Reduce pressure on your stomach to reduce symptoms of GERD and hiatal hernia
Putting pressure on your stomach may push stomach juices into your esophagus, causing heartburn. Here are some suggestions that may help to reduce heartburn:
- Avoid lying down for 2 to 3 hours after eating. When you are lying down, the contents of your stomach can push against the valve between the esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter). Sitting up allows gravity to help food and stomach juices drain from the esophagus back into your stomach.
- Avoid eating large meals and snacks just before bedtime.
- Avoid tight clothing over your stomach. Tight belts, waistbands, or panty hose may push against your stomach and make your heartburn worse.
- Use care when lifting and bending. Bending over tends to increase the amount of stomach acid that can get into your esophagus. When lifting, bend at the knees to avoid putting more pressure on your stomach by bending over.
| Author: | Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: March 31, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology | |
 | ||
| |