What factors make heartburn worse?

Many things can make heartburn worse. Heartburn is most common after overeating, when bending over or when lying down. Pregnancy, clothing that's so tight it puts pressure on your stomach, stress and certain foods can also make heartburn worse. The box below lists other things that can aggravate heartburn symptoms.

Things that can make heartburn worse

1. Cigarette smoking
2. Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated) and other drinks that contain caffeine
3. Alcohol
4. Citrus fruits
5. Tomato products
6. Chocolate, mints or peppermints
7. Fatty foods or spicy foods (pizza, chili, curry)
8. Onions
9. Excess weight
10. Aspirin or ibuprofen (one brand name: Motrin)
11. Some other medicines (check with your doctor)