Newswise — Heartburn does not have to be on the menu along with turkey and dressing this holiday season.
"The turkey, dressing (as long as it is cooked outside the turkey), green beans, and sweet potatoes by themselves will not cause heartburn because they are not high in acid or fat," said Dr. Gilchy Ergun, a gastroenterologist with The Methodist Hospital in Houston. "It's the high fat items we put on them such as gravy, butter, sour cream, and a variety of cheeses that cause the problem."
Heartburn is a burning pain behind the breastbone. A person might also experience an acid or burning taste in their throat, and in some cases, feel like food is coming up, especially when bending over or lying down. Some 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month. The biggest cause is the consumption of fatty and acidic foods.
"When a person eats these foods, two things happen to the body: One, it takes longer for the stomach to empty, and two it releases a hormone that causes the sphincter, the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus, to drop," said Ergun. "This combination increases the possibility that stomach acid and food will make its way up to the chest and cause heartburn."
Since eating fatty foods in moderation, or not at all during the holidays, is not something most of us will do, there are other ways to try and avoid heartburn.
"Try not to lie down right after eating or within two to three hours of bedtime," said Ergun. "If you sphincter is not working like it should, and you lie down after a big meal, the food has a clear path by which to travel all the way up to your chest and cause heartburn."
Here are some other ways to deal with heartburn:
"¢Take an over-the-counter antacid (Zantac, Pepcid, etc.) before your meal.
"¢Avoid alcohol and cigarettes (both stimulate acid production), mint products (peppermint or spearmint), chocolate, cranberry sauce, relish, tomato sauce, ketchup, pepper, mustard, and vinegar.
"¢Avoid carbonated beverages, and citrus and fruit juices.
"¢Pecan pie is high in fat. Apple or pumpkin pies are better choices.
Chronic heartburn can lead to what is called Barrett's esophagus or narrowing of the esophagus. Over time, if not treated properly, this can lead to esophageal cancer, which affects about one percent of the population, mostly men, usually over the age 55.
"Everyone has a problem with heartburn from time to time, so if you have it after eating a big holiday meal, there is a not a big cause for concern," Ergun said. "However, if the problem persists after the holiday season, and you begin to experience things like trouble swallowing, nausea or vomiting on a regular basis, you should see a physician to fix the problem before it turns into a life-threatening illness."
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