Posted by KR on January 17, 2012 at 12:11:31:
In Reply to: Re: Heartburn while running posted by Doc Edward J on January 17, 2012 at 11:35:58:
: : Lately, I've been getting heartburn if I run hard. Anybody else experience this?
: Heartburn is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is caused when stomach acid comes up from the stomach into the esophagus. It can be caused by changes in the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus, possibly some kind of abnormal relaxation of the esophageal sphincter that is caused by running.
: If it happens often enough, the sphincter can become damaged by the stomach acid. Best to buy a good over the counter acid reflux medicine (not Tums) and take it for a week or more to let the damage to the sphincter be repaired by the body.
Very informative, but there may be a much simpler cause. Are you an afternoon runner? It is winter, and we are experiencing the shortest days of the year. Maybe, because of the shorter days, you are running too soon after eating lunch, and that is causing your heartburn.