The holidays are supposed to be fun, but stress, travel, changes in diet, and overindulging in desserts and alcohol during this happy time, can lead to heartburn.

Did you know that regular heartburn, regurgitation, or difficulty swallowing can be a symptom of a more serious illness, such as esophageal cancer? What’s more, if left untreated, acid reflux can irritate the lining of the esophagus and cause serious health complications.

If you are already a heartburn sufferer, it’s important to realize that coffee, red wine, some alcoholic beverages, chocolate, peppermint, and tomato inspired recipes, can make heartburn symptoms worse.

Tips to Stave off Heartburn:

• If possible, avoid the aforementioned foods and beverages.
• Take a brief walk before and after your holiday meal.  
• Don’t overeat.
• Keep a healthy weight.

If you have acid reflux or heartburn after meals and regularly rely on over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms, this may be a sign that you may have a potentially serious health problem.

Talk to your primary care doctor and ask for an evaluation. You may need to be referred to a specialist.