Heartburn after surgery is usually due to partial or complete removal of the cardia, leaving the stomach and esophagus without a “gatekeeper” at the junction, which makes it easy for bile and stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus, irritating the mucosa and causing heartburn. This is a very serious manifestation of heartburn that can affect your eating and nutritional status.
If you experience heartburn after surgery, you can adopt the following dietary and lifestyle principles:
- Balance your diet with moderate intake of protein-rich foods such as eggs, lean meats, tofu, and low-fat milk.
- Eat small, frequent meals, eat a low-fat diet, and avoid overeating. If your stomach is too full from a big meal, it will release excess pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, making it easier to “open” the cardia and cause acid reflux.
- You should not overeat at dinner, and avoid lying flat or bending over immediately after a meal. The first thing you should do is to go to bed 2 hours after your meal and sleep in a 30-degree reclined position to reduce nighttime reflux.
- Keep your mood relaxed and increase appropriate physical activity.
- Stop smoking and avoid alcohol. Tobacco contains nicotine, which can lower the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, leaving it in a relaxed state and aggravating reflux symptoms. The main component of alcohol, ethanol, stimulates gastric acid secretion and also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, causing gastroesophageal reflux and leading to heartburn.
- Do not take medications indiscriminately. Related medications, which must be administered under medical supervision, include acid-suppressing, gastroprokinetic, and gastric mucosal protective agents.
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