Living with heartburn

If you suffer from heartburn on a regular basis, you should consult your doctor who can confirm the diagnosis and provide you with a treatment plan. However, you may find that certain things make your heartburn worse and avoiding these factors may reduce the number of episodes that you experience.

• You may find it useful to keep a diary of your symptoms and the food you eat, so that you can see which foods affect you.
  
  
• Avoid eating too close to bedtime. Try to leave at least two to three hours after a meal, before you go to bed.
  
  
• Avoid lying down after meals.
  
  
• Eat small regular meals.
  
  
• If you are overweight, try to lose weight.
  
  
• Do not wear tight clothing which may increase the pressure on you stomach.
  
  
• Raising the head of your bed by four to six inches may help reduce night time heartburn.