What is heartburn?
Let's meet the main culprit, the lower esophageal sphincter.
It's a circular band of muscles at the bottom of your esophagus that acts as a valve to the stomach. In some people it doesn't open and close properly.
This allows the acid in your stomach to flow back up into the esophagus. Since it doesn't have the same protective lining as the stomach has, the acid can irritate sensitive tissues, which causes the pain known as heartburn.
What foods cause heartburn?
Certain types of food are possible heartburn triggers:
greasy & fatty foods
spicy foods
condiments
carbonated drinks
alcohol
dairy
certain fruits & veggies
tomato products
caffeine
greasy & fatty foods
spicy foods
condiments
carbonated drinks
alcohol
dairy
certain fruits & veggies
tomato products
caffeine
To see more everyday and surprising heartburn triggers, check our FAQs
What behaviours can trigger heartburn?
We all have quirky habits and most of them are harmless. However, there are quite a few that can cause heartburn:
- There are ones that we do knowingly, like eating large meals, eating too fast, or eating certain kinds of foods.
- Then there are ones we do without thinking about repercussions, like lying down or exercising after eating, which puts pressure on the stomach.
What physical changes can trigger heartburn?
Your own body can act as a trigger and cause the pain of heartburn. Pregnancy, certain foods, and obesity can all cause heartburn, just to name a few.
