Eating & Heartburn
Heartburn is your stomach acid creeping up where it doesn’t belong – your esophagus – and causing that burning sensation. “It usually happens because of something you ate,” said Rebecca McFarland, MD, a cardiologist with Baptist Health Medical Group. Another giveaway: You feel better after a few antacid tablets. That said, if you have heartburn more than twice a week, you may have what’s known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), so it’s worth mentioning to your physician.
Some foods have heartburn written all over them. “While they tend to be the more acidic eats, triggers can vary from person to person,” said Dr. McFarland. Here are some of the biggest culprits:
- Spicy foods
- Fatty foods
- Tomato-based foods
- Coffee
- Citrus
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Onions
Being pregnant or taking certain medications can also cause you to feel the burn.
