This Is What Really Causes Your Heartburn At Night
Most people have experienced an annoying burning in their chest after eating or while lying in bed at night. Heartburn is common and shouldn't be a cause for concern when it happens occasionally. However, it is uncomfortable and you should seek out ways to prevent heartburn when you can. According to Medical News Today, this condition happens when food and/or acid from the stomach leak up into the esophagus. It is easier for this to happen when someone is lying down, so many people experience heartburn at night after eating.
The most common causes of heartburn at night are eating too close to bedtime or eating a very large dinner. If a lot of food is still in your stomach when you lie down to go to bed, there is a greater chance that the food or stomach acid will leak into the esophagus and give you heartburn. You can remedy this by eating your last meal of the day earlier and avoiding snacks before you go to bed. Other causes of nightly heartburn include spicy food, high stress levels, drinking alcohol, or having obesity.
Other heartburn remedies
In addition to watching when you eat, watching what you eat is important when addressing heartburn. According to Mayo Clinic, different foods and drinks can trigger heartburn in people. Some of the most common causes are spicy foods, onions, citrus, tomatoes, and fried foods. If you avoid eating these foods, you may find heartburn relief.
However, cutting out foods alone may not be enough to stop frequent heartburn. There are many over-the-counter medications that can help manage your symptoms. Antacids like Tums, Alka-Seltzer, and Pepto-Bismol are frequently used to treat heartburn by neutralizing symptoms. Acid reducers like Nexium 24HR work by decreasing the amount of acid in the stomach, which reduces the likelihood of it leaking into the esophagus. If you don't want or need to take medication, you can also try some lifestyle remedies like sleeping on your side or elevating your head and chest in bed.