Suffering through acid reflux episodes can hinder your work, personal life and enjoyment of life as a whole. You have to battle your condition no matter where you are, and it can be painful. This isn’t how you want to live. Keep reading to find out how acid reflux can be a thing of the past in your life.
Never skip a meal if you have acid reflux disease. When you skip even one meal, you are not putting anything into your stomach, allowing acid to intensify. If you do not feel hungry during a meal time, you could always eat a little something, like a banana or apple.
Those who are overweight have a higher chance of getting acid reflux than others. This is due to stomach pressure. The excess weight of an overweight person adds more pressure to the stomach, relaxing the muscles of the lower sphincter of the esophagus, creating acid reflux. Fat in the body can also interrupt normal digestion. A little weight loss can go a long way in preventing acid reflux.
When you find you have acid reflux overnight, raise the head of your bed up at least six inches. This will keep your esophagus angled downwards, ensuring that acid stays in your stomach and doesn’t try to creep back up towards your throat. If six inches doesn’t help, try eight instead.
Try to reduce stress at all costs to reduce acid reflux. When you are overly stressed out, more acid is produced in the stomach, causing acid reflux. 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 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.
Take over the counter antacids or acid relievers. These are very helpful in relieving acid reflux for a lot of people. If they do not offer you relief, talk to your doctor about a prescription for your reflux. They can also help relieve symptoms and work to heal your esophageal lining
Limit the amount of liquid you consume with all your meals. Too much liquid can cause the stomach to become much too full, which increases your chances of suffering from acid reflux symptoms. You should only allow yourself to have small sips of water in between your bites of food.
Do not wear clothes that are too tight if you want to limit acid reflux. Belts, pantyhose and tight pants can push against your waistline and cause inflammation. Wear clothing that you feel comfortable in when you are in motion and sitting down at work to limit acid reflux from occurring.
Lose weight by going to the gym and performing cardiovascular exercises if you want to limit your acid reflux symptoms. If you are overweight, you will have a better chance of acid reflux building in your stomach and causing heartburn. Exercising can help with your heartburn and improve your health at the same time.
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.
Immediately after you have consumed a meal, do not lie flat. This can cause the food you have eaten to remain trapped in your esophagus, worsening acid reflux. Instead, walk around and remain upright for at least two hours. Doing this will assist in digestion, which will relieve your acid reflux.
Don’t eat food with a ton of fat. The foods you should eliminate or reduce include red meats, fast food and fried foods. Check out nutritional labels for fat content.
Watch the numbers on the scale to help alleviate symptoms associated with acid reflux. If you are carrying around several extra pounds, you are putting an increased amount of pressure on your stomach, esophagus and digestive tract. By shedding just a few pounds, you can improve your symptoms without the need for medications.
If you struggle with acid reflux, try to avoid using too many antacids. Excessive antacid use can interfere with some mineral and vitamin absorption. If you are dealing with chronic acid irritation it can aggravate your esophagus and cause swallowing problems that are permanent. If you’re experiencing this, you should seek medical treatment.
No longer should you be dealing with acid reflux. With the tips and advice that you’ve read, you should now be taking control and saying goodbye to this dreadful condition. Make sure that you are doing everything you can because it will completely make the difference between your suffering and you living a happy life.
