Heartburn and the Holidays Q & A

Newswise �?Heartburn does not have to be part of your holiday celebrations if you follow some simple suggestions from Dr. Gulchin Ergun, a gastroenterologist with The Methodist Hospital in Houston.

Q: What is heartburn?

A: Heartburn is a burning pain behind the breastbone. A person might also
experience an acid or burning taste in their throat, and in some cases, feel like food is coming up, especially when bending over or lying down. Some 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month. The biggest cause is the consumption of fatty and acidic foods.

Q: How do fatty and acidic foods cause heartburn?

A: When a person eats these foods, two things happen to the body: One, it takes
longer for the stomach to empty, and two it releases a hormone that causes the
sphincter, the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus, to drop. This
combination increases the possibility that stomach acid and food will make its way
up to the chest and cause heartburn. You should realize that traditional holiday foods by themselves don’t neccessarily cause heartburn. It’s the high fat items we put on them such as gravy, butter, sour cream, and a variety of cheeses that cause the problem.

Q: What are some ways to avoid heartburn?

A: Try not to lie down right after eating or within two to three hours of bedtime. If your sphincter is not working like it should, and you lie down after a big meal, the food has a clear path to travel all the way up to your chest and cause heartburn. Take an over-the-counter antacid (Zantac, Pepcid, etc.) before your meal. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes, mint products, chocolate (or at least eat in moderation), carbonated beverages, citrus and fruit juices and pecan pie (which is high in fat, apple pie is a better choice).

Q: Can chronic heartburn cause long term problems?

A: Chronic heartburn can lead to what is called Barrett’s esophagus or narrowing of the esophagus. Over time, if not treated properly, this can lead to esophageal cancer, which affects about one percent of the population, mostly men, usually over the age 55.