What can I do to relieve heartburn?

**Bababam** (0:04)
What can I do to relieve heartburn?
Thanks for asking. Christmas festivities often go hand in hand with overindulgence, in the form of large servings of roast dinner, yummy pudding and alcohol consumption. That combination can result in heartburn, a condition which despite the terrifying sounding name, is usually relatively harmless. It's a burning sensation felt in the chest behind the breastbone, which explains where the name comes from. But it's actually down to stomach acid travelling back up the esophagus, which is the tube that carries food down from your throat. Let's discuss a few tips for preventing heartburn, or relieving the symptoms if you do get it this holiday season. Are some people more vulnerable than others? Unfortunately the older we get, the more likely we are to experience heartburn. Genetics also come into play, as well as lifestyle factors like tobacco and alcohol consumption or being overweight. What we eat is also important, which is why heavy Christmas dinners might make us more likely to suffer from heartburn than usual. Most people get heartburn from time to time, but if it happens more than twice a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is a chronic condition that affects 15% to 30% of people according to Healthline. Other factors may make heartburn more likely, including being pregnant or having a high ate or hernia. Are there particular foods to avoid? Anything that increases digestion time basically, which can include foods that are fried, spicy or high in fat. Interestingly, tomatoes and citrus fruits are also a threat, despite being relatively healthy otherwise. That's due to their highly acidic content.
It really varies from person to person. The best idea is to identify what your trigger foods are and cut down on them by reducing portion sizes and eating them less frequently. What can I do to ease symptoms? You should avoid lying down right after a meal because the stomach produces a lot of acid at that time. Wait at least two hours before going to sleep and raise the head end of your bed by 10 to 20 centimeters. That will stop stomach acid traveling up towards your throat.
You'll find some over-the-counter treatment options at your local pharmacy. If those don't help or you start getting heartburn several times a week, it's a good idea to see a doctor. Giving up smoking and exercising regularly are great ways of addressing heartburn risk in the long term. Changing certain dietary habits should also prove effective, so favour lighter meals and reduce consumption of fatty foods. There you have it.
Now you know what you can do to relieve heartburn. In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know it for sure.
Bababam.