Heartburn, or acid reflux, is a painful condition of the digestive system. It’s the result of digestive acids in your stomach that, for various reasons, travel up to your esophagus.

An attack of heartburn makes itself known through unmistakable symptoms. The most common sign is a burning sensation in the chest or throat. Other indications include belching, tightness in the throat, and trouble swallowing.

To determine the extent of your problem, it’s important that you consult with your doctor. You might be prescribed a medication to deal with the problem. But most likely your doctor will also advise you to avoid certain foods.

You’ve probably noticed that your heartburn is most likely to occur after a big meal containing certain foods. Foods that cause heartburn include those that are highly acidic, such as tomatoes and citrus fruits. Other common triggers are fatty foods and fried foods. Spicy foods like chili, onions, garlic and pepper are well known to be heartburn triggers too.

Healthy foods, too, can sometimes be the cause of your discomfort. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower are just some examples.

The foods you eat aren’t the only trigger for an attack of heartburn. Things you drink can also result in this distressing situation. You need to avoid caffeine, which is found in coffee, tea, and many types of soda.

The type of food you eat isn’t the only consideration. You also need to monitor the quantities you’re consuming. Heartburn frequently results from consuming an overly large meal. Your stomach just can’t handle all that food at once. Some of it comes back up through the esophagus along with the stomach acids that were trying to digest it.

To get to the root of your problem, start keeping a record of your food intake. This is a great way to help you figure out the specific foods and drinks that are triggering your heartburn symptoms. Every time you experience that burning sensation, take note of what you’ve just consumed.

It can be hard to change your eating habits, though. Start with baby steps. Set simple goals at first, like consuming smaller portions of food at each meal. Next, begin to take your trigger foods off the menu, one at a time.

A change in your diet is the most effective way to deal with heartburn. At first you’ll probably have a sense of deprivation. However, it’s important that you keep in mind the consequences of not paying attention to what you eat. You’ll never experience total heartburn relief if you don’t make changes to your lifestyle.