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Thanksgiving, a holiday when many people spend time with their families and friends, usually is accompanied by a large meal. Some traditional Thanksgiving foods may add a little heartburn as a side to the holiday.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month.

Despite its name, heartburn does not involve the heart. Heartburn is associated with the digestive system of the stomach and the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Heartburn is caused when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus and irritates its lining. This can cause pain, discomfort and a burning sensation in the chest, usually behind the breastbone and the throat.

Other symptoms that may be accompanied by the burning sensation include:

• Sour or bitter taste of the acid in the mouth and throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sore throat
• Coughing

Heartburn can last from a few minutes to several hours; the severity of the heartburn depends on how much you have eaten and the type of foods you have eaten. The pain can also vary from mild to severe, including sharp pain or tightness in your chest.

How can I avoid it?

Heartburn happens after eating a large meal, eating too fast or lying down soon after eating. However, heartburn can be prevented.

Here are some suggestions to avoid having heartburn after a Thanksgiving meal:

• Avoid or limit foods that are fatty or greasy, such as mashed potatoes with heavy cream, turkey gravy, butter and stuffing with numerous toppings
• Avoid or limit tomato products
• Limit alcoholic and carbonated drinks
• Eat moderate portions, especially of desserts
• Sit upright instead of lying down after eating
• Quit smoking
• Add some physical activities or exercises after the meal — a walk, for example.

How can I treat heartburn?

Over-the-counter products can help with heartburn. Antacids, histamine-2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors can neutralize stomach acid.

When you are experiencing heartburn, antacids are the way to go. They can give relief in less than five minutes. Antacids contain salts such as aluminum, magnesium, sodium and calcium to help neutralize stomach acid. Some over-the-counter products are Alka-Seltzer, Gaviscon, Mylanta, Tums and Pepto-Bismol.

If you are anticipating the possibility of heartburn and want to prevent it, you can take a histamine-2 receptor blocker. You should take this at least 30 minutes to an hour before a meal. Some of the products suitable for people 12 years or older are Tagamet (cimetidine) and Pepcid (famotidine).

Proton pump inhibitors constitute another class of medications that treat heartburn; however, they may be more suitable if you need to neutralize chronic stomach acid instead of the occasional heartburn at Thanksgiving and special meals. Some over-the-counter products are Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole).

When should I see a doctor?

Heartburn is not uncommon. If you start to have heartburn symptoms more than twice a week, it may be a sign of a chronic condition such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Call your doctor if you experience other symptoms such as:

• Trouble swallowing or painful swallowing
• Blood in vomit or bloody/dark stools
• Shortness of breath or sweating
• Pain radiating in other areas, such as the neck, jaw and shoulder
• Chronic wheezing, coughing or choking

Could it be something else?

Sometimes heartburn symptoms can be similar to those of a heart attack. To distinguish between heart attack and heartburn, watch out for these signs and symptoms that may indicate a heart attack. Call 911 if you have any of these symptoms, especially if these signs and symptoms cannot be explained:

• Discomfort, tightness, pressure or pain in your chest
• Pain or discomfort that may spread to your jaw, neck or back
• Lightheadedness, cold sweat, nausea or vomiting
• Shortness of breath

Jenny Doan, Pharm.D., graduated cum laude in 2021 from VCU School of Pharmacy. She majored in chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University and intends to pursue a career in ambulatory care or community pharmacy.