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GERD: Controlling Heartburn by Changing Your Habits

Table of Contents


Overview

Symptoms of GERD can be painful and, if allowed to continue, can lead to complications including esophagitis. Esophagitis is irritation or inflammation of the esophagus.

You can make changes to your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms of GERD. Here are some things to try.


How can you help relieve symptoms of GERD?

Changing your eating habits

Developing healthier eating habits, losing weight if you need to, and avoiding foods that increase symptoms of GERD may make heartburn less likely to occur.

Here are some changes you can try.

Quitting tobacco use

If you smoke or chew tobacco, try to quit or cut back. The nicotine from tobacco relaxes the valve between the esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter). This can allow stomach acid and juices, the chemicals that break down food in the stomach, to back up (reflux) into the esophagus, which can cause heartburn.

Because the nicotine in tobacco is addicting, stopping the use of tobacco is more difficult than simply changing a habit. Those who successfully quit using tobacco usually use a combination of these strategies.

Changing your sleep habits

Here are some things you can try.

Reducing pressure on your stomach

Putting pressure on your stomach may push stomach juices into your esophagus, causing heartburn. Here are some things you can try.


Credits for GERD: Controlling Heartburn by Changing Your Habits

Current as of: October 19, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
Clinical Review Board (https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en)
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.


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