Heartburn: Foods to Eat, Foods to Avoid Slideshow Pictures Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow Pictures Diverticulitis (Diverticulosis) Slideshow Pictures

Medical Treatment

In addition to medication, the following lifestyle modifications are recommended:

• Instead of eating large meals, eat small meals more frequently.
  
  
• Avoid caffeine-containing foods and beverages (for example, coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate).
  
  
• Avoid foods that decrease lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure (for example, peppermint, fatty or fried foods, alcohol).
  
  
• Avoid acidic foods that may irritate the esophagus (for example, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, tomato sauce).
  
  
• If overweight, lose weight. People with excess weight have an increased incidence of reflux disease.
  
  
• Quit smoking. Smoking weakens the LES and increases reflux.
  
  
• Do not eat immediately before bedtime.
  
  
• Avoid lying down immediately following a meal (ideally, you should wait at least 3 hours). Elevate the head end of your bed by 4-6 inches if you experience nighttime heartburn.