Acid relux can affect anyone. As many as one-third of people are affected by it. Even though the condition is widespread, there is a lot of confusion about the proper methods of prevention and treatment. Use the tips below to fight acid reflux effectively.
Make sure you eat dinner at least three hours before bed. When you remain upright, your food and stomach acids stay put in the stomach. When laying down, the acid may climb back up. That is why you should wait a few hours prior to sleeping.
If you aren’t overweight, your GERD may go away. This condition occurs when fat weighs down on the stomach. When you lose that weight, you will find the sphincter works properly by keeping stomach acid from rising up.
It is important to avoid vigorous exercise if you deal with GERD. When you are compressing the stomach violently, you’ll find that acid makes its way up into your esophagus. Instead, engage in moderate activity which helps you lose weight, stay in shape and yet ensures that acid stays where it belongs.
The slippery elm supplement can aid your acid reflux symptoms by helping to thicken the mucuous membranes in your stomach. This supplement can serve as a layer of protection in your stomach. Many folks just take a tablespoon or two in some water following meals an before bedtime.
Loosen up if you’ve been dealing with too much acid reflux. Your clothing, that is. Tight pants, close-fitting shirts or pantyhose can make symptoms of acid reflux much worse. If you can, put a robe on or other over-sized and very comfy clothes and take it easy. Your symptoms should at least be somewhat alleviated.
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.
If you have been taking antacids over an extended period of time, chances are you have acid reflux. While it will not hurt you to take tums every now and then, continuing to take them when the problem may be more serious is a mistake. Go see a doctor if you have had symptoms for quite some time.
Changing your lifestyle could decrease the discomforts you feel from acid reflux. Watch your diet so you can avoid foods that trigger the reflux. Reduce the stress you feel each day. Stress could cause the body to produce more acid. Shed a few pounds. The excess weight you carry could be putting pressure on your stomach and cause acid backup.
There is a drug called phenylalanine and it is found inside of most over-the-counter antacids. If you have acid reflux and you also have mental retardation and/or seizures, you should not take them. This is because the phenylalanine will make you more prone to having seizures. Talk to your doctor about other options.
You should never lay down after a meal. Lying down contraindicates the downward motion food should take when being digested. By staying in an upright position, you can avoid the problems associated with acid reflux and continue to feel healthy.
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.
What you drink could play a major role in whether you have acid reflux symptoms or not. Carbonated beverages, such as soda, increase stomach acid production, thus, increasing acid that comes up through the esophagus. Caffeinated beverages also have the same effect. Try to stay away from these drinks and stick to water.
Do not lie down after a meal if you have acid reflux disease. When you lay down, the esophagus opens up more. This lets acid from the stomach come up through the esophagus and ultimately, through your throat and mouth. It is recommended that you wait at least two hours after a meal to lay down.
It is known that smoking is bad for your health, but did you also know that smoking can have an affect on acid reflux? When you smoke, more stomach acid is produced, digestion is slowed down, and less saliva is produced. Smoking also causes the sphincter of the esophagus to weaken, making acid reflux occur.
Skip the antacid. An antacid is fine if you only suffer from acid reflux occasionally, however more frequent sufferers should look for better treatment options. An antacid is only a temporary fix, working to mask the pain. It does nothing to treat the underlying cause of the problem. Using antacids too frequently can even cause your stomach to start producing more acid in response.
Acid reflux affects millions of people. Don’t give in to reflux, fight it instead. Use the tips mentioned above and you are sure to live a pain free life.
