Sadly, there are many people who have acid reflux. The condition is so common that many people just live with the condition, letting it pass whenever they get it. These people may not know that there are actually ways to treat this condition. You can learn about these treatment methods in the following article.
Stay away from acidic foods. They can both cause and exacerbate acid reflux. While this is by no means a comprehensive list, try to avoid oranges, tomatoes, grapefruit and vinegar. If you can’t cut them out of your diet completely, at least try to avoid eating them in the evenings, so acid reflux doesn’t strike when it is time for bed.
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.
It is not only the types of food you eat, but how much you eat that can cause acid reflux. It takes a longer time to digest larger meals, which can place added pressure on your stomach. This can be avoided by eating smaller meals, which are spread throughout the day.
Avoid eating large quantities of food that contain a lot of acid. This may cause you to experience heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms. These foods include grapefruit, vinegar, lemons and tomatoes. If you are going to eat these foods, make sure that you are very mindful of the portion size.
If you are active and experiencing acid reflux, you may just need to make one simple change. Increase your water intake. You’ll stay better hydrated this way. The water will also aid in digestion. Water helps you digest your food; thus, limiting the amount of acid your stomach produces.
Try popping a few pieces of chewing gum into your mouth every time you are feeling the symptoms of acid reflux. This will cause the body to produce a much larger amount of saliva than it does on a regular basis, and this will help neutralize the acid inside of the stomach.
Try to keep yourself elevated when going to bed. Sometimes it could be enough to just add a pillow or two to help you. However, sometimes you may need to have pillows or cushions set up to help you sleep in a sitting position. You might also want to consider sleeping in a recliner on some of your bad days.
If you often have acid reflux, avoid drinking during your meals. A glass of water will add to the volume of food in your stomach and make digestion harder. You should wait until you are done digesting to drink and avoid drinking just before having a meal or a snack.
Do not smoke. If you smoke now, do your best to stop and if you don’t smoke, do not pick up the habit. If you smoke, quit. Smoking has the ability to cause your lower esophageal sphincter to fail and not be able to do its job of blocking stomach acid.
Consider taking a proton pump inhibitor. Drugs such as omeprazole work to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces, stopping acid reflux at the source. Make sure you talk to your doctor before starting these types of medicine, even those that can be obtained over-the-counter. You will need to make sure that too much acid in the stomach is the cause of your acid reflux.
Reduce the amount of fat that is in your diet to help your acid reflux symptoms. Try to stay away from fried foods, fatty steaks, greasy pizzas, etc. These can relax your LES, slow down your stomach emptying and cause reflux. Try eating lean protein like seafood, beans, lean red meat and skinless poultry, along with whole grains and fiber-rich produce.
Carry chewing gum with you if you suffer from reflux, and try to chew a piece after every meal. Chewing gum promotes the production of saliva, and this can help to neutralize the production of stomach acids in your digestive tract. For best results, choose a cinnamon or fruit variety as opposed to mint, which can make symptoms worse.
Limit the amount you drink during your meals. Beverages are absorbed into your food causing your stomach to be overly full. Full stomachs lead to pressure on the esophageal sphincter. This muscle keeps food in the stomach and away from the esophagus.
No one should have to live with acid reflux. The condition may happen to millions, but that doesn’t mean you have to give in to it. Acid reflux is nothing but a temporary annoyance. Take control of your digestive system by using this article’s tips. Your body with thank you with relief.
