When the gastric juices in your digestive tract leak into the esophagus, the burning sensation you will feel around your chest and heart is called heartburn. This can be an extremely painful condition and in its more severe forms can even resemble a heart attack. The old adage prevention is better than cure” certainly holds true for this condition. It can be far better to avoid heartburn than to try to treat it during an episode.

Heartburn possibly has three main causes: the food you eat, medication you may be taking, or other medical conditions that can predispose you to heartburn. Ulcers, GERD and cancer may all trigger episodes of heartburn. Consequently, if in order to avoid heartburn it is important to understand the causes of your heartburn in order to prevent the onset of symptoms. Therefore it is advisable to seek the advice of a health care professional to achieve the correct diagnosis

If other illnesses or medication can be ruled out as a cause of heartburn then the solution to the problem may be caused by lifestyle. Spicy and greasy foods may need to be avoided at all times. Beyond this obvious and immediate adjustment you will need to undertake a lifestyle makeover. This includes overall diet, exercise and water intake. It is advisable to speak with your health care professional regading your diet and lifestyle changes. You will be able to discuss what changes are required taking into account your medical history and the impact they should have on your heartburn.

As well as these commonsense actions to avoid heartburn, it is important to avoid substances that commonly aggravate the problem. These may include tea, coffee, alcohol. Cigarette smoking may also create an environment in which heartburn is more likely. Furthermore, if you are chronically stressed you are possibly far more likely to experience heart burn than otherwise. Therefore, take a look at your lifestyle consult with your healthcare professional and find out what changes are required for you to avoid heartburn.

If you have been experiencing episodes of heartburn regularly, it is important to pay attention to what you have been eating, drinking and even doing leading up to the episode. By becoming more conscious about the triggers in your own life you can be proactive and avoid heartburn. For many people, some carbonated drinks cause heartburn. For others, the culprit will be a rich slice of cake. If you find you experience heartburn after taking medication (it doesn’t have to be an immediate reaction) it is important to visit your doctor and ask for another type of medication that will not be as likely to cause heart burn. If you can avoid the triggers, you will avoid the heartburn.

It only makes sense to do whatever you can to avoid heartburn. While it is usually not dangerous, it is extremely unpleasant and can severely impact your enjoyment of life. By avoiding the triggers you know cause you to experience heartburn as well as improving your overall diet and exercising regularly, you will be taking positive steps towards avoiding heartburn altogether. When you consider the unpleasant alternative, what choice do you really have?