{"id":6848,"date":"2019-11-14T10:00:46","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T15:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=6848"},"modified":"2025-04-08T13:44:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T17:44:35","slug":"holiday-heartburn-how-to-treat-nausea-and-stomachaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/holiday-heartburn-how-to-treat-nausea-and-stomachaches\/","title":{"rendered":"How to avoid\u2014or treat\u2014holiday heartburn"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s that time of year again\u2014food, food, and more food. The holidays are creeping up. For many of us, the extra indulgence of decadent sweets and rich, fatty (and delicious!) meals with friends and family comes with a hefty side of heartburn and indigestion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Add the stress and anxiety that can develop at this time of year, and it\u2019s not surprising that <\/span>1 in 3<\/span><\/a> Americans report experiencing the slow burning sensation that works its way into your chest at least once a week. It turns out the holidays are not only the time to celebrate\u2014it can be a time when some of us experience heartburn and acid reflux.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is heartburn?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve ever felt a burning pain or discomfort moving up your chest toward your neck and throat, chances are you’ve experienced heartburn. Heartburn occurs when an excessive amount of acid migrates up from your stomach and into your esophagus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though it may feel like you\u2019re having a heart attack (and despite the name), heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. Put simply, it\u2019s the sensation of acid irritating your esophagus and throat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why do I get heartburn during the holidays?<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s more common to experience heartburn after consuming a large meal, especially one high in fats\u2014and for most people, that\u2019s exactly what holiday meals are like. Whether you\u2019re celebrating with a lot of family, or a small group this year, fatty foods (such as green bean casserole or gravy) and overeating can slow down digestion, which also contributes to acid reflux.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And that post-Thanksgiving meal nap you love to take? Well, that\u2019s also not helping. After having a large, indulgent meal, lying down will increase your likelihood of having heartburn. When you\u2019re upright, gravity can help keep stomach acid down\u2014but taking a cat nap on the couch while watching football won\u2019t stop the acid from making its way into your esophagus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to avoid holiday heartburn<\/span><\/h2>\n

The best way to stop holiday heartburn is to prevent it from happening at all. Here are some tips to help you <\/span>avoid<\/span><\/a> the worst of it:<\/span><\/p>\n