Treatment of heartburn consists
of avoiding as many contributing factors as possible, plus the following:
- Sit straight, and stand up or walk around whenever you can. Bending over or lying down makes it too easy for gastric secretions to move up the esophagus.
- If heartburn bothers you at night, raise the head of the bed slightly.
- Keep your weight down. In people who are overweight (or women who are pregnant), the upper portion of the stomach can bulge through the diaphragm.
- Eat small meals.
- Don’t eat for 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
- To coat your stomach and neutralize acids, take 1 to 2 tablespoons of a nonabsorbable liquid antacid such as magnesium hydroxide every 1 to 2 hours. (Note: People with heart disease, kidney disease, or high blood pressure should consult a phsician before taking antacids. Many are high in sodium and may not be permitted on a restricted diet.
- Drink a glass of milk; it may help further. Milk acts as a protective coating, but it’s not as effective as antacid.
Used with permission from A Year of Health Hints by Don R Powell, PHD and the American
Institute for Preventive Medicine, copyright 2010. www.healthylife.com
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