Prevention

You can make changes to your habits and lifestyle to prevent your symptoms of heartburn. Here are some things to try:

• Change how you eat.
  • It's best to eat several small meals instead of two or three large meals.
  • After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down. Late-night snacks aren't a good idea.
  • Chocolate, mint, and alcohol can make heartburn worse. They relax the valve between the esophagus and the stomach.
  • Spicy foods, foods that have a lot of acid (like tomatoes and oranges), and coffee can make heartburn symptoms worse in some people. If your symptoms are worse after you eat a certain food, you may want to stop eating that food to see if your symptoms get better.
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
• If you get heartburn at night, raise the head of your bed 6 in. (15 cm) to 8 in. (20 cm) by putting the frame on blocks or placing a foam wedge under the head of your mattress. (Adding extra pillows does not work.)
• Do not wear tight clothing around your middle. Lose weight if you need to. Losing just 5 to 10 pounds can help. For more information, see the topic Weight Management.

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• What are your main symptoms? Report any symptoms, such as abdominal pain, a change in bowel habits, or vomiting.
• How long have you had heartburn?
• Have you had this problem before? If so, do you know what caused the problem at that time? How was it treated? How did you respond to that treatment?
• Have you had any signs of bleeding from your digestive system?
• Have you had any difficulty swallowing when you eat or drink?
• How much tobacco do you use? How much alcohol do you drink? How much caffeine do you drink?
• Has your weight increased or decreased more than 5 lb (2 kg) recently?
• Have there been any changes in your diet? Are you eating certain foods more often?
• Have there been changes in your daily schedule, such as when you eat and when you go to bed?
• Are you taking any nonprescription or prescription medicines? Bring a list of all the medicines you are taking to your appointment.
• What home treatment measures have you tried? Did they help? Be sure to include lifestyle changes you have made.
• What nonprescription medicines have you taken or used to treat your heartburn? Did they help?
• Do you have any health risks?

It will be easier to make lifestyle changes if your family understands the reasons for the changes. Take a friend or family member to the appointment with you, and discuss diet and sleeping habits with your doctor.

Remember to take your heartburn symptom record(What is a PDF document?) to your doctor visit. Be sure to note any lifestyle changes you have made or nonprescription medicines you use.