4 Things That Could Be Causing Your Heartburn

Do you suffer frequently from heartburn?

If you suffer from it more than 4 percent of the time, you may have GERD, or gastroesophogeal reflux disease.

Even if you don’t, you may be wondering why you experience heartburn.

You’ve probably heard it has to do with the stuff you eat, right?

Actually, there’s a pretty weak connection between certain foods and the increase or decrease of heartburn. It’s more likely to be how much, when, and under what conditions than it is to be what you eat.

So what are the causes? Here are just a few:

1. Drinking excessively. Alcohol can loosen up the sphincter in your esophagus, which is supposed to help keep your food down in your stomach. Loosening it means it bubbles up in the back of your throat and gives you that unpleasant feeling.
2. Your BMI is high. When you have some excess weight, your digestive system slows. It creates more pressure in your abdomen, which creates the same effect that alcohol does. Losing some excess weight can help this problem.
3. Your meals are enormous. It’s just like packing anything into a container: if you pack it too tight, some of it will spill over. The more food you eat, the more likely some of it is to try to make its way out. Keep track of how often and how much you eat, and see if this could be a cause.
4. You eat close to bedtime. Eating within two or three hours of going to sleep can make the food slide right back up into your esophagus. This is a huge heartburn causer. Even sitting back too far too soon can give you that effect, so be careful with how you treat your body after eating.