26-05-2025
How to deal with heartburn
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Most of us have experienced the burning sensation of heartburn at least occasionally, perhaps after eating a lot, eating too quickly or indulging in a spicy meal.
Heartburn, which is caused by acid reflux — when stomach contents back up into your esophagus and even mouth — also tends to crop up more often as we get older. 'Your esophageal sphincter, the muscle that prevents acid from rising up into your esophagus, loses tone as you age,' says Yi Qin, a gastrointestinal specialist at Cleveland Clinic. In addition, she says, as you age or gain weight, you're more vulnerable to a hiatal hernia, where the upper part of the stomach protrudes up through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity. Both stimulate acid reflux and heartburn.
