When heartburn starts, reaching for a glass of water seems like the simplest thing to do. Maybe you’ve heard that water can “wash away” stomach acid or dilute it enough to stop the burning. But does drinking water actually help heartburn? Sometimes it may provide temporary relief, but water is not a proven treatment for … Read more
You eat a few pieces of chocolate after dinner. At first, everything seems fine. Then the burning starts in your chest. Maybe you taste something sour coming back into your throat, or the discomfort gets worse when you lie down. So you start wondering: “Was it the chocolate?” For some people, the answer is yes. … Read more
You finish a greasy burger, fried chicken, or a heavy dinner. Then the burning starts. Your chest feels hot, something seems to rise toward your throat, and you may wonder: “Why does fatty food always give me heartburn?” There is a good reason why high-fat foods are often mentioned when people talk about acid reflux. … Read more
You eat a bowl of spicy noodles or a plate of spicy food, and a few minutes later, your chest starts burning. Was it the chili? If you often get heartburn after spicy food, you may have already decided that you need to avoid anything hot and spicy. But there is an important distinction here. … Read more
You finish a meal feeling completely stuffed. A few minutes later, you notice a burning sensation in your chest—or a sour taste coming back into your throat. You might wonder: “Did I eat too much?” Yes, eating a large meal can make heartburn more likely or make existing reflux symptoms worse. The reason isn’t simply … Read more
You finish a meal, put your fork down, and suddenly feel a burning sensation rising through your chest. Sometimes it happens after a large meal. Sometimes it happens after something as simple as coffee or a sandwich. So why does heartburn sometimes start almost immediately after eating? In many cases, it is because eating temporarily … Read more
Have you ever finished a meal and then noticed a burning feeling rising from your chest toward your throat? Maybe it happens after a large dinner. Maybe coffee triggers it. Or perhaps you feel fine during the day but suddenly get heartburn when you lie down at night. Occasional heartburn is common. But if it … Read more