Updated September 14, 2012.

If you know when your heartburn is most likely to occur, there are steps you can take ahead of time to prevent it.

Does your heartburn strike most often after eating?

Certain foods can aggravate your heartburn symptoms. If you find that you frequently suffer heartburn after eating, it will be helpful for you to limit or avoid completely those foods and drinks that result in acid reflux. The following resources will help you accomplish that.

• Foods With Little Risk of Causing Acid Reflux
  This chart will show you what foods are the best for heartburn sufferers.

• Foods To Be Consumed with Discretion
  This chart will show you what foods you can consume with discretion.
• Food To Be Avoided to Control Acid Reflux
  This chart will show you what foods you should avoid
• Dining Out Guide for Heartburn Sufferers
  Just as at home, eating certain foods in restaurants can trigger heartburn. There are methods you can use to limit heartburn. These methods include food choices, knowing how the food is prepared, beverage selection, and portion sizes.
• Recipes for the Acid Reflux Diet
  If you suffer from acid reflux, you will need recipes that will help you prepare food that will aide in good digestion. It isn't just the foods you select that help you with the heartburn. It is also important how the foods are prepared.

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Does your heartburn strike most often at night?

Nearly eight in ten heartburn sufferers experience symptoms at night. There are tips you can follow to relieve nighttime heartburn.
Find useful tips at Easing Nighttime Heartburn

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Does your heartburn strike most often after a stressful day?

While stress hasn't been linked directly to heartburn, it is known that it can lead to behaviors that can trigger heartburn.

During stressful times, routines are disrupted and people may not follow their normal routines in regards to meals, exercise, and medication. It is important to find ways to alleviate the stress, and thus make stress-related heartburn less likely.
Follow the relaxation tips at Managing Stress to Ease the Heartburn

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Does your heartburn strike most often after exercise?

Exercise is rarely the cause of heartburn if a person doesn't suffer from chronic heartburn otherwise. But some exercises can induce episodes of acid reflux. Acid reflux happens because the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is loose, opens inappropriately and allows stomach contents to back up into the esophagus. Acid reflux usually happens during certain types of exercise, not necessarily during all exercise.
Find exercise tips at Heartburn and Exercise

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Does your heartburn strike most often when consuming alcohol?

Alcohol can have several unpleasant affects on heartburn sufferers. It is best to avoid alcohol as much as possible if you suffer from acid reflux. But there are a few tips that may make it possible for you to enjoy alcoholic beverages if consumed in moderation.
Find those tips at Heartburn and Alcohol

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Does your heartburn strike most often when smoking?

If you smoke, consider stopping or decreasing the amount you smoke. Smoking stimulates the production of stomach acid, and can weaken and relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), allowing this excess acid to reflux back up into the esophagus.
Read those reasons at Heartburn and Smoking