Acid Reflux
Is There A Link Between Tight Clothes And Heartburn?
Sep 22, 2017People who are suffering from heartburn or acid reflux often find it uncomfortable to wear tight clothes. Let’s understand the connection between tight clothes and heartburn.
3 Reasons Why Tight Clothes And Heartburn Are Linked
Exert Pressure On the Stomach: The stomach lies between the belly button and the breastbone. Tight clothes put pressure on the stomach. As a result, they cause stomach acid to move up towards the esophagus, causing acid reflux.
Make The Stomach Feel More Gaseous: Experts believe that wearing tight clothes often makes the stomach feel more gaseous. Because when there is pressure on the abdomen, the food does not digest properly. This undigested food causes acid reflux.
Compress The Stomach: Wearing very tight clothes regularly compresses the stomach constantly. Along with heartburn, it can even lead to stomach ulcers.
Some Tight Clothes That Can Cause Heartburn
Shapewear
Since the top of the shapewear often rests right on the stomach, these clothes sexert pressure on the stomach. This causes acid to move upwards to the esophagus and leads to acid reflux.
Tight Belts
A study indicates a high incidence of inflammation and short-term acid reflux in volunteers who wore tight waist belts. Interestingly, these volunteers had no history of reflux symptoms.
Tight Pants/ Skinny Jeans
Even wearing pants which are too tight around the waist can aggravate acid reflux. Because such clothes push the stomach upwards, constricting the surrounding muscles. They increase the chances of relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter, causing stomach acid to rush back into the esophagus.
Tight Clothes Are Not The Only Contributor To Heartburn
Acid reflux is caused due to various reasons. These include being overweight, eating the wrong type of food, snacking at the wrong times (nearer to bedtime), excessive alcohol, lack of exercise and smoking – all lifestyle factors. Tight clothes only aggravate the pressure on the stomach, causing the symptoms of acid reflux to worsen.
The best way to combat acid reflux is to eat what’s good for the condition, exercise regularly and maintain one’s weight.
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