Does your throat hurt after you eat? Do you have a chronic cough? Are you nauseated after you eat? Do you salivate heavily? Is it hard to swallow sometimes? Do you have chest pain? These symptoms of acid reflux can make your life hell, but can be treated with the below advice.
It is important that you don’t eat too quickly if you suffer from acid reflux. The slower you eat, the better! Not only will it allow you to begin to break down the food in your stomach, it will ensure that you feel full when you really are full, something that doesn’t happen if you eat too quickly.
Slow down! When you eat more slowly, your body is able to keep up with what is being deposited in your stomach. This means that it will know that it is full when it truly is full, and you will eat less. If you overeat, you’ll find your acid reflux goes crazy.
Don’t overeat. Only eat until you feel sated, your stomach stops growling and ends your hunger discomfort. If you become hungry again shortly after eating, drink a glass of water instead of having a snack. When you eat too much, your stomach has trouble digesting and you may find acid reflux rears its ugly head.
Acid reflux can also be caused by stress. Stress produces more acid inside your stomach. Find a relaxing activity to pass the time after every meal. Effective relaxation techniques include reading, watching television, listening to soothing music or meditating quietly.
It is a good idea to raise the head of your bed if you have been experiencing acid reflux issues frequently. When you are lying flat, it gives the stomach contents an easier way of refluxing. You should raise the mattress about 6-8 inches in order to get the best results.
Limit the amount of fluids you intake while eating. Fluids add volume to the food you are eating, which will result in overfilling your stomach and allowing stomach acids to rise into your esophagus resulting in acid reflux. By limiting the amount of fluids you ingest, you can help prevent acid reflux.
Losing weight can definitely help your fight against acid reflux. Some additional weight in your midsection could be responsible for your acid reflux problem. Lose several pounds each week and watch acid reflux disappear. Don’t engage in fad diets. Instead, control your weight by eating small and sensible meals several times daily.
Eating slower has been shown to help with the symptoms of acid reflux. This gives your stomach a chance to adjust to the food that you are taking in. Try chewing your food a minimum of 25 times and really savor the food you are eating. Eat only until you are comfortably full and never till you are stuffed.
Avoid eating fatty foods such as french fries, pizza and other fried foods. Fatty foods relax the stomach muscles allowing acids to rise into the esophagus resulting in increase acid reflux. Instead of fatty foods, opt for lean proteins such as baked chicken breasts along with fruits and vegetables.
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.
Learning the pH levels of food can help you treat your acid reflux. Foods that seem to be acidic, like lemons, are actually highly alkaline after digestion. It can all be quite confusing. Study food pH to help you understand.
Drink at least 10 glasses of water a day if you want to get rid of acid reflux. Water is important to help reduce toxins and acid that is in your stomach and causing your constant heartburn. Consume water when you wake up, during your meals and right before you to go bed for maximum effectiveness.
Learn stress coping techniques. Being stressed out can cause you to tense up your body and this causes you to contract some, or all, of your stomach muscles, causing acid reflux symptoms. Learn how to better handle stressful situations and you’ll find out you may have much less stomach troubles.
One of the most important ways to help reduce acid reflux is to make sure that you are not overweight. Excess pounds can increase pressure on the stomach, causing the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) muscle to relax and allow reflux into the esophagus. You can control the risk of heartburn just by losing some weight.
The pain in your chest and throat can be dealt with one step at a time now that you have read this article and know what those steps are. The first move to make is to take one tip and use it in your life, then relief will come shortly afterward. Get down to work!
