Ways That You Can Avoid Acid Reflux.

Ways That You Can Avoid Acid Reflux.

You should consume your last meal of the day more than three hours prior to going to bed. The upright position will force acids to make their way to your stomach. The acid could easily rise if you lay down. So you should remain active and upright for a couple of hours before you hit the sack at night. Do not eat dinner within the three hours prior to going to sleep. The acid and foods you've eaten stay in your stomach when you are awake and upright. However, whenever you laying down, the acid may rise back up into your esophagus. You need those few hours before deciding to hit the sack. Your eating style can bring on acid reflux. Many folks eat rapidly, and consume abundant amounts. You don't want to eat this way knowing that it is going to lead to further problems. Make sure you only eat until you are no longer hungry. Take all the time you need to eat. Take the time to enjoy your food and stop when you are full. Consuming any type of food during a reflux spell can make it worse. Most people eat too much, too quickly. This is not the right way to eat, and it is likely to cause acid reflux problems. Eating smaller portions can really help with this. Take all the time you need to eat. Chew deliberately and put the fork down in between bites. If you are a smoker, you must quit! Smoking may actually be the root cause of your acid reflux. It makes digestion slow down and causes an increase in stomach acid, and it slows down saliva production on top of all that. This also weakens the sphincter of your esophagus. That's why it must be controlled. If you have a weight that is proportional to your height, GERD is less likely to occur. When extra pounds press down on your abdomen, it causes your esophageal sphincter to relax. When weight loss occurs, the sphincter will return to a closed position and the acid will stay put. It is common for pregnant women to experience acid reflux. The baby's growth tends to crowd the contents of the stomach, forcing acid into the esophagus. You can control symptoms greatly by consuming only foods that are low in acid and low in fat. If this doesn't help, there are teas which can soothe the esophagus and neutralize stomach acids without hurting the baby.

Acid Reflux

You should keep track of what you ate before experiencing acid reflux. People who have acid reflux have triggers that make things worse. Whenever you pinpoint the foods that cause your acid reflux, you should avoid them as much as possible, especially during the evening hours. Some foods tend to trigger the effects of acid reflux. Caffeine based foods, chocolate, and even fried foods are common culprits. Additionally, acidic fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits and tomatoes contribute to acid reflux. The triggers are different for everyone, and you need to sort out which ones are yours. Avoidance of all of this list would be your best bet. Chew cinnamon gum after meals. Saliva production is increased when you chew. Saliva works to neutralize stomach acid. You will also find that you swallow more, clearing acid from the esophagus. You may find fruit flavored gum gives you the same effect. Gums with a mint flavor actually cause your esophagus sphincter to relax, worsening your acid reflux. Smoking and acid reflux are not things that go well together. Nicotine and stomach acid go hand in hand; the more nicotine you have in your system, the more stomach acid you will have. Don't stress your system by quitting abruptly, but rather cut down gradually. Attempt to quit gradually. Somtimes acid reflux is extremely painful and causes the sufferer to believe a heart attack is in progress. Don't ignore any major pains in your chest. They can be a sign of heart failure. Speak with your doctor about what course to take. Never risk complications or death by misdiagnosing yourself. It may not be wise to exercise immediately after eating. You can move food and acids from your stomach up your esophagus by squeezing your stomach muscles during exercise. Wait a couple of hours after you eat before doing any physical activity. Prop up your bed. You can do this by using wood, bricks and raisers to lift the bed. The head of the bed needs to be 6-8" higher than at the foot. When you have your chest and head elevated, stomach acid is less likely to come up when sleeping. Elevate the head portion of your bed. There are several materials you can use to raise the bed up, including bricks or blocks of wood. Try to adjust the head of your bed at least six inches. By raising your chest and head, it helps prevent stomach acid from rising into your esophagus while you're asleep. If you are active and experiencing acid reflux, you may just need to make one simple change. Enjoy a tall glass of water. Water fulfills your need for hydration. Water also facilitates digestion. You can curb acid production in your stomach by using water to promote healthy digestion. When pregnant, the baby's weight can actually cause acid reflux. Speak with your doctor to see if there are options to combat your issue.