Have you ever questioned what that bitter taste in your mouth is? Does your voice go hoarse at times? Is there times that you have chest pains that you cannot explain? If you have answered yes to these questions, continue reading this article. You will learn about acid reflux and if it is what is causing your discomforts.
Stay away from acidic foods. They can both cause and exacerbate acid reflux. While this is by no means a comprehensive list, try to avoid oranges, tomatoes, grapefruit and vinegar. If you can’t cut them out of your diet completely, at least try to avoid eating them in the evenings, so acid reflux doesn’t strike when it is time for bed.
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.
Never, ever, EVER lie down after you eat! Even if you have only had a few bites, you may find that food comes back to haunt you in short order if you lie down. Eat all meals at least two hours before lying down for a nap or overnight to ensure that acid doesn’t sneak back up your esophagus.
Keep chewing gum handy. When you chew gum, it not only freshens your breath, but it causes you to salivate. This helps wash acid down your esophagus and back into your stomach, where it belongs. When choosing a flavor, avoid citrus and mint. Mint can cause your esophageal sphincter to relax, and citrus is high in acid.
Acid reflux is so painful that it can sometimes be mistaken for a heart attack. However, you should never ignore chest pain. It could be a heart attack. Get to the doctor pronto. You do not want to suffer serious health problems because you misdiagnosed yourself.
There are certain foods that trigger acid reflux. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to avoid these if possible. One example is chocolate. While dark chocolate doesn’t appear to be as bad as high-fat milk chocolate, they both contain caffeine and cocoa, which are both known to cause acid reflux.
Do not take large bites when you are eating a meal if you want to feel comfortable and prevent the burning sensation from acid reflux. It is important for your body to break down the food that you put in your mouth, especially meats. Take small bites and chew your food for at least 10 seconds to feel comfortable during and after your meal.
Try to eat smaller meals if you suffer from acid reflux. Sitting and eating large meals can contribute to the pain associated with acid reflux. Eating smaller meals will reduce the amount of acid your stomach has to produce to digest your food. This means that your stomach will work less and you will not have as much pain.
Losing some weight can help with your acid reflux. Being overweight can contribute to heartburn. The extra pounds can cause excess pressure on the stomach making the LES or lower esophageal sphincter relax causing backflow. Extra body fat can also release some chemicals that interfere with normal digestion. Losing a few pounds can relieve many of these symptoms and keep heartburn to a minimum.
When you weigh too much, you must lose weight. All that excess weight is only making your acid reflux worse. Acid from the esophagus can rise back up from the stomach in this situation. Not only is this extremely painful, it can cause long term damage to your esophageal lining. You can help prevent these issues by staying active and eating better.
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.
Sleep at least 8 hours at night to help prevent acid reflux in your life. A good amount of rest during the night can help your body to recuperate from the day and get back to 100%. This will aid in reducing the acid in your body, which is a catalyst for acid reflux.
Do you now have a better understanding of what is going on with your body? Did this article help you learn what to do to lessen the pain you feel? Use the information provided to you each day. You will soon be able to eat, sleep and be merry about your life every day.
