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Acid Reflux Causes & Symptoms

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How familiar is this scenario: you’ve just finished a rich, delicious meal, when all of a sudden you feel a burning sensation in your chest, along with a sour taste in the back of your throat. Not only is that great meal suddenly not as great, but your fun night can quickly turn into a frustrating search for relief.

If you’ve experienced this more than a few times in your life, you’re not alone. About one in five Americans experience frequent heartburn symptoms, which can be caused by acid reflux.

If you’ve been wondering what causes acid reflux, signs of acid reflux, how heartburn is connected to it, and how to possibly avoid it and find relief, keep reading!

What Causes Acid Reflux, and How Is It Connected to Heartburn?

Acid reflux (which typically occurs after eating) is caused when our lower esophageal sphincter (a muscle located between the esophagus and stomach) doesn’t close completely, allowing stomach acid to flow backwards up into the esophagus. Acid reflux is the medical term that describes this backwards flow of acid.

Heartburn, which is a burning sensation in your chest, is one of the symptoms of acid reflux. It occurs when stomach acid gets backed up into the esophagus, causing a burning pain in the chest.

If you experience acid reflux symptoms more than twice a week, you may be dealing with a chronic health issue and should make an appointment with your doctor to discuss what’s going on.

Ways to Avoid Occasional Acid Reflux Symptoms

If heartburn occasionally gets in the way of a good time, there are few things you can do to avoid it. First, know your trigger foods. While everyone’s trigger foods are different, common ones are: spicy foods, fatty foods, carbonated drinks, caffeine, and chocolate.

A few other ways to avoid heartburn and acid reflux are:


  • Lose weight if you’re outside of the healthy range
  • Avoid lying down for at least three hours after eating
  • Use bed rises to help you sleep on an incline
  • Quit smoking
  • Eat smaller meals, more slowly

How to Find Relief From Occasional Acid Reflux Symptoms

Finding relief from occasional heartburn after it’s already happened is as easy as popping open a container of TUMS Chewy Bites Cooling Sensation. These chewy bites relieve heartburn, sour stomach, and acid indigestion fast, thanks to their primary active ingredient: calcium carbonate.

Acid reflux and heartburn don’t have to take over your life! Talk to your doctor, know your triggers, and keep TUMS close by, so that your next night out can be all about food, fun, and friends!

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