockers decrease acid production and reduce the potential for damage caused by acid reflux. These medications are generally safe and effective, but like any prescription drug, they are not appropriate for all people with reflux disease and can cause side effects. For instance, they can cause problems absorbing nutrients. This can lead to malnutrition.
For people who experience heartburn or indigestion infrequently, perhaps in association with occasional food and drink triggers, OTC treatments to reduce the acidity of the stomach contents are available. These liquid and tablet formulations are called antacids, and there are dozens of brands available, all with similar effectiveness. They may not work for everyone, and any need for regular use should be discussed with a doctor.
They contain chemical compounds such as calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, aluminum, and magnesium hydroxide. They can also inhibit nutrient absorption, leading to deficiencies over time. Gaviscon is probably the best-known heartburn therapy. It has a different mode of action than antacid drugs. Alginate drugs such as Gaviscon vary slightly in composition, but they usually contain an antacid. The alginic acid works by creating a mechanical barrier against the stomach acid, forming a foamy gel that sits at the top of the gastric pool itself.
Any reflux is then relatively harmless as it consists of alginic acid and not damaging stomach acid. If you want to buy Gaviscon, then there is an excellent selection available online. If GERD is severe and unresponsive to medical treatment, a surgical intervention known as fundoplication may be needed. Acid reflux usually produces heartburn, whether it is due to a single episode of overeating or persistent GERD. Heartburn is an uncomfortable burning sensation that occurs in the esophagus and is felt behind the breastbone area.
It tends to get worse when lying down or bending over. You may be asked:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis Endoscopy Open pop-up dialog box Close. Endoscopy An endoscopy procedure involves inserting a long, flexible tube endoscope down your throat and into your esophagus.
Substitute for esophageal sphincter Open pop-up dialog box Close. Substitute for esophageal sphincter The LINX device is an expandable ring of metal beads that keeps stomach acid from refluxing into the esophagus, but allows food to pass into the stomach.
Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name. Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Kahrilas PJ. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in adults.
Accessed Jan. Feldman M, et al. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. Philadelphia, Pa. Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD adult.
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