Those who suffer from acid reflux deal with a lot of pain and discomfort on a daily basis. This cannot be disputed. There are many things you can do to ease your suffering. Keep reading to learn more.
If you are pregnant, there is a higher chance of developing acid reflux. The developing baby can push acid back into the esophagus. Refrain from eating foods that have a high acid content. Many women safely use teas during their pregnancies that soothe and heal the stomach and esophagus.
Avoid drinking during your meals. This will help you manage hunger, as it is likely that you are more thirsty than you are hungry. When you drink with your meals it can cause your stomach to feel fuller, causing more acid to reach your esophagus.
Stop Smoking
Don’t drink alcoholic beverages if you want to avoid acid reflux. Alcohol can cause your stomach to produce more acid, which in turn, causes the deterioration of your stomach’s lining, which can ultimately cause acid reflux. If you are having a night out with your friends, limit the amount you drink, unless you would like to feel bad once you arrive home.
Stop smoking now. Smoking may actually be the root cause of your acid reflux. This will result in more stomach acid and frequent occurrences of acid reflux. Finally, your esophageal sphincter is weakened. Therefore, stop smoking immediately to help your condition.
Stress is a major contributor of acid reflux disease. Excess stress increases stomach acid production, which causes acid reflux. After each meal, do something you find relaxing. This may be meditation, yoga, reading a book, watching television, etc.
Nearly everyone has a specific trigger food, which is prone to cause reflux. Limit your consumption of trigger foods to help prevent acid reflux. Spicy and hot foods are two kinds that you want to avoid.
It pays to remain in an upright position for at least two hours following a meal. If you recline or lie down, acid can go up the esophagus easier since gravity is not keeping it down. Your esophagus can feel better by standing up or sitting up.
Once you have eaten, exercising too soon after can definitely make your acid reflux worse. Food in the stomach may be forced into the esophagus when the lower abdominal muscles are contracting during an exercise routine. Hold off exercising for at least a couple hours after eating.
Do not lie down after a large meal, especially if you have reflux problems. Your stomach will have a hard time digesting food in this position. When you are upright, gravity will assist in keeping acid down.
Heart Attack
Sometimes, reflux symptoms can seem very similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. Don’t ever ignore chest pains. It is possible that a heart attack is occurring or is close. You should consider going to the ER or calling your doctor for advice. Even if it means an extra trip to urgent care, it is better than risking your life.
Try not to drink too close to mealtime; drink in between meals instead. When food and liquids fill your stomach, the sphincter that keeps acids inside the stomach comes under constant pressure. This allows the material from your stomach to flow into the esophagus and attack its lining.
If you are active, you may notice your acid reflux flares up after strenuous activities. Increase your water intake. When you drink more water, your body is hydrated sufficiently. It also aids with digestion. Water can dilute the acid present in your stomach and make acid reflux less painful.
When dealing with acid reflux, you need to make sure you watch out for trigger foods. Certain foods are most likely to cause acid reflux. These include high-fat foods, caffeine, citrus, spicy foods, tomatoes, garlic, carbonated beverages, mints, and alcohol. The trigger foods are different for everyone, so you must identify yours.
Try doing some simple exercises to alleviate your acid reflux. Be careful not to overdo it. Vigorous exercise can irritate your digestive system and even cause reflux. However, exercises that are more low-impact or moderate can help relieve acid reflux. Moderate your regimen as best as you can to help digestion. Besides, being more active will help you get in shape and reduce the pressure on your stomach.
Try to relax. Stress can cause you to overeat, making your condition much worse. After eating, try to relax with deep breathing or meditation. Never lay down after a meal.
People who suffer from acid reflux can experience significant relief by chewing on cinnamon gum immediately after a meal. When gum is chewed, the salivary glands begin working overtime, and this neutralizes stomach acids. It also helps because people swallow more when they are chewing gum. This will help keep your stomach acid where it should be.
Now is the time to lose some weight if you are a bit heavy. Being heavy will contribute to acid reflux. Acid from the esophagus can rise back up from the stomach in this situation. Not only is this extremely painful, it can cause long term damage to your esophageal lining. Maintain a good weight, eat healthily and well and get good sleep and exercise to enhance your health and banish acid reflux.
Anyone that suffers from acid reflux can definitely describe the pain and irritation. You can take steps to reduce your symptoms and alleviate your pain for the long term. Use this advice to help yourself or help someone you know get their life back on track.