Heartburn, usually caused by acidic foodstuffs, is triggered by different things for different people. For some people heart burn is the result of a dairy diet. Swiss cheese along with cheddar and mozzarella cheese can cause flare-ups in certain cases. The common instigator found in most food items that cause heartburn is a high fat content. Fatty foods tend to affect the rate of digestion, increasing your likelihood of suffering from heartburn.
Other cases of heart burn are caused by a chemical known as histamine which is also found in Swiss cheese. Food containing histamines trigger symptoms of heartburn along with other reactions that mimic an allergic response such as headaches, flushing and increased heart rate. Histamines are most commonly found in cheese, spinach, egg plant and yeast.
According to The Mayo Clinic, excess weight can increase abdominal pressure and cause heartburn. You many decrease the occurrence of heartburn by not lying down for at least three hours after eating, elevating your head if you do lie down and eating smaller meals.
Food Items That May Cause Heartburn
Heartburn, a form of food intolerance, is mostly a genetic predisposition while others may also develop it due to over indulgence of certain food items. It is better advised to be careful when eating certain food items. Here is a list to keep you on your toes:
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Orange juice -
Lemonade -
Ground beef -
Buffalo wings -
Sour cream -
Ice cream -
Swiss cheese -
Wine -
Coffee -
Salad dressings, oil and vinegar -
Chocolate -
Potato chips
This is by no means a complete list, and in your personal situation, you may either find you can eat the foods from the list with no problem or have problems with foods not listed. It is a good idea to keep a Food Diary though. Write down what you eat, when you eat and any symptoms you may experience over a period of two weeks. This will help you and your doctor plan your diet and decide on any change in eating habits you may need.
Ways to Reduce Heart Burn
If you fail to improve your condition through such self-care methods, there are many over-the-counter medications available which significantly reduce symptoms of heartburn. Antacids are a popular source, but you can also take H2 receptors or proton pump inhibitors. These medications primarily reduce or block acid production that causes heartburn. Antacids work by neutralizing acid in the stomach and neutralize acid on contact to provide heartburn relief.
The acid buildup in your stomach causes irritation to the esophageal wall when stomach contents flow back into the food pipe causing heartburn. There are a number of options that are readily available such as cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, lansoprazole and omeprazole. You can also talk to your doctor for a prescription for most of these medications, which are generally stronger.
At-Home Treatments
For many chronic acid reflux sufferers, they want an alternate, natural way of treating their acid reflux. It is a common notion that drinking a glass of milk can relieve heartburn. While the statement is true that milk temporarily does buffer stomach acid, fat content in milk will stimulate the stomach to produce more acid. Try fat-free skim milk and don’t overdo it. Drink no more than 8 ounces of skim milk at a time as overfilling the stomach may increase heartburn.
It may sound strange, but chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva, which is an acid buffer. But be careful to pick a pack of gum that is sugar-free so you do not damage your teeth.
Before taking any medications or altering your diet, we highly recommend that you consult a doctor.