| When food is swallowed, it enters a foot long tube | | | | often accompany holiday dinners such as |
| that connects your throat to your stomach. This is | | | | Thanksgiving and Christmas. Eat moderately of foods |
| called the esophagus. A ring of muscles known as the | | | | that are particular offenders such as greasy, high-fat |
| lower esophagal sphincter is located at the bottom of | | | | foods, citrus fruits, and tomato products. Some |
| the esophagus. The food travels down the | | | | people also benefit by reducing their intake of |
| esophagus to the esophagal sphincter, which then | | | | caffeine. |
| relaxes to allow the food to pass into the stomach. | | | | There are also many alternative remedies available. A |
| Once this happens the sphincter tightens again, | | | | very popular one is to take a teaspoon of baking |
| awaiting the next particle of food. This is the normal | | | | soda in a cup of water. However, be sure the baking |
| action of this muscle group. However, if the sphincter | | | | soda you have is the type that can be used for this. |
| fails to tighten, stomach acids can back up into the | | | | Some containers of baking soda specify it is not to |
| esophagus. When this happens, a painful condition | | | | be used for indigestion. Read your product |
| called heartburn occurs. Heartburn is also called | | | | information carefully. A popular Asian remedy is to |
| indigestion. | | | | take ginger root after eating. Ginger helps to absorb |
| Symptoms are a pain in the lower abdomen or upper | | | | the acid and the capsules are available in any health |
| chest, a bloated sensation, and a bitter taste in the | | | | food store. Teas made from herbs such as |
| mouth, all of which occur right after eating. Twenty | | | | peppermint, catnip and fennel help some people. |
| to thirty percent of Americans experience these | | | | Many times indigestion and heartburn are associated |
| conditions. There are probably many more as many | | | | with stress. In this case, the conditions can be |
| people self medicate for indigestion and heartburn so | | | | prevented by stress reduction techniques such as |
| the case is never recorded. There is a large supply of | | | | yoga, hypnotherapy, and biofeedback. Acupuncture |
| antacid medications available over the counter and | | | | has also been helpful for some people. In some cases |
| there are also many alternative treatments. Smokers | | | | certain foods such as exceptionally greasy or fatty |
| and people who are overweight suffer are most | | | | foods trigger attacks. Such attacks can be easily |
| susceptible to these conditions. | | | | prevented by identifying and avoiding the trigger |
| In addition to medications, there are preventative | | | | foods. Just about everyone suffers from an |
| measures to follow. One should not eat hurriedly and | | | | occasional episode of heartburn or indigestion. |
| should relax following a meal. It is important to wait | | | | However, if these conditions recur, people should |
| an hour or two before exercising. Exercise will draw | | | | inform their doctor. Recurring bouts of acid reflux can |
| blood away from the stomach where it is needed for | | | | damage the esophagus through scar formation. Also, |
| the digestive process. Wait at least two hours after | | | | recurrent symptoms can indicate or lead to more |
| eating or even three before lying down. Avoid | | | | serious illnesses. |
| consuming large meals. Heartburn and indigestion | | | | |