Are you experiencing chest pains? Do you notice that resting makes it worse? Does it seem to come on a little while after eating? Do you find your mouth filled with a bitter taste? Do you frequently have a hoarse throat? All of these are symptoms of acid reflux, and your relief will be found in the text below.
Don’t just assume your acid reflux is a fact of life or consequence of your active lifestyle. If you find yourself suffering through frequent bouts of discomfort related to acid reflux, see your doctor. It may be something you ate or an indication that you need to slow down in life, but it could also be something else you need to take care of.
The way you sit after eating can affect acid reflux and can keep it from traveling up your esophagus. After eating, try to remain sitting upright for around two to three hours before lying down. If you’re having problems when you lay down later, prop your head up about six inches.
Avoid certain foods. Certain foods can trigger acid reflux, so it’s important to avoid them. Stay away from spicy, greasy or acidic foods, and try to avoid caffeine and alcohol. This is especially important if you are eating a late meal; whenever possible eat dinner at least three hours before bedtime.
You will not have to worry about GRED as much if you can reach a healthy weight. When you are overweight, the esophageal sphincter sometimes opens under the pressure of the excess weight. Losing weight prevents the sphincter from opening, thereby confining stomach acid to your stomach.
When you eat high fat foods like fried chicken, your stomach empties very slowly. This allows it to become distended and your esophagus may fill up with acid. Choose healthier foods like lean proteins or beans to avoid this situation and you should be able to control your acid reflux like a pro.
There are many over-the-counter medications you can take for acid reflux. They are called antacids and they work by stopping excess acid production. Just be aware that no one medication works for everyone. If you try one and it is not effective for you, keep trying others until you find the right one for you.
Keep cinnamon gum on you at all times, and eat a stick of it after every meal. Chewing increases saliva production inside your mouth. Saliva helps to neutralize the acid of the stomach. In addition, people swallow more when they chew gum, which allows any acid that may be in the esophagus to be cleared away. You can also use gums that are fruity. Mint relaxes your esophageal sphincter, so avoid it in gum.
Certain foods cause acid reflex more than other foods. Keeping a diary of your eating habits can help you understand when acid reflux is at its worst. After you’ve eaten, if you begin to feel acid reflux symptoms, write down what you ate, what the symptoms are, and how they are affecting you.
While eating your meals, limit your beverage consumption. Although this may sound silly, drinking lots of beverages during your meals can actually cause acid reflux. This is because liquids increase the volume of food in your stomach. When your stomach is full, the lower esophageal sphincter has more pressure placed upon it. This muscle prevents food from coming up through your esophagus, which prevents acid reflux. You need to protect your lower esophageal sphincter as much as possible.
Shed pounds. Acid reflux is more likely to occur in people with extra body fat, particularly if it is stored in their abdomen. Having extra fat can put too much pressure on your mid-section and increase the odds of experiencing reflux. Sometimes, just losing several pounds will help.
Keep a journal of all of the foods that seem to be causing you to get acid reflux and the ones that are not. Steer clear of the foods that you see to be a problem in your life. Every person reacts differently to certain foods, so personalize your regimen to account for this.
Quit smoking immediately to prevent acid reflux from occurring. Smoking cigarettes can increase the nicotine content that enters your body, which can damage your esophagus. A damaged esophagus can lead to more acid buildup in your body and trigger acid reflux episodes. Also, smoking will help you to live a healthier lifestyle and reduce esophageal cancer.
Knowing the symptoms of acid reflux is the most important knowledge to have. If you find you have chest pain combined with discomfort after eating, burping, nausea, sore throat, bitter taste in your mouth and/or a chronic cough, you likely have acid reflux. Talk to your doctor for a true diagnosis.
You are not experiencing a heart attack. You do not have the flu, and your food is not really causing you to feel ill. The fact is that you are an acid reflux sufferer and you now know how to treat it. Make time and put in effort to feel better.
