Acid reflux can be one of the most unpleasant of health conditions. Nothing feels worse than that terrible sensation of indigestion. You may have tried many different remedies, only to discover that none of them were truly effective. Help is on the way! The following tips will give you quick relief when you need it most.
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.
You need to exercise if you have GERD, but don’t overdo it. Losing weight is a huge factor in controlling acid reflux, so go out for a run, play some soccer or go for a swim. That said, don’t push your body too hard or you may find your GERD becomes active.
When you are done eating a meal, prevent acid reflux by chewing on some gum. More saliva is produced when you chew some gum. The more saliva that is produced during digestion, the less acid is produced, in turn, preventing acid reflux from occurring. Ideally, you should chew on sugar-free gum.
When you eat high fat foods like fried chicken, your stomach empties very slowly. This allows it to become distended and your esophagus may fill up with acid. Choose healthier foods like lean proteins or beans to avoid this situation and you should be able to control your acid reflux like a pro.
Many pregnant women suffer from acid reflux. The space taken up by the baby pushes the stomach and acid upward. Stick to foods that are low in fat and acid in order to keep the symptoms from popping up. If this isn’t helping, you can drink some teas that are safe for the baby and that can neutralize stomach acid.
Don’t exercise right after a meal. Contractions of the lower stomach during exercise can cause undigested food to be forced upwards in the esophagus. Don’t engage in vigorous exercise for at least an hour after eating.
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.
Learn your trigger foods. When you know what foods or beverages cause you acid reflux, you can avoid them to keep your symptoms to a minimum. Some foods that often cause symptoms are foods that are fried, fatty, spicy and carbonated drinks. These are just some examples and what bothers someone else, might not bother you.
Exercise daily to help reduce acid reflux. These exercises should be low impact exercises such as walking. Gravity is known to help decrease the odds of acid reflux; therefore, go for a walk after eating to lessen the effects of stomach upset and increased stomach acids. Exercising will also help you lose weight which will aid in reducing acid reflux.
People who suffer from acid reflux should try to consume foods that are high in calcium, cesium, sodium, potassium and magnesium. These minerals are alkaline and will help reduce the acidity in your stomach. The lower the levels of acid in your stomach, the less you will suffer from acid reflux.
Tomatoes may be a tasty and healthy food, but it is not good for those who have acid reflux disease. The amount of acid found in tomatoes is astonishing. If you have acid reflux disease, you should avoid tomatoes and any products that contain them if you want to reduce symptoms.
Be sure to stop eating three hours before bedtime. If your bedtime is at 11 p.m., you would avoid eating after 8 p.m. When lying down on a full stomach, more pressure is applied to the LES muscle. This is a major trigger of acid reflux.
Did you know that acid reflux, when untreated, can lead to ulcers? You can have perforations of both the stomach and esophageal lining, leading to intense pain. When your heartburn seems to have kicked up a notch, talk to your doctor to get the right tests done to rule out this complication.
Try bending your knees back and forth for at least 10 minutes during the day and night. This motion can help improve the flow of liquids down your esophagus and help facilitate your acid reflux symptoms. You can do this in the comfort of your own home or as part of your exercise regimen for relief.
Now that you have read this article, you should be aware of how you can find long-lasting relief from your acid reflux. Even if you have tried other treatments in the past without finding relief, something from this article is likely to help you. Keep trying until you find the relief you crave!
