Lifestyle triggers:
The first trigger a sufferer needs to be aware of is alcohol. Alcohol cannot be digested with the amount of gastric acid normally required to digest other food, thus causing the stomach to produce more acid. Alcohol also tends to relax the esophageal sphincter, which is the valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus. When this is relaxed, acid may backflow into the throat. Another undesirable effect is it makes the esophagus more sensitive to the acids backflowing from the stomach.
Smoking is also a troublesome habit that can increase the chances of getting heartburn. When smoking, the harmful smoke enters the esophagus and damages the inner walls of this organ, including the sphincter. The affected sphincter then becomes defective and allows backflow of the acid.
A person’s diet can also be a significant cause of heartburn. Eating a lot for a single meal is not healthy. When eating large quantities of food at a time, the digestive process tends to get overworked. The habit of resting or lying down immediately after a huge meal can also increase the chances of getting heartburn.
Wearing tight-fitting clothes can also worsen this condition. When wearing very tight dresses while eating, the stomach does not at all benefit from this increase in pressure, and this can become a cause for heartburn. The pressure pushes the stomach acids and the incompletely digested food back into the esophagus, causing heartburn.
Pregnant women also tend to get heartburn often because of the pressure on the stomach and other organs of the upper body caused by the growing baby. It can also be due to the changes in hormone levels. Heartburn is a very common disorder in old people and those who are obese.
Food habits:
Foods which are hot, spicy, and oily trouble the digestive system. Such foods are hard to digest and so the stomach secretes more gastric juices, which then results in heartburn. If you continue eating such foods, heartburn can worsen into chronic conditions which could be treated only by surgery.
There are a number of food products that have to be avoided if you’re already suffering from heartburn. Chocolates, caffeine drinks, ice cream and other processed confectionery products can trigger heartburn.
Some fresh fruits and vegetables also serve as triggers for heartburn. Some examples are tomatoes, oranges, grapes, and lemons. These foods are rich in citric acid and this can easily increase acid levels
All types of junk food are heartburn triggers as they are hot and rich in fat. The fat content in food can easily increase acid levels in the stomach. Foods containing garlic and onions are also considered triggers of heartburn and should thus be minimized or avoided.
