Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Turkey, chocolate and sparkling wine – these are all things that many Britons will surely be indulging in during the festivities.
But for some, painful heartburn And the risk of indigestion is getting in the way of Christmas cheer, with GP Dr Hilary Jones saying it has hit NHS People are asking for advice about the website every 13 seconds on December 25 stomach irritation,
Heartburn is a burning sensation that also occurs due to the movement of stomach acid towards the throat. known as acid reflux,
This is usually felt directly in the chest, but can also extend to the throat and result in an acidic or bitter taste in the mouth.
The pain is often worse after eating, lying down, or in the evening, and although it is not usually a cause for concern, it can be very uncomfortable.
Here we will see what is heartburn and how to avoid it:
What is heartburn?
According to the NHS, heartburn is a burning sensation caused by acid reflux, which occurs after meals or at night.
This happens when stomach acid rises toward the throat. If this continues to happen, it may be called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
The main symptoms of acid reflux are a burning sensation in the middle of your chest and an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth, caused by stomach acid.
You may also have cough or hiccups that become frequent, hoarse voice, bad breath, or feel bloated or sick.
Symptoms often become worse after eating, lying down, and bending over.
What is the cause of heartburn?
The NHS says that although there is no obvious cause of heartburn, certain foods and drinks can make it worse.
This includes coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods.
Other factors include being overweight, smoking, pregnancy, stress and anxiety, and increases in certain types of hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen.
Some medications, such as ibuprofen, can also make heartburn worse.
Other causes include hiatus hernia, which occurs when a part of your stomach moves into your chest, stomach ulcers or a bacterial infection in your stomach.
how to avoid heartburn
There are some simple ways to avoid heartburn, including which foods to eat and which to avoid and even which side to sleep on.
Speaking to Lorraine Kelly on Thursday, Dr Hilary Jones advised people to try to avoid too many fry ups and opt for a bowl of yogurt instead.
“All that fat, all that fat, means your stomach stays full for a long time with a lot of acid,” he said.
His second piece of advice was to replace acidic bubbles like Champagne with more stomach-friendly festive beverages like red wine or gin.
Eating earlier can also help relieve heartburn, Dr. Jones said: “It takes two to three hours for your stomach to empty, so it’s best to sleep on an empty stomach rather than on a full one.”
Dr. Jones said it’s best to sleep on your left side when you go to bed: “Using gravity and anatomy, you’re less likely to get heartburn on the left side because your stomach is more on the left side.”
The NHS says that medicines called antacids or alginates can help to reduce your symptoms. These are best taken with food or immediately after eating, as this is when you are most likely to get heartburn.