Acid Reflux Issues? Take The Right Next Steps With These Tips

Acid Reflux Issues? Take The Right Next Steps With These Tips

Acid reflux affects thousands of people each day. The effects make it nearly impossible to get a good night's sleep. This can be your state after your dinner each night. But, there are things you can do. The helpful hints below will guide you towards an end to acid reflux. When you are at a healthy weight, it is less likely that you will suffer from GERD. Your sphincter muscle at the lower end of the esophagus loses its effectiveness with extra fat pressing on your stomach. Losing weight will tighten your sphincter, making the acid stay where it needs to stay. If you smoke, it's time to stop smoking. Smoking makes acid reflux worse. It slows digestion, boosts acid production in the stomach and limits saliva production. It weakens the sphincter of the esophagus too. Today is the day to put those butts out for good! After meals, consider a stick of cinnamon gum. Saliva production is increased when you chew. The saliva will help neutralize stomach acid. Additionally, you will swallow more which can reduce the acid built up in your esophagus. Fruit flavored gums can be used as well. Peppermint and spearmint gum should be avoided because they relax your esophageal sphincter. There are certain foods that can trigger acid reflux in our bodies. Among them are chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and fried foods. Additionally, citrus fruit, tomatoes and other foods with a high level of acidity can cause problems. Not all foods affect every person the same way, so it may require some trial and error to determine your specific triggers. Avoidance of all of this list would be your best bet. Elevate the head portion of your bed. This can be done by using bricks, blocks of wood or by getting those raisers that are built for lifting up a bed. Be sure your head is half a foot higher than the bottom of your bed. Elevating your chest helps stop the stomach acid rising in your sleep. Treat your acid reflux symptoms by hydrating yourself. Increase your water consumption. You need water to stay hydrated. Water also facilitates digestion. Increased water consumption not only improves digestion, but it also decreases acid production. One of the major causes of heart burn is alcohol. It should be avoided. Alcohol causes stomach acid to build and can also deteriorate the lining of the stomach, leading to acid reflux. On a night out with your friends, limit the amount of alcohol you consume in order to feel well when you arrive at home. You don't want to lay down after eating. Laying down can cause your digestive tract to have problems working effectively. This upright position can help the flow of liquids in your body. You should never lay down after a meal. That's because lying down after a meal can make digestion more difficult, resulting in acid reflux. Remaining in a seated position allows you to bypass the unpleasant effects of acid reflux. Try to burn some excess weight off your body. If you are heavier than you should be, you may have more frequent bouts with acid reflux. Fat around your midsection puts pressure on your stomach, which causes the reflux. Even a few pounds lost can bring relief. Don't allow stress to spiral out of control in any area of your life. This can be a major cause of symptom exacerbation, leading to acid production and pain. Learn to manage your stress, or get rid of the ones you can. Enjoy your drinks between meals instead of when you are eating. When you have food and liquid in your stomach at the same time, that causes a lot of pressure on the esophageal sphincter. This can cause it to allow the food and acid in your stomach to come back up into your esophagus and destroy the lining within. Consume smaller meals more frequently throughout your day. When you eat larger meals it can trigger your acid reflux to act up. A stomach that is too full puts pressure on the sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus, causing it to open in order to relieve itself. Stomach acid can then make its way back up into your esophagus. Instead, consume smaller meals through the day. Try doing some simple exercises to alleviate your acid reflux. Make sure the exercise is moderate. Vigorous routines can aggravate your digestive tract and cause reflux, but moderate or low-impact activities like walking can help your reflux greatly. Exercises like this keep you upright, allowing gravity to aid in digestion. An additional perk of moderate physical activity is weight loss, which also lowers your risk of heartburn. If acid reflux is something that bothers you, try doing most of your drinking between meals. You are putting pressure on the esophagus sphincter if your stomach if stuffed with liquid and food. When this happens, stomach acid moves upward and damages your esophageal lining. Stop suffering today by following the tips presented here. If you are proactive in your efforts to curb reflux, you will surely succeed. Use this information to help you begin living pain-free. Before you know it, you will be feeling yourself again. If you're pregnant, your baby could be pressing into your stomach, giving you acid reflux. This is especially common during the last two trimesters, and is worth mentioning to your physician.