Healthline Wellness Wire

In a Nutshell

Welcome back to another monthly edition of You Asked, We Answered! We’ve been getting a lot of questions about heartburn lately, so let’s cover ways to relieve it as well as potential triggers you may not know exist.

Before we extinguish some flames, here are other stories you might learn from:

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•	10 tips for getting rid of a stuffy nose

•	The most important vitamins for eye health

Be well,
Morgan Mandriota
Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Morgan Mandriota
October 17, 2026 • 2 min read

what’s got us buzzing

How to put out the fire in your chest

This topic is near and dear to my heart — literally and figuratively. I grew up with severe acid reflux (GERD). I couldn’t drink orange juice without an intense burning in my chest and regularly had to miss school due to my symptoms. I even had two upper endoscopies which found excess bile and acid chilling in my stomach. Fun!

My personal triggers were acidic foods and drinks and stress. (Yes, I’ve always been an anxious person.) Other more surprising causes include:

wearing tight clothing
eating chocolate, tomatoes, or greasy foods
lying down too soon after eating a large meal
taking a lot of ibuprofen or aspirin

Older adults, pregnant people, smokers, and folks with conditions like asthma, obesity, and irritable bowel syndrome are at a higher risk of heartburn, too.

Managing heartburn starts with prevention! Know your triggers, and take steps to prevent heartburn from striking by limiting alcohol consumption, trying relaxation exercises, and managing your weight.

Need in-the-moment relief? Here are some ways to reduce symptoms:

try licorice root or ginger supplements
drink a small amount of diluted apple cider vinegar
chew sugar-free gum for half an hour after eating
elevate your upper body (don’t lie down or slouch!)
take over-the-counter medication, like antacids and H2 blockers

14 ways to prevent heartburn

Great finds

Pink liquid magic

Pepto Bismol Ultra Liquid

Full transparency: Taking Pepto Bismol liquid as a kid always made me want to gag, but it definitely worked to relieve my heartburn. Although I prefer Pepto chewables nowadays, there’s no denying its magic in any form. It really does help relieve all of the things listed in the brand’s catchy jingle: nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

SHOP NOW

Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline's or Optum Store’s vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health.

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What we’re reading next

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⚡ Is it possible to be allergic to electricity? No, seriously.

🩸 This gentle exercise is effective for lowering blood pressure. It works even better than aerobic exercise!

Thanks for reading. Who will get their question answered next month? Don’t forget to email wellnesswire@healthline.com with a special topic request for your chance to “win!”

Until next time,

Take care of yourself, and we’ll see
you again soon!

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Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline’s or Optum Now’s vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Now are owned by RVO Health.