Heartburn Triggers You May Not Know About

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffer from heartburn, you’ve probably learned to avoid the foods that are most likely to trigger your acid reflux disease. But did you know that your heartburn could be triggered by more than spicy or fatty foods?

4 Heartburn Triggers You May Not Know About

• Smoking: Nicotine can weaken your LES, the valve between the stomach and esophagus that is supposed to prevent acid from flowing back into your esophagus. It also reduces your saliva production. Saliva helps to flush acid out of your esophagus and also contains bicarbonates, which are natural antacids.
• Ibuprofen: This over-the-counter pain reliever can actually bring on heartburn pain. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a class of drugs that are known to trigger heartburn in some patients.
• Prescription medications: When your doctor recommends a new medication, be sure to ask about possible side effects. Some types of antibiotics, high blood pressure medication, asthma medication, osteoporosis treatments, and sedatives may increase your risk for heartburn.
• Fish oil supplements: Are you taking fish oil supplements to try to improve your mood, weight, or heart health? It may be triggering your heartburn symptoms. The higher concentration of this oil found in supplements can affect your digestive system, although eating fish may actually help alleviate some of your heartburn problems.

If you suffer from heartburn two or more times per week, you may have GERD. Avoiding these triggers can help you reduce the frequency of heartburn symptoms, but your doctor may also be able to recommend a more permanent solution to your problems.