Peppermint feels cooling and refreshing. That is probably why many people reach for peppermint tea or a mint after a heavy meal. But if you are prone to heartburn, there is a surprising catch: Peppermint may actually make your symptoms worse. This can be especially confusing because peppermint is also commonly used for digestive discomfort, … Read more
You eat a few pieces of chocolate after dinner. At first, everything seems fine. Then the burning starts in your chest. Maybe you taste something sour coming back into your throat, or the discomfort gets worse when you lie down. So you start wondering: “Was it the chocolate?” For some people, the answer is yes. … Read more
You finish a greasy burger, fried chicken, or a heavy dinner. Then the burning starts. Your chest feels hot, something seems to rise toward your throat, and you may wonder: “Why does fatty food always give me heartburn?” There is a good reason why high-fat foods are often mentioned when people talk about acid reflux. … Read more
You eat a bowl of spicy noodles or a plate of spicy food, and a few minutes later, your chest starts burning. Was it the chili? If you often get heartburn after spicy food, you may have already decided that you need to avoid anything hot and spicy. But there is an important distinction here. … Read more
That morning cup of coffee feels harmless—until the burning starts in your chest. If you notice heartburn after coffee, you may have wondered whether caffeine is the problem. And if you switch to decaf, should the heartburn disappear? The answer is a little more complicated than “coffee causes acid reflux.” Coffee can trigger or worsen … Read more
You finish a meal feeling completely stuffed. A few minutes later, you notice a burning sensation in your chest—or a sour taste coming back into your throat. You might wonder: “Did I eat too much?” Yes, eating a large meal can make heartburn more likely or make existing reflux symptoms worse. The reason isn’t simply … Read more
You finish dinner and suddenly feel like lying down. Maybe you’re tired after a long day. Maybe you want to watch TV on the couch. Or perhaps you ate late and bedtime is getting closer. Then you remember: “Am I supposed to wait before lying down after eating?” If you experience heartburn or acid reflux, … Read more
You make it through the day without much trouble, then get into bed—and suddenly the burning starts. Your chest feels hot. A sour taste comes up into your throat. Sometimes you may even wake up coughing or with an uncomfortable feeling in your chest. So why does heartburn seem to get worse at night? The … Read more
You finish a meal, put your fork down, and suddenly feel a burning sensation rising through your chest. Sometimes it happens after a large meal. Sometimes it happens after something as simple as coffee or a sandwich. So why does heartburn sometimes start almost immediately after eating? In many cases, it is because eating temporarily … Read more
Have you ever finished a meal and then noticed a burning feeling rising from your chest toward your throat? Maybe it happens after a large dinner. Maybe coffee triggers it. Or perhaps you feel fine during the day but suddenly get heartburn when you lie down at night. Occasional heartburn is common. But if it … Read more