The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say more than 60 million American adults lack quality sleep patterns. This means 60,000,000 people have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up refreshed.

The main culprits are alcohol, caffeine, nicotine or eating too much before bedtime . . . which, among other factors triggers nighttime heartburn.

Researchers in Oklahoma City studied 81 people who complained of sleep problems and found that 30% of them suffered from nighttime heartburn and didn’t even know it.

In Brazilian study, researchers studied nearly 100 adults who had sleep issues and found people with sleep problems were almost ‘twice as likely’ to suffer chronic nighttime heartburn (a.k.a. acid reflux, acid indigestion, gastroesophageal reflux disease) compared to others without sleeping pattern issues.

Leading health experts agree that eating smaller meals more often is better than eating 1, 2 or 3 large meals a day. Nighttime heartburn is associated with eating large meals, especially before lying down.

If you have to eat late, make sure you’re up doing something for at least 3 hours before bed. If you eat something like a snack, make sure it’s at least an hour and a half before you crash out on the couch, floor or bed.

Nighttime heartburn can be activated by sitting down and eating as well. The proverbial coach potato who eats and watches TV will most likely qualify as one of the 60 million Americans who have sleep disorders and odds are they have nighttime heart burn.

Here’s what to do if you want nighttime heartburn:

• Eat a big meal shortly before bed
• Drinking anything but water right before bed
• Don’t raise your head while sleeping
• Eat acid forming foods
• Get a milk or beer belly
• Smoke tobacco
• Consume less than 90% vegetables and fruits
• Mix your carbs and protein together
• Take antacids that cause acid rebound

Living without nighttime heartburn is a natural step you can take that also carries many other benefits such as living longer, being slimmer and having more vitality and overall health.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass

Health Advocate

Acid Reflux Disease is a painful disorder where the sufferer encounters heartburn at least twice a week. Treatments for this problem are wide ranging, from over the counter medications to natural solutions, to changes in the sufferer?s daily routine.

Medications

? There are several over the counter options that help neutralize stomach acid, like Tums or Mylanta.

? Prescription options can help target the specific cause of reflux.

o Proton pump inhibitors ? like Nexium and Prilosec ? and H2 blockers ? such as Zantac and Pepcid ? halt the production of stomach acids.

o Prokinetics ? like Reglan ? help push food through the system and strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter (the muscle that moves food into the stomach and helps prevent it from backing up into the esophagus).

o Foaming agents help coat the stomach and prevent the onset of reflux.

Natural Remedies

? Warm chamomile or fennel tea, when sipped, can help soothe a stomach irritated by heart burn.

? Apple cider vinegar has also been helpful during heartburn and with prevention of heartburn. Take 2 to 3 tablespoons to help relieve reflux, and dilute the same amount in a cup of water for prevention.

? Ginger can help alleviate all kinds of stomach discomforts, including heart burn. It can be mixed with hot water in tea form, consumed in candied form, or taken in pill form. All help relieve and prevent heartburn.

? Drinking a quarter of a cup of aloe vera juice may also prove to be helpful. Be careful though, as aloe from a house plant contains a powerful laxative and isn?t recommended for consumption. Only drink aloe vera juice that is meant for drinking.

? Yogurt that?s unflavored has helpful bacteria that aide in tightening stomach walls, preventing acid from being allowed up into the esophagus.

? Milk has been shown to help soothe heartburn. Drinking a glass may help relieve symptoms.

? Drinking a glass of water may also help. It dilutes the stomach contents and flushes them through the system, preventing pressure and acid to build.

Daily Changes

? Quit smoking! Among other detrimental health problems caused by smoking, heartburn has been shown to be caused by it.

? Less is more! Eat smaller meals more often. Eating a few large meals a day has been shown to overload the stomach, creating pressure and acid buildup which results in reflux.

? Don?t be a Scrooge! Avoid eating right before bed. Gravity helps keep acid where it belongs and lying down right after eating allows it into the esophagus where it can cause irritation.

? Watch what you eat! Track the foods you eat to help pinpoint which specific foods are triggers for heartburn.

? Beware! Monitor your intake of certain over the counter pain medicines ? like aspirin and ibuprofen ? as well as vitamins ? like calcium and potassium ? as they?ve been shown to spur acid reflux.

Surgery

While rare, sometimes reflux is so bad surgery is necessary. The procedure involves wrapping a portion of the upper stomach around the lower esophagus. This solution aids in tightening the muscles located in the lower esophagus and prevents acids from migrating out of the stomach. This is often a last resort of treatment.

For additional treatment ideas, please see our Reflux Remedy Report.

Treating anything during pregnancy can present its own set of obstacles. What can be taken that won?t affect the baby? What can I do to be more comfortable and get some rest? Heartburn can be a common and bothersome problem during pregnancy and finding a solution can be daunting. However, there are several options to stave off heartburn during pregnancy.

1. Prop a few pillows under your head when sleeping. This helps keep acids out of the esophagus and in the stomach where they belong.

2. Don?t eat right before you go to bed. Wait 2 or 3 hours before lying down after eating. Too much food in your stomach combined with lying down encourages acid into the esophagus.

3. Monitor what you eat. Certain foods can trigger heartburn consistently. Common ones can include alcohol, citrus, garlic and onions. Avoid specific foods that set your heartburn off.

4. Relax. Stress is a major producer of stomach acids. Deep breaths, yoga, counting to 10, anything that will help you de-stress can prevent heartburn.

5. Eat smaller meals more frequently. Bombarding your stomach with a large amount of food can cause pressure to build up and acid production into overdrive.

6. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly.

7. Avoid caffeinated drinks. Caffeine relaxes the muscles that control the flow of food to your stomach, which allows acid into the esophagus.

8. Drink a glass of water. It will help dilute acids and flush the stomach out.

9. Drink some milk, but in moderation. Milk can help neutralize acids, but also contains some fats that promote stomach acid production.

10. Try an apple. Some people have found heartburn relief from just one slice.

11. Chew a piece of gum. It causes you to salivate and dilutes acids in the stomach.

12. When lifting, don?t bend at the waist. Gravity is helpful in keeping stomach acids down where they belong. Bending with the knees keeps your alignment the way it should be.

13. Don?t smoke. Aside from a host of serious health problems for you and your baby, it?s shown to increase stomach acid production.

14. Avoid alcohol. Like caffeine, it relaxes the esophageal muscles, which allows acid to flow up instead of staying in the stomach.

15. Don?t wear tight fitting clothing. It can put pressure on the stomach, forcing acid into the esophagus.

16. Over the counter antacids like Tums may help, but always consult your doctor before taking any medications during pregnancy.

For more suggestions for getting rid of heartburn during pregnancy, please see our Reflux Remedy Report.

There are many people who suffer from heartburn – a painful, burning sensation that radiates from the upper chest and can make it all the way to the throat. While there are several medicinal options to treat the problem there are also a number of simple and natural ways to eliminate heartburn.

1. A glass of water helps dilute the contents of the stomach and push them through. This eliminates the opportunity for pressure to build and extra acid to be produced.
2. Ginger has long since been a treatment for stomach problems. Heartburn is no exception. It can be found in pills, candied or tea. All three forms help to prevent and alleviate heartburn.
3. Slippery Elm, once a popular remedy for sore throats, is now being shown to help heartburn sufferers. Though it’s not been proven to be scientifically beneficial, and has not been tested in pregnant women, it may help coat the esophagus.
4. Chewing gum promotes saliva production, which acts as water to dilute and flush out the stomach contents.
5. An amino acid called glutamine can also help. It disposes of damaged cells in the esophagus and promotes healing.
6. The oils found in a handful of almonds may relieve reflux in some sufferers.
7. Aloe Vera juice – not to be confused with aloe vera gel found in some household plants – can help prevent heartburn when consumed before meals. It’s important to distinguish between juice and gel, as the gel acts as a laxative when consumed. Be sure to use caution and find aloe vera juice that is labeled for consumption.
8. An enzyme that aids in digestion and helps prevent pressure and acid build up can be found in papaya.
9. Apples have been said to help soothe heartburn and some people even found relief after just a few slices.
10. Drinking a glass of milk may help, but don’t drink too much. Milk will help absorb acids, but it also has fats that can cause acid buildup.
11. Try to avoid heartburn triggers. Common ones include garlic, onion, caffeine, alcohol, and citrus. Watch what you eat to find your specific triggers.
12. Don’t eat right before bed. Gravity keeps stomach acids down and lying down allows them to creep into the esophagus.
13. Eat less more often. Eating fewer, larger meals has been shown to put pressure on the stomach and result in excess acid production.
14. Don’t smoke. Smoking has been proven to cause heartburn.
15. Take steps to reduce stress. Something as simple as deep breathing or counting to 10 can help prevent the onset of heartburn.
16. Sleeping with a few pillows under your head helps keep your esophagus elevated and stomach acids where they belong.
17. Losing a few pounds may help relieve the pressure on the chest and stomach extra weight can add.

For more information on natural and holistic treatment ideas for heartburn, please see our Reflux Remedy Report.