So what is heartburn/GERD? In a nutshell, the two are a little different with heartburn affecting people in less severe ways than GERD. Heartburn is a condition which you’ll experience occasionally although there are those with frequent and chronic heartburn who do suffer it more regularly.

Heartburn/GERD is also known as gastroesophagel reflux disease and a more serious condition. When someone reaches this stage then they’ve got something thinking to do particularly if they haven’t sought medical assistance. A word of warning - by trying to go it alone and refusing to seek some medical help means Heartburn/GERD could even develop into a more serious condition, sometimes life threatening.

Avoiding Heartburn/GERD

There are some things you can do or be aware of to cut down the incidence of heartburn/GERD. For instance, avoid eating late at night. This is a point which is continually pushed home by experts yet people don’t seem to be getting the message.

One of the reasons for this is the refusal to make any lifestyle changes. Many are reluctant to compromise their current lifestyle habits and instead, will deal with heartburn when it affects them. This is not a sensible choice because making changes to one’s lifestyle is getting on the right track to eliminating Heartburn/GERD from their lives.

Laying down after a meal is another mistake. In fact, this relates to eating late at night which could even be as early as 7-8pm. Once a person has eaten, the general thing is to sit or lay in front of the TV but if you’re a heartburn/GERD sufferer then this is inviting another attack.

Another cause is diet which again relates to lifestyle. A diet high in fatty foods, dairy products, spicy foods, tomatoes products, and caffeine and citrus is a leading cause of frequent heartburn and GERD. Into days food the general eating habits contribute as well. Many people consume fast foods on the go and drink large amounts of caffeine and carbonated drinks.

Heartburn/GERD Diagnosis And Symptoms

Symptoms are recurrent heartburn, pain or discomfort with acid when lying down, frequently waking up with heartburn at night, coughing or choking feeling, difficulty swallowing, sour taste or stomach acid coming up in the mouth and throwing up blood. These symptoms require that you see your health care specialist for diagnosis and treatment.

If your doctor suspects that you may be suffering from heartburn/GERD they may recommend several different types of tests. A barium x-ray is a somewhat uncomfortable procedure that could help determine if there is heartburn/GERD as well as a test called the endoscopy where a lighted tube is inserted down the throat to examine the esophagus and stomach.

The term heartburn food can be a little misleading simply because what affects some people may not affect others.

The fact that heartburn can be experienced at different levels by different people means the onus is on you to determine what foods cause you grief and then avoid them or at least, try to enjoy them in moderation.

One of the best ways to establish which foods to give a wide berth is to simply keep a list of the episodes of heartburn you experience and what food intake you had prior to the attack. Foods don’t just include solids; drinks such as coffee and alcohol can fall under the food banner so don’t dismiss them during your analysis.

Once you’re happy that your list is complete, it’s time to set up an appointment with your doctor and discuss the list and ways you can prevent heartburn episodes from occurring in the future. Your doctor will make some valuable suggestions which you should take note of and may even suggest or prescribe medication or relief for you.

One of the important considerations you should discuss with your doctor is diet. He/she may make suggestions but more likely refer you onto an experienced dietician.

If this is starting to sound all too hard remember, heartburn is a painful experience and when you start to think that it’s too much trouble to make some alterations to your lifestyle just think of that last heartburn attack you suffered.

Heartburn Foods

The most common heartburn foods, even though it is not necessarily the same for all are:
- acidic juices or fruits

- greasy food and caffeine

- all types of coffee and tea can produce heartburn as well as sodas that contain caffeine

The most common symptoms of heartburn are:

- burning sensation

- pain in the chest and heart area

- bloating and belching

- nausea

All heartburn symptoms will occur after you have eaten something and that is how you must try to identify the types that causes it so, you will be able to control it in the future.

Heartburn medication available without prescription must be administered carefully and only after reading the label thoroughly.

If your heartburn persists or gets worse consult a doctor immediately and don’t over dose on the heartburn medicine as it may cause more harm then benefit in the end.

It all comes down to commonsense in the end. Whatever heartburn food causes you grief, simply avoid it or take it in moderation. But follow the steps above and keep a record of what precedes your heartburn episode. It’s the best way to identify heartburn food.

Avoiding heartburn is as simple as identifying what triggers it in your case and then devising a diet around it. A heartburn diet may mean you will have to eliminate some of your favorite foods but compare this to the pain of suffering an attack.

Creating a diet for heartburn on your own means identifying both the foods and drinks which seem to disagree with you. Once you have a list and think you’ve got all the triggers covered, make an appointment with your doctor and discuss these with him/her.

Together, you will come up with a plan of attack. Controlling heartburn starting with your diet is the vital first step. Let’s take a look at some of the more common foods you should avoid which can trigger a heartburn attack.

Heartburn Food Triggers

The following is by no means the complete list and it may very well be that you can still consume some of these. But research shows that the following are high on the most wanted list of heartburn triggers:

- Fruit and vegetables including orange, lemon and cranberry juice. Tomatoes are also a no-no while mashed potatoes and fries can play havoc with your system.

- Meats and dairy products including ground beef and buffalo wings while dairy items such as sour cream, ice cream and cottage cheese can trigger off attacks.

- Some grains will trigger heartburn. Items including dressed macaroni and spaghetti should be avoided.

- Drinks including alcohol and coffee can bring on heartburn.

- Dressings including oils and fats should also be avoided.

“Safe” Foods

At the other end of the spectrum, foods which you should consider as part of your diet for heartburn include fruits and vegetables such as apples and bananas, baked vegetables such as potatoes, broccoli, cabbage and carrots.

Lean meats including beef and steak and broiled meats as well as broiled fish are considered good alternatives. Goat cheese plus fat free and low fat dairy products should always be considered over full fat versions.

Consider cereals such as bran along with multi-grain bread. Brown rice can be added to the list along with corn bread. Stick with mineral-based drinks such as water and keep any sweets or dessert intake fat free.

These are just an example of what’s hot and what’s not and should be used only as a guide. Discuss them with your doctor and if you’re really serious about maintaining a good diet for heartburn, then consulting a dietician will be a smart move.