It's best to eat several small meals instead
of two or three large meals.
After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours
before you lie down. Late-night snacks aren't a good
Chocolate, mint, and alcohol can make heartburn worse. They
relax the valve between the esophagus and the stomach.
foods that have a lot of acid (like tomatoes and oranges), and coffee can make
heartburn symptoms worse in some people. If your symptoms are worse after you
eat a certain food, you may want to stop eating that food to see if your
symptoms get better.
Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
get heartburn at night, raise the head of your bed
6 in. (15 cm) to
8 in. (20 cm) by putting the
frame on blocks or placing a foam wedge under the head of your mattress.
(Adding extra pillows does not work.)
Do not wear tight clothing
around your middle. Lose weight if you need to. Losing just 5 to 10 pounds can
help. For more information, see the topic
In this article
This information is produced and provided by the National
Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National
Institute via the Internet web site at http://
.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
July 05, 2013
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this