5 Tips on Swallowing and Heartburn

1. Abnormal swallowing is commonly perceived as food "sticking on the way down." If this complaint persists, it is sometimes due to a serious condition and should always prompt medical attention.
2. Swallowing difficulty may be caused by a number of different problems including:
   • Poor or incomplete chewing (possibly the result of dental problems, poorly fitted dentures, or eating too quickly)
   • Abnormal muscle contraction
   • Scar tissue from chronic inflammation
   • Infection
   • Cancer
3. Heartburn is a very common problem caused by regurgitation or reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus, which connects the mouth and the stomach.
4. Heartburn can often be eliminated by avoiding:
   • Smoking
   • Fatty ood in the diet
   • Caffeine
   • Chocolate
   • Peppermint
   • Overeating
   • Bed-time snacks
   • Tight-fitting clothes that constrict the abdomen
   • Certain medications
   • Heavy lifting, straining
5. It is important to consider the possibility of heart disease before attributing any kind of chest pain to gastroesophageal reflux.