Research says that "those who keep in
frequent touch w/a large # of family &
friends,& have varied social life,suffer fewer
sniffles than those who spend regular time
w/only 1 or 2 people. It's known that love &
affection boost the immune system & may help
ward off infection."
Home Treatment
Eat smaller meals, and avoid late-night snacks.
Avoid foods that bring on heartburn. Chocolate, orange and tomato juices, peppermint- and
spearmint-flavored foods, caffeine-containing foods, fatty or fried foods, and carbonated drinks may
make heartburn worse.
Avoid alcohol, which irritates your stomach and esophagus and may make your symptoms worse.
Stop smoking. This is especially important because smoking promotes heartburn. Quitting will often
relieve heartburn completely.
If you are overweight, lose weight, even a few pounds. Being overweight can worsen heartburn.
Avoid tight-fitting clothes, such as tight belts and waistbands.
Raise the head of your bed six inches by placing a foam wedge or thick telephone books under the
mattress or legs of the bed frame.
Don't lie down too soon after eating. Try to stay upright for at least two to three hours after each meal.
Avoid large meals and snacks before bedtime.
Try acetaminophen rather than aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or other anti-inflammatory drugs, which may
cause heartburn.
Take an over-the-counter product for heartburn. Antacids, such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, and Gelusil,
neutralize stomach acid. Acid controllers, such as Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, etc., reduce the production
of stomach acid. Ask your pharmacist for advice in choosing one of these medications, and follow the
package instructions and your doctor's advice for their use.
