Are you often plagued with the heartburn and indigestion that is associated with acid reflux? If so, you’re definitely not alone. In a recent study, it was revealed that one in every ten people living in the United States is suffering with this condition. Studies have also suggested that at least 60 million of those who live in the US experience at least one episode of acid reflux each month. Although millions of dollars are spent each year on medication in an attempt to bring soothing relief, many people do not find the relief they are seeking. If you are seeking information on how to prevent or alleviate the heartburn and pain caused by acid reflux, this article contains numerous tips that will provide the help that you need. By continuing to read, you will find guidelines to help you with this quest.
You may need to balance out hydrochloric acid amounts in your body if you want to reduce acid reflux and its symptoms. You can do this, for instance, by using sea salt rather than table salt. Sea salt has chloride and minerals that are good for the stomach and prevent acid.
Did you know that losing weight can help tame the symptoms of GERD? There is scientific proof that having too much body fat leads to the release of chemicals which cause digestion not to function correctly. This can lead to acid reflux and its resulting suffering. Shed the pounds and feel better!
Always keep gravity in mind. Remember that acid is being held down, so when you position your body in a way where down isn’t towards your feet, problems will ensue. Keep your head up and your stomach uncompressed, then you should be able to find relief from acid reflux all day long.
Stop smoking if you are trying to rid yourself of issues with acid reflux. Many people do not know this, but smoking causes the muscles in the esophagus to relax. This can create some of the symptoms associated with acid reflux, so quit if you are trying to make things better.
Be sure to watch what kind of foods you ate before you noticed the reflux symptoms. People who have acid reflux can usually point to specific foods that cause problems. Once you realize what tends to be your trigger, try your best to avoid your trigger foods especially in the evenings.
In order to ameliorate the pain and discomfort of acid reflux, consider breaking your daily food intake into five or so smaller meals instead of three main ones. This helps prevent you from overloading your digestive system at any one time, making acids work more effectively in smaller amounts. You will soon start to notice a real change in your symptoms for the better.
If you are pregnant and experiencing acid reflux, try to relax. This problem is often no longer an issue after you have the baby. It is a symptom of the baby pushing on all of your innards causing the acid in your belly to rise. Watch what you eat and avoid laying down until an hour has passed after you eat.
Refrain from consuming foods that have a high acid content if you want to alleviate your acid reflux during the night. Some of these foods include fruits such as grapefruit and oranges. These fruits can cause the burn that you feel, especially if you have them right before you lie down.
It’s time to shed some pounds. Obesity is capable of causing acid reflux. Losing around 10% of your current body weight can lessen your acid reflux symptoms greatly. Weight loss should be done by eating smaller meals, not by crash dieting.
Alcohol is another no-no. Besides causing acid to begin to build up and eat away at your stomach lining, alcohol worsens acid reflux. Try to limit your alcohol when you go out with friends so you don’t suffer from reflux all night.
Try a spoonful of honey. While there is no hard evidence that honey treats acid reflux, it is very useful to soothe and relieve the painful burning associated with it. Honey will coat your esophagus in a protective and soothing layer, and help neutralize some of the acid. If you are looking for some relief until you can identify and treat the cause of your heartburn, a little honey can be just what you need to get back to sleep.
As stated at the beginning of this article, acid reflux is a condition that affects many people. With simple changes in diet and lifestyle, some people are enjoying a fuller life with less indigestion problem. Since you have read this article, you should have a better understanding about the causes of acid reflux, when you can tackle this condition or your own and when you should seek the advice of a medical professional.
