Sunday, January 9, 2011

Heartburn New Year Resolutions

The beginning of a new year has always been a time we reflect on the changes we want or need to make. It is a time we make resolutions for change, and resolve to follow through on those changes. If you are thinking about making some changes in the coming new year on how you approach the care and treatment of your heartburn, the resolutions below will make a good start.

Photo by filipes (stock.xchng)Photo by filipes (stock.xchng)Your doctor will likely suggest lifestyle changes to help you control your heartburn. Other options include using antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to control your heartburn. Learning what your treatment options are is an important step in controlling your heartburn.zSB(3,3)Photo by Sharon GillsonPhoto by Sharon GillsonIt is important to keep a food diary or heartburn record so you can see what foods trigger your heartburn, and what helps relieve it.Photo by biewoef (stock.xchng)Photo by biewoef (stock.xchng)If certain foods cause your heartburn, mealtime may not be a pleasant experience for you. There are meal planning tips you can follow that can help you enjoy meals again.Photo by filipes (stock.xchng)Photo by filipes (stock.xchng)Eight out of every 10 heartburn sufferer will experience heartburn at night. You can prevent heartburn from keeping you up at night by following a few nighttime heartburn prevention tips.Photo Courtesy of PriceGrabberPhoto Courtesy of PriceGrabberHeartburn medication can work effectively for many people, but only if it is taken consistently and every day. If you find yourself forgetting to take your medication every day, you can try using a medication organizer. Some have alarms that will alert you when it's time to take your medication.Photo by Johanna Hantel (Getty Images)Photo by Johanna Hantel (Getty Images)

It can take awhile to bring your heartburn under control. Don't despair if your heartburn isn't totally gone after your first dose of medication or after the first meal you eat that doesn't contain your trigger foods. It can take time to bring your heartburn under control, especially if it's frequent and severe.

Photo by lovleah (stock.xchng)Photo by lovleah (stock.xchng)If you know you are going to a family gathering or restaurant where you won't have as much control over what is being served, you can plan ahead and take the steps needed to avoid heartburn. You can let your family know what foods are your heartburn triggers. If this won't always work, you can plan on taking your own food that you know won't trigger your heartburn. When it comes to restaurants, planning ahead and knowing what to order will go a long way in helping you prevent heartburn while dining out.Photo by filipes (stock.xchng)Photo by filipes (stock.xchng)There may be times when it seems that no matter what you do, nothing works and your heartburn keeps returning. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You can discuss your concerns with your doctor. The two of you may decide that a change in treatment is needed. Perhaps what you need is to be able to discuss your situation with other heartburn sufferers and get their tips for coping. The Heartburn Forum is a great place to do this.if(zSbL

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