Survey Reveals Heartburn Sufferers Experience More Heartburn During The Holidays

Main Category: Acid Reflux / GERD
Also Included In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology;  Anxiety / Stress;  Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 14 Nov 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Heartburn remains a burning problem for more than 60 million Americans each month(1), and this November, the National Heartburn Alliance (NHBA) is recognizing the need for heartburn education by sponsoring the first ever Heartburn Awareness Month.

Recent survey results show that 66% of people experience heartburn symptoms during the holiday season. Additionally, and overwhelming 94% of people said they would enjoy the holidays more if they didn't have to worry about heartburn.

"November is a perfect time for heartburn sufferers and healthcare professionals to address heartburn, because more people tend to over-indulge in holiday meals," says Pat Baird, Registered Dietitian and NHBA Board member. "By incorporating lifestyle changes into their diets, heartburn sufferers can learn to alleviate symptoms so they can enjoy the holidays."

Pat Baird offers these for a "heartburn friendly" holiday season:

-- Don't overindulge. Allow yourself to eat your favorite holiday foods, but try smaller portions. Keep in mind that too much of a good thing can lead to heartburn.

-- Avoid heartburn triggers. Red wine, foods with high fat content, and spices are just a few common heartburn triggers.

-- Control late night munchies. Try not to eat late at night or right before going to bed to decrease your chances of suffering from nighttime heartburn.

-- Keep your cool. Stress levels tend to increase during the holidays. Relax by taking a few moments for yourself each day. Consider taking a 10-minute walk after a holiday dinner for some stress-free quite time.

-- Moderation is the key. From Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve, holiday celebrations and alcoholic beverages are plentiful. If you are going to drink, choose cocktails that are easier on the tummy, such as a wine spritzer (white wine and club soda).

The goal of Heartburn Awareness Month is to screen, educate and treat heartburn sufferers. The NHBA encourages all heartburn sufferers to proactively visit their healthcare providers during the month of November, to receive information about heartburn so they can eliminate symptoms when they are more likely to indulge in holiday meals and spirits.

"Many people don't know that the foods and drinks they enjoy around the holidays may contribute to heartburn symptoms," says Jan Engle, Pharm.D. at the University of Chicago at Illinois and NHBA Vice Chair. "Heartburn Awareness Month in November raises awareness about these triggers so that sufferers can find the appropriate treatment options and enjoy their holidays."

Additional Survey Results

-- 94% of adults surveyed believed that over-eating is the cause of holiday heartburn; 18% of those surveyed blamed eating at abnormal hours and 16% believe stress is the main factor or holiday heartburn

-- 55% of survey respondents believe that eating highly acidic foods during the holidays is the reason they suffer from heartburn, followed by eating fatty meats (20%) and drinking alcohol (11%)

The National Heartburn Alliance is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of heartburn sufferers through education, information and support. Nationally recognized health care professionals, including experts in digestive disease, pharmacy, nutrition and nursing, comprise the Alliance. The NHBA receives support and sponsorship from the P&G Health Sciences Institute (http://pghsi.com).

Synovate Inc.'s online Global Opinion Panel was used as the sample source for this study. This is a national household database consisting of over 1.4 million households that have agreed to participate in survey research. The study included 1,000 representative interviews among adults age 18 to 65, and is balanced to be representative of the general population based upon region, gender, age and household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The selected individuals receive a customized e-mail inviting them to participate in the survey. The survey consists of a shared set of standard demographic questions.

(1) Copyright(C) American Gastroenterological Association; http://www.gastro.org

National Heartburn Alliance
http://www.heartburnalliance.org