ABOUT HEARTBURN

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Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. Normally, when you swallow, a band of muscle around the bottom of your esophagus (your lower esophageal sphincter) relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach. Then the muscle tightens and contracts again. If your lower esophageal sphincter relaxes or weakens, stomach acid can flow back up into your esophagus - causing heartburn. 

Heartburn is a common condition that affects millions of people. A number of things can cause heartburn, like stress, spicy foods, acidic foods and beverages, over-eating, and foods with a high fat content.

Gaviscon® antacids are doctor-recommended and can keep stomach acid down for up to four hours.

*WHEN USED AS DIRECTED.

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  • EXPAND VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

    Heartburn, reflux, GERD, we hear these terms a lot, but very few people know the difference. Doesn't help that they have similar symptoms.
    Let's look at the differences.
    Heartburn is an uncomfortable and sometimes burning feeling you get in your chest and throat.
    It happens when a special valve called the lower esophageal sphincter, that’s present between the esophagus and stomach, doesn’t close properly or opens too often.
    This allows acid to splash up into the esophagus and can cause irritation and damage esophageal lining if left unchecked.
    Acid reflux is when your stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, which irritates the lining of your esophagus and can cause heartburn symptoms. If left untreated, it can damage the lining of the esophagus.
    When the special valve or lower esophageal sphincter doesn't close properly, it allows the stomach acid to reflux back into your esophagus too often. The reflux irritates the lining of the esophagus and can cause GERD.
    Basically acid reflux can cause heartburn, which can lead to GERD.
    If you'd like to know more, visit gaviscon.com.

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Heartburn and Your Diet

One thing you can do to reduce your risk of experiencing acid reflux, which can trigger heartburn, is to eat low-fat, high-protein meals. Eating smaller meals more frequently and making a plan to stop eating before you get too full will also help lower your risk. Certain foods can trigger heartburn as well.

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Heartburn And Pregnancy

Pregnancy slows your digestive system and the passage of food. Pregnancy hormones tend to relax the valve between your stomach and esophagus, which allows stomach acid to leak into your esophagus, causing heartburn. While heartburn during pregnancy can be severe, there are ways to alleviate it.    

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FACTS ABOUT HEARTBURN

  • EXPAND VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

    Hello...hey!
    We've talked a lot about heartburn, what it is and how to help make attacks less frequent, but let's talk about six interesting facts about heartburn.
    Relax when you eat.
    Feeling stressed when you eat in a rush can cause the stomach to produce more stomach acids. Try a relaxation technique like deep breathing or meditation.
    Chew gum.
    It encourages the production of saliva, which can be an acid buffer. Plus, chewing gum makes you swallow more often, which can push acids out of your esophagus.
    You may have heard that drinking a glass of milk can relieve heartburn.
    While it's true that milk can temporarily buffer stomach acid, nutrients in milk, particularly fat, may stimulate the stomach to produce more acid.
    How you sleep can affect how the acid in your stomach behaves.
    Sleep on your left side to help reduce nighttime heartburn symptoms and also sleep with your head raised with a pillow. It can help keep the acid down.
    Loosening your belt can help relieve pressure on your stomach.
    This allows your stomach to sit where it naturally should rather than pinching it and causing stomach acid to find a way out.
    Heartburn can feel like a heart attack.
    They both have symptoms that can leave you with pain in your neck, jaw and back. If you feel nauseous, have stomach pain, shortness of breath, OR chest pain accompanying these symptoms call an ambulance.
    If you'd like to know more, visit gaviscon.com.