Yuletide Heartburn in Atlanta

Ho. Ho. Ho…Heartburn?

Careful as you reach for that second glass of eggnog. The holidays are a favorite time of year for many of us, but as we look back on fine childhood memories of turkeys and sugar cookies, there is one thing that we often leave out of the montage—heartburn.
In Atlanta, acid reflux and heartburn are big problems year round, but for many people the issue only gets worse during the holiday season. That is because the month in between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is filled with holiday parties, seasonal treats and excuses to partake in foods and beverages that you do your best to avoid all through the year.
It comes as no surprise to many people that during this one month of the year the average weight gain is about 7 pounds—and weight gain is another factor that can worsen your heartburn.
This holiday season, do your heartburn a favor by thinking along the lines of preventative healthcare and avoid the following holiday heartburn pitfalls:

• Don’t overdo it on the holiday “spirit.” While it may not be much of a party without a bit of booze, the party could be over for you if your heartburn sets in. Alcohol relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, causing heartburn to worsen. Hot toddies and spiked eggnog are great when the cool nights settle in Atlanta, but don’t overdo it.
• Leave the cookies for Santa. Fat-filled foods take longer to digest and can worsen heartburn. Especially be wary of the chocolate variety as the sweet treat can also relax the LES, making it difficult for you to escape acid reflux and heartburn.
• ‘Tis the season to be jolly. Do your best to roll with the punches and avoid the looming Grinch-like attitude. Stress can severely impact your digestive health and heighten your sensitivity to pain, which can become a double whammy when it comes to heartburn and acid reflux in Atlanta.
• Puts fats on the Naughty list. Fatty foods are a staple of wintertime eating, but they don’t need to be the primary component of your holiday diet. Skip on the gravy, go easy on the cheesy potatoes and pass on hors d’oeuvres. A few substitutions you can add to your “nice” list include olive oil instead of creamy salad dressings, low-fat dairy products in place of fattening creams and baked meats instead of fried ones.

If all you want for Christmas is a heartburn-free day, then make a few of these dietary adjustments as the holiday season passes by. For more assistance overcoming heartburn and acid reflux in Atlanta, contact your GERD surgeon.