FEATURE

​

Common Lifestyle Factors that May Be Causing Your Heartburn​

 

Warmer weather is here which means backyard BBQ’s, campfire cookouts, and picnics are right around the corner. But if you suffer from frequent heartburn, food-based get-togethers may not be your cup of tea. But before you turn down your invite or spend even more money on your handy antacids, it’s important to note it might not be all the food’s fault...

Dr. Vikki Petersen, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, chiropractor and functional medicine doctor, dives into heartburn, what lifestyle factors could be causing it to flare up more frequently and why it’s important to acknowledge it rather than letting the problem go untreated.

“Heartburn is the inappropriate movement of your stomach acid up into your esophagus. Your stomach is a “bag of acid” and needs to be so highly acidic in order for you to properly digest your food. However, if your stomach spasms it can result in its contents (acid) shooting up into your esophagus. It can also be called GERD or reflux. Long-term exposure to acid can inflame your esophagus, leading to ulcers and even cancer. Antacids are dangerous in their own right as they have long term consequences on your digestion, immune system and bone health. It is critical to fully resolve the root cause of your heartburn,” says Dr. Vikki Petersen. 

So, what are some common causes of heartburn to look out for? Here are Dr. Vikki Petersen’s top 7 causes of heartburn to be aware of:

#1: Obesity 
Being overweight often is associated with an enlarged abdomen and weak abdominal muscles. Good core strength is important to balance the muscles involved in proper digestion. Interestingly, your core muscles are very involved in the proper function and tone of your diaphragm which sits just above your stomach and is a causative factor in heartburn when it is malfunctioning.

#2: Smoking
Smoking can relax the sphincter in your esophagus that, by design, prevents food from moving from your stomach into your esophagus. Integrity of this sphincter can be compromised by smoking.

#3: High-fat diet
Excessive “bad” fats put stress on the liver, gall bladder, and stomach. Such irritation can cause heartburn and the presence of inhospitable organisms in your gut. Try incorporating some lower-fat foods into your diet.

​

#4: Stress
High, chronic stress puts you into a state of fight or flight, a nervous system response that is incompatible with proper digestion. Good digestion relies on the nervous system being in balance - both the sympathetic and parasympathetic need to be working at full capacity, not just the "fight or flight' response of the sympathetic nervous system.

#5: Insomnia
Insomnia is often the result of heartburn because the irritation created by acid reflux tends to occur more often at night when you are lying down. If you are prone to heartburn try eating foods to reduce this, especially before bed, so you can get a better night's sleep.

​

#6: Too much caffeine
Excess caffeine can cause heartburn in some individuals. Caffeine can relax the sphincter in the lower esophagus that helps prevent food from moving in the wrong direction. If you are someone whose sphincter relaxes due to caffeine, you will suffer from more acid reflux.  

#7: Hiatal hernia
I wrote a book on the subject that goes into depth on this topic, but briefly, a hiatal hernia is when the stomach elevates, pushing on to or rising above the diaphragm. This incorrect positioning often results in the acid present in the stomach to move up into the esophagus with heartburn as a result.

So how can we avoid and treat heartburn? Here are Dr. Vikki Petersen’s top 3 tips and tricks for avoiding and alleviating heartburn naturally:

Tip #1: Eat slowly and chew your food well. 
Over-filling your stomach can cause it to spasm and move upwards, resulting in heartburn. Try eating more slowly and take more time to chew your food.

Tip #2: Do not lie down after eating. 
While it may be tempting, stay upright allowing gravity to assist digestion. Remember your digestive tract moves from the top down. If you lie down or hunch over it can interfere with efficient movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine.

​

Tip #3: Exercise is best done on an empty stomach. 
Wait at least 30 to 60 minutes, or until you no longer have any sensation of being full, before beginning exercise. Note: this does not include an easy stroll after a meal. Gentle movement like walking after eating actually assists digestion.