Can I keep my morning coffee routine?

Asheville, Family Medicine

Having my cup of coffee is how I have started my morning consistently for the past 5 years. I love the comfort of a nice cup of black coffee while reviewing patient labs or patient medical records before the day starts. I get asked a lot by my patients when we discuss conditions like heartburn…do I have to give up my coffee?

The most common presentation of heartburn is burning feeling in the lower chest with a bitter taste in the throat or mouth. Symptoms can last a few minutes to few hours. Heartburn is most common after overeating, when bending over or lying down. Conditions like stress, pregnancy and certain foods can make it worse. Common triggers of heartburn include cigarette smoking, alcohol, citrus fruits, tomato products, chocolate, fatty or spicy foods, obesity or being overweight.

So can you continue your morning coffee….For years caffeine was added to the triggers for causing heartburn, however, there is limited research data to back that up. The recommendation is if caffeine triggers your heartburn symptoms then please avoid it.

Heartburn however can be serious and lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

It is very fitting that thanksgiving week each year for the past 19-years has been designated as GERD Awareness week.

Most people are spending time with friends and family during Thanksgiving week and that includes enjoying our favorite meals, beverages and giving thanks. Unfortunately, most of the time we have large meals, foods that trigger heartburn and for patients who already have symptoms of heartburn or severe symptoms for GERD, this can lead to days of discomfort.

GERD symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation of food, trouble swallowing or feeling of food getting stuck in your throat, chronic sore throat and chronic cough. Sometimes the symptoms are not so straightforward and can include chest pain, hoarseness, nausea, cough, pain with swallowing and weight loss. These symptoms require extensive workup with your medical health professional.

Treatment of GERD is long-term. and includes lifestyle changes, medications and in severe cases surgery. Try and identify things that may trigger your heartburn (foods, smoking, weight, high fat foods etc). Over the counter medications like Pepcid and omeprazole only provide temporary relief. Please speak to your doctor if you are taking them for more than 2 weeks. For some people, surgery is needed to strengthen the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus.

Talk to your doctor if:
Your heartburn gets worse

Your heartburn happens more than twice a week

Your heartburn wakes you up at night from sleep

You have difficulty or pain with swallowing

Your discomfort interferes with your daily activities.

Thanks for reading

-Dr. Elsie Osei at One Health DPC

Educational. Family Medicine. Family Doctor. Asheville, NC