From candy canes to cocktail parties, the season’s foods and festivities can trigger heartburn symptoms in people who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, known as GERD, is a chronic digestive disease that occurs when acid produced by the stomach (to help digest the food we eat) refluxes (flows backward) into the esophagus. This results in the typical symptom of heartburn.
The esophagus, or food pipe, is an approximately 10-inch-long, one-inch-wide tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach. At its base is a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES opens to allow food into the stomach when we eat, and then closes to prevent the contents of the stomach from backing up into the esophagus. Sometimes, however, the sphincter doesn’t work properly, and the stomach acid enters the esophagus.
Acid that refluxes into the esophagus can cause irritation and heartburn. Other symptoms can include pain or tightness in the upper or middle chest, a sour or bitter taste in the mouth, soreness and burning in the back of the throat, hoarseness, coughing and difficulty swallowing.
While heartburn is a common digestive symptom that most people experience from time to time, frequent sufferers – more than twice a week – are particularly susceptible during the holidays, when high-fat treats at social gatherings, alcoholic beverages, and a host of other “offending” foods are more prevalent.
“The best way to prevent acid-reflux discomfort is to avoid the foods and beverages that cause the symptoms,” said gastroenterologist Andrew R. Conn, MD, of the Cooper Digestive Health Institute. “Pay attention to what you eat and drink, particularly if you know which of these will trigger your symptoms. During the holidays, things such as chocolate, caffeinated beverages and alcohol are typical foods that can result in heartburn,” Dr. Conn said.
Certain foods and ingredients are considered “offending” because they’re known to relax the function of the lower esophageal sphincter and thereby promote reflux. Not everyone experiences symptoms from all of the offending foods all of the time, but here are the ones to watch out for:
- Chocolate
- Peppermint
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Fats
- Spices
- Acidic foods and beverages (e.g., tomato- and citrus-based foods, juices and carbonated beverages)
In addition, smoking, consuming large meals, exercising soon after eating, being overweight, and eating snacks or meals less than 3 to 4 hours before lying down also can aggravate reflux.
“Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn by making changes in their diet and lifestyle, and by taking over-the-counter medications. But for people with GERD, these remedies may offer only temporary relief. People with GERD may need stronger medications or other therapies to reduce symptoms, and to prevent erosion of and damage to the esophagus. Proper diagnosis and treatment is essential for those who suffer from frequent acid-related gastrointestinal discomfort,” Dr. Conn said.
— by Denice Ferrarelli