Top Heartburn Myths

Top Heartburn Myths

There are many “dos and don’t’s” when it comes to what to do when you experience a heartburn. Drink this, eat that, cut this out, increase that, and so on. Here are a few common heartburn myths to set the record straight.

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Poor diets cause heartburn: this is more of a generalized assumption, as there are many trigger foods for heartburn, not only fatty, fried foods.

Drink milk to ease heartburn: milk can soothe your stomach by neutralizing excess acids. However, eventually milk will trigger more acid production, and you end up in a vicious cycle. Additionally, milk is difficult to digest, which can cause even more stomach acid.

Continue taking acid reflux medicines forever: medication may solve your problems in the short run; however, they can become addictive with severe potential side affects. It is always a good idea to consult your doctor to see what alternative therapies will help tackle your heartburn with less or no medication at all.

No more spicy food: this doesn’t mean you have to eat plain, boring food. Try spicy foods in moderation; however, stop if it triggers your heartburn every time. It is a good idea to create a diet plan, making sure you get a varied, healthy diet.

Too much acid causes heartburn: this is not the case. Heartburn is caused by the weakening of the esophagus sphincter. The sphincter’s function is to make sure there is no backflow of acid from the stomach into the throat. However, over time, as you experience more heartburn, the sphincter weakens. It is unable to handle the pressure, causing acid to leak into the throat, and then causing heartburn.

Make an appointment with Dr. Darido today to discuss your heartburn problems, and see how you can get relief today!