If you are suffering from heartburn, or even the more severe GERD, you may be able to rid yourself of it by simply changing your life. You may not ever need to go on medication or have surgery to remedy the situation.

Since most people experience heartburn at night, it is best to limit your nighttime eating. Try to finish eating two to three hours before you go to bed. If you are a late-night snacker, then look for another habit to pursue before you get some shut-eye.

What you eat is as important as when you eat when it comes to eliminating heartburn. Acidic foods can increase the occurrence of heartburn. Try to avoid certain drinks like juice, coffee and alcohol.

Sometimes the foods themselves seem okay, but they cause your body to produce acid, which also creates heartburn symptoms. Spicy foods like peppers or high-fat foods like candy can result in heartburn. Tomato-based foods like pizza and spaghetti will almost always cause heartburn if the person eating them is prone to feeling the inner burn.

Another factor in staying free from heartburn symptoms is to limit the amount of food that you eat. Do not overindulge during your meals. When your stomach is too full, the food literally gets pushed back up into the esophagus and because it is mixed with the acid in your stomach, it creates the burning sensation.

Overweight individuals will notice a decrease in their heartburn symptoms when they lose a few pounds. Doctors suspect that it is because the body has more room to process the food and the stomach is not being pressed and causing food to return to the esophagus.

After you eat a meal and especially if you have stuffed yourself, try to stay upright instead of laying down to rest. This prevents the food from being pushed back up to the esophagus and gives it more time to digest.

Overweight heartburn sufferers are not the only ones who can make lifestyle changes for the better. Smokers can get rid of heartburn, too. When you smoke, the esophageal muscles do not work as well, so the contents of your stomach are more easily released back into your esophagus.

Plus, the stomach acid is more toxic due to the extra chemicals that you have put in your body. Every time you puff on a cigarette, you are increasing your odds of getting heartburn because you are weakening the esophageal lining and allowing acids to irritate it more easily and effectively.

Not everyone will find a lifestyle cure that works for them. Some people will be forced to seek treatment for their heartburn or GERD from a licensed medical professional.