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Overeating: Overeating increases the sphincter. Fatty food breaks down slowly,
pressure in the stomach, causing the acid to causing the acid in the stomach to increase
travel upwards. and rise upwards, into the oesophagus.
Pregnancy: Increase in progesterone Research found people indulging in fatty
during pregnancy, causes laxity of the LES, food for long periods of time showed more
leading to heartburn. signs of heartburn. Also, controlling the
Constipation: Constipation also increases diet, and reducing fats for certain time,
abdominal pressure, thereby increasing reduced the symptoms by a large margin.
acidity.
Hiatus hernia: A medical condition in
which the stomach herniates into the chest.
If severe, it can result in food and acid
travelling up the oesophagus.
Smoking: Smoking can cause laxity of the
LES, causing acidity. It has been observed
that people who give up smoking also
complain less of suffering from heartburn.
Stress and lack of sleep: They can trigger
the production of excessive acid by the
stomach, causing acidity. Stress can also Fatty foods like French fries can loosen the sphincter
induce brain changes that make you more Mint: Certain types of mint, like spear
sensitive to pain, thereby worsening and peppermint, are known to reduce LES
symptoms. pressure, causing heartburn.
Drugs: Certain drugs like anti-histamines, Chocolate: Chocolate has ingredients
NSAIDS and antibiotics can lead to like cocoa and caffeine, which relax the
heartburn. LES, allowing the flow of acid into the
Foods: Spicy food is known to cause oesophagus.
acidity. Alcohol: Not only does alcohol make the
There are some foods in particular which LES lax, it also increases the amount of
can trigger off an attack: acid in the stomach. In addition, the alcohol
Spicy food: they are by far the most itself acts like an irritant to the throat and
common reason for heartburn. They upper oesophagus.
possibly cause the upper part of the
stomach to relax, also relaxing the LES.
They may also irritate an already inflamed
oesophageal lining, worsening the existing
symptoms even further.
Fatty food: Foods rich in fat, like French
fries, onion rings, certain high fat dips,
can trigger heartburn. They may increase
the release of bile salts, which are
oesophageal irritants and hormones like
cholecystokinin, which can loosen the Raw onions can be a nightmare for your gut

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