After eating spicy foods or fried foods, you might find yourself dealing with chest pain. This can also be accompanied by a burning in your throat or chest after eating or if you lay down after eating. This is known as heartburn and can be difficult to deal with. It can affect how you feel and impact your sleep. It’s important to understand how to manage heartburn and how it can be prevented. Your gastroenterologists at Great South Bay Endoscopy in East Patchogue, NY, can explain heartburn and what you can do to prevent it. 

Preventing Heartburn 

When you eat certain foods, it can affect your esophagus by weakening the sphincter. When the sphincter is weakened, it doesn’t close all the way which allows stomach acid to travel back up into your esophagus. This causes the burning sensation that is associated with heartburn. 

If you deal with heartburn at least twice a week, you should see your gastroenterologist in East Patchogue, NY, for care as soon as possible. There are things you can do to help prevent heartburn from happening. These are lifestyle changes that you may want to make to improve your health and stop the irritation that can happen from heartburn. 

You should avoid drinking alcohol or coffee because it can weaken your sphincter. Foods that are spicy, fried, greasy, or processed can also irritate your heartburn. You should also make sure that you wait to lie down for at least an hour after eating. If needed, you should also exercise to maintain a healthy weight and talk to your gastroenterologists about any medications you might need. 

Contact Our Gastroenterologist Today 

Make sure you understand what you can do to prevent heartburn from affecting you. Contact your gastroenterologists at Great South Bay Endoscopy in East Patchogue, NY, to learn about heartburn and what you can do to prevent it. Call for more information and to schedule your appointment today at (631) 307-9181.