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Holiday heartburn

Don’t let indigestion ruin your festive celebrations

by LAWRENCE VARGA and JOSEPH HANNA

So you’ve been blessed with the joy of a house full of family and friends and enough turkey and fruitcake to feed an army, but how quickly will that turn sour?

Indulgent dinners are the perfect recipe for digestive disaster. In addition to the stress of preparing the feast, they often can contain all sorts of triggers, such as alcohol and coffee, as well as spicy, savoury, fatty and acidic foods.

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid that is made to digest food makes its way up the esophagus causing that familiar burning sensation in the middle of the chest. With age, the lower esophageal sphincter —which is the valve that helps keep acid down—weakens, allowing the extra acid to creep up where it doesn’t belong, especially if one reclines after overeating. Fatty foods can digest more slowly, keeping the stomach fuller longer, and acidic foods, citrus drinks and carbonated beverages make it the perfect storm. Obviously, as the old adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It is best not to overindulge, and simply stop eating when full, as well as avoid known triggers.

If this hasn’t worked, however, a temporary quick fix is to use over-the-counter antacids to neutralize the excess acid or a sodium alginate product, such as Gaviscon, to try and keep the acid down. If this is a recurrent problem, over-thecounter medications like famotidine or the stronger esomeprazole, if taken before the meal, prevent the stomach from making too much acid in the first place. Pharmacists in most provinces have the ability to prescribe medications under certain circumstances that may work better than off-the-shelf options, and the consultation may be covered by your provincial health plan. So go ahead and enjoy that dinner, but avoid overindulging.

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Pharmacies in Costco’s Quebec locations are independently owned and operated by pharmacists.

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