Dear Savvy Senior

Can heartburn lead to other serious health problems? My husband, who's 54, has a belching problem along with occasional heartburn and I would like to help him. What can you tell me?

Ignoring the Burn

Dear Ignoring,

Heartburn is so common in the United States today that most people don't think much about it - but they should. It's estimated that 40 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a week, most of who are over age 45. Here's what you should know.

Dangers of Heartburn

Heartburn

Heartburn symptoms can show up in a variety of ways - as a painful burning sensation in the chest sometimes spreading to the throat, a sour or bitter taste in the mouth, frequent belching, coughing, wheezing or a sore throat. If your husband is experiencing some of these symptoms at least twice a week, he needs to see a doctor. Frequent heartburn symptoms may indicate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems such as asthma, trouble swallowing, debilitating sleep problems, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal cancer and more.

Lifestyle Remedies

Depending on the frequency and severity of the symptoms, there are several things you can do to prevent or reduce heartburn. Here are some lifestyle tips to help you get started:

Diet changes: Certain foods can trigger heartburn symptoms like citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato products, fatty foods, chocolate, garlic, onions, spicy foods, mints, alcohol, coffee and sodas. Keep a food diary to track which foods cause you the most problems and avoid them.

Eating habits: Eat slower and take smaller portions. Having a full stomach can cause acid reflux. Also avoid exercising, bending or lying down for two hours after eating. And don't eat at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.

Monitor your meds: Drugs used to treat arthritis pain, asthma, osteoporosis, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure and more can cause heartburn. Consult your doctor.

Weight management: Being overweight is a big contributor to heartburn because the excess pounds put pressure on your abdomen, pushing up your stomach and causing acid to back up into your esophagus. A 10 percent drop in weight can improve heartburn symptoms.

Stop smoking: Smoking can increase stomach acid and weaken the valve that prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus.

Loosen your belt: Clothes that fit tightly around your waist puts pressure on your abdomen and can cause heartburn.

Relax: Over 50 percent of heartburn sufferers say stress increases their heartburn.

Sleeping tips: To help keep the acid down in your stomach while you sleep, elevate the head of your bed six to eight inches by placing blocks under the legs or insert a wedge between your mattress and box spring to elevate your body from the waist up. Sleeping on your left side may also help keep the acid down.

Antacids: These provide fast, short term relief by neutralizing the acid in your stomach. You know them as Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids and Tums.

H-2 Blockers: Available both over-the-counter and prescription strength, H-2 blockers (Pepcid, Tagamet and Zantac) reduce how much acid your stomach makes but may not be strong enough for serious symptoms.

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPI): If you have frequent and severe heartburn symptoms, PPIs are long-acting prescription medications that block acid production and allow time for damaged esophageal tissue to heal. They include Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix and Aciphex. Prilosec is also available over-the-counter.

Surgical option: An alternative to drug treatment is antireflux surgery, a procedure that tightens the leaky valve so gastric fluids can't wash back up into the esophagus.

Savvy Tip: The National Heartburn Alliance offers two practical brochures on heartburn and the foods that can trigger heartburn. Visit www.heartburnalliance.org or call 877-471-2081 to order your free copies.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Senior" book.