Tips For Getting Rid Of Painful Acid Reflux

Tips For Getting Rid Of Painful Acid Reflux

Do you suffer from acid reflux, or do you know someone who does? If so, you're aware of how much it can hurt. It is certainly no fun to deal with the pain and discomfort that comes with acid reflux. Follow the tips presented here to get that fire under control. Eat dinner about 3 hours prior to bed. You need to stay upright for at least two hours to allow your food to properly digest. If you lie down, acid can move into the esophagus. Therefore, to reduce or alleviate acid reflux, be sure to refrain from eating just before sleeping. You reduce your chances of experiencing GERD if you maintain a normal weight. Your sphincter muscle at the lower end of the esophagus loses its effectiveness with extra fat pressing on your stomach. Not only will you feel healthier as you lose weight, you will be less likely to suffer from acid reflux symptoms. Stop smoking now. Smoking can both cause acid reflux and make existing reflux worse. It also slows digestion and increases acid production in the stomach while slowing down the production of saliva. It will weaken your esophagus' sphincter too. Therefore, you need to quit your smoking habit immediately. Keep your head up by raising the top half of your mattress while you're sleeping. Bricks, wood, books - what you use it up to you. Electric beds are also an option here as well. Chew cinnamon gum post-meal. When chewing happens, the amount of saliva produced in the mouth increases. Saliva helps to neutralize the acid of the stomach. In addition, people swallow more when they chew gum, which allows any acid that may be in the esophagus to be cleared away. If not cinnamon gum, fruit flavors work as well. Gums with a mint flavor actually cause your esophagus sphincter to relax, worsening your acid reflux. Stay away from spicy foods and do not use hot sauces or peppers when cooking. These foods only escalate the buildup of acid in the digestive tract and can worsen your condition. Avoid these items and you will feel better right away. Some foods are much more likely to cause acid reflux than others. Limit how many of these items you consume. This list includes spicy foods, tomatoes, carbonated beverages, alcohol, acidic juices, fatty food, coffee, and even milk.

Upright Position

Consume small meals, and do so frequently. Having a couple of large meals a day will put you at risk for acid reflux. If your stomach is too full, it will exert pressure on the sphincter that separates the esophagus and the stomach. This will cause acid reflux. This gives stomach acid a way to enter the esophagus, and this causes heartburn. Eating smaller meals on a more frequent basis will help to reduce your symptoms. While eating, remain in an upright position, and remain this way for three hours afterwards. Lying down directly after a meal can allow acid to travel up your esophagus with much greater ease. You will feel relief from the symptoms of acid reflux by standing up or sitting in an upright position. Drink only between meals. Your esophageal sphincter experiences constant pressure whenever your stomach is filled with liquid. This allows acid and food to travel back into the esophagus, damaging the lining. Chew on cinnamon gum after your meals. The chewing causes more saliva to be generated in the mouth and throat. Saliva helps neutralize the acids in the stomach. Chewing also makes you swallow more, which helps to clear the esophagus of excess acid. You could opt for fruit flavored gums. Mint gums are a poor choice since they can relax the esophagus's sphincter and worsen symptoms. If you're overweight, try shedding some pounds. Extra weight can trigger acid reflux. The excess weight can force acid into your esophagus from your stomach. Not only is this extremely painful, it can cause long term damage to your esophageal lining. Therefore, try to reduce your weight as much as you can. Do not wear clothes that are too tight. Pantyhose, belts and bands around the waist can be the worst. Restrictive clothing can put your stomach under additional pressure. This can lead to heartburn and reflux symptoms. Put on clothing that feels good and doesn't press down on your stomach. You need to relax. Eating when you are stressed out causes excessive heartburn and stomach acid. When you are finished with your meal, do some relaxation exercises, like meditation or deep breathing. Don't lay down after you've eaten. Remain upright. If you suffer with acid reflux, don't lay down after eating. When you recline, your digestion slows down. When you are upright, gravity will assist in keeping acid down. A good way to keep acid reflux symptoms at bay is with a low-impact exercise program. Low-impact exercises, such as walking or swimming, are excellent choices when dealing with acid reflux. Digesting will be easier if you sit and do a few exercises after having a meal.

Stress Triggers

Never diagnose acid reflux yourself. Discomfort and regurgitation are serious symptoms and should be presented to a physician. Many other conditions, like ulcers and even heart disorders, mimic acid reflux disease. Testing can be done to confirm your diagnosis. Try limiting stress triggers from relationships, school, work, or personal issues. Too much stress is something that contributes to excess acid in one's stomach, and that can lead to inflammation and heartburn. Therefore, you need to determine your stress triggers and eliminate or reduce them. Do not eat within three hours of sleeping. For instance, if you eat at 7 P.M., don't go to sleep until 10 P.M. In a fully reclined position, a full stomach places significant pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter muscle. This in turn is what can cause the acid reflux to begin. Slim down. Extra weight, particularly if it's parked on your midsection, can actually cause acid reflux to occur. The fat around your mid-section puts extra pressure on your stomach and increases the likelihood of reflux. Even losing a few pounds may create major relief. Avoid drinking liquids with your meals. Drinking while you are eating increases your stomach volume. Pressure is applied to sections that make acid reflux form. Take small sips instead of full gulps while eating. Now you know what to do about acid reflux. In the past, you simply had to cope with pain and wish for it to disappear. Now, however, you can eliminate acid reflux from your life. Using the tips that have been provided to you, you should be able to say goodbye to acid reflux. Stop eating at least three hours before you go to sleep. This is important, as your stomach does not process food as well when you are sleeping versus when you are awake. Eating right before bed increases the chances of waking up with heartburn.