Strangest Causes of Heartburn

Who hasn't looked at a big plate of spaghetti and thought- 'man am I gonna be paying for this in the morning'! Maybe they put a few too many olives in the sauce- maybe they went overboard when they spiced the noodles. Whatever the cause, you're certainly paying for it with heartburn. Yet acidic foods aren't the only triggers for heartburn. A few come right out of left field for the sole purpose of making the next few hours of your life unpleasant.

One of the strangest ways of getting heartburn? Going to bed too early. Now it isn't so much the sleeping that causes acid reflux- it's actually what you did only a short few hours before you decided to call it a night. Eating a meal anywhere between one to three hours before you go to sleep can potentially lead straight to heartburn.

What happens is this... Lying down, especially on your belly, can cause the contents of your stomach to be pressed against your lower esophageal sphincter- which may cause your food to reflux. Late nights snacks aren't as likely to bring you heartburn- assuming they happen to be small, innocent snacks like a few cookies or a single slice of pizza. Even so, there's always a chance the meal can reflux.

Some women complain of heartburn-like symptoms while menstruating. Some would argue that this is do a greater intake of fatty, acidic foods as per usual considering the circumstances. In much the same fashion, pregnant women are likelier targets for heartburn due to their often abnormal dietary habits. For women not eager to feel the joy of womanhood, childbirth, and heartburn- your best preventive action is to watch your intake of acidic food, no matter what cravings you might have.

Did you know that what you wear can potentially result in heartburn? Overtly tight clothing, specifically in the abdominal area, has the potential to compress your stomach and squeeze it's contents up to the lower esophageal sphincter. Just when you thought it was safe to try to squeeze into your high school uniform, you discover the awful truth!

The resulting heartburn is often worse because it comes without warning and doesn't begin to recede until the offending clothing is removed. The worst offenders happen to be heavily fastened belts, tight workout clothing, body-hugging undergarments, and other such tight articles of clothing. Keep your fashion in check if you want to dodge this heartburn bullet. Be smart- try not to relive your football or cheerleading days from two decades ago.

Yet another reason to quit smoking- cigarettes have the potential of giving you acid reflux. Both the repetitive physical action involved in smoking and (more infamously) the chemicals released by cigarette smoke weaken and corrode your lower esophageal sphincter. This not only makes it more likely you'll suffer heartburn- it also increases the length and severity of the symptoms. Do us all a favor and put that cigarette out!

Source(s)
Coping With Chronic Heartburn By Elaine Fantle Shimberg
Memphis, TN's Le Bonheur Medical Center