Regarding acid reflux, there really is nobody that is immune to getting it. It is estimated that one-third of Americans have this disease. Although acid reflux affects so many people, you may not know how to deal with it. The below article provides excellent advice on how to combat your acid reflux.
Drink between each meal instead of with the meal. This is a great way to deal with hunger pains as you are more likely to be thirsty than hungry. On top of that, drinking with food bloats your stomach, so drinking away from food is best.
Stop smoking now. Smoking makes acid reflux worse, and may actually be a trigger. It slows down the amount of saliva you produce, increases stomach acid, and slows down digestion. This can cause the esophageal sphincter to weaken. That is why you should definitely quit smoking.
To lessen acid reflux pain, try eliminating spicy foods such as peppers and hot sauces from your diet. These kinds of food increase the amount of acid found in the digestive tract and make the situation worse. You can find relief by minimizing your intake of these food items.
Some foods are more prone to causing acid reflux than others. Common foods that cause reflux are chocolate, caffeinated beverages, and fried foods. Food that are high in acid, like tomatoes and oranges also cause reflux. Every person has their own list, so you have to determine what most bothers you at mealtime. If you want to err on the side of caution, simply stay away from everything listed above.
If you smoke and have acid reflux, you may wish to quit. Nicotine sparks stomach acid production, causing a rise in acid reflux flares. Quitting cold turkey can cause stress and worsen your symptoms. Attempt to quit gradually.
Reflux may feel painful enough to trick you into thinking you are suffering from a heart attack. Don’t ignore really bad chest pains. You could be experiencing a heart attack. Call your doctor immediately to find out what to do. Do not take chances when it comes to chest pain. The results can be life threatening.
Try doing moderate exercise to alleviate acid reflux symptoms. It is important that this exercise be moderate. Intense exercise causes agitation in the digestive tract and creates acid reflux. Walking and other low impact forms of exercise reduce the chances of reflux. Moderate your regimen as best as you can to help digestion. Another benefit of moderate exercising is helping you lose weight, which can greatly reduce your amount of heartburn.
Stay away from alcoholic beverages. Alcohol plays a major role in the production of excess stomach acid. Reduce your consumption of alcohol and try finding an alcohol that will not cause your stomach to produce acid.
Try eating your last meal at least three hours before going to bed. For example, if your bedtime is 10 PM., you should eat the last meal by no later than 7 PM. When lying down on a full stomach, more pressure is applied to the LES muscle. This will cause more acid reflux episodes.
Eat at least three hours before bed. Your stomach cannot properly digest if you are laying down. When eating right at bedtime, you might end up with acid reflux in the morning.
Gluten can frequently trigger acid reflux. Limit your consumption of gluten products and you can see less reflux There are some grains, such as millet and quinoa that can actually aid digestion.
If acid reflux is your issue, keep yourself in an upright position for two hours or more after eating. Gravity is the most obvious method for beating acid reflux. The time will vary by person; however, you should always wait at least two hours before lying down.
An excellent method of reducing your acid reflux symptoms is consuming your meals as slowly as possible. After you have taken a few bites of food, put down your fork or spoon and rest so that your stomach can properly digest. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy what you are eating. Don’t eat too much during a single meal and stop eating when you’re full instead of stuffed.
Avoid beverages with your meals if you have frequent acid reflux. This will only add weight to your stomach, increasing your chance for acid reflux. That causes pressure on your esophageal sphincter which in turn leads to acid leaking upwards. Drink between meals rather than with your meal to reduce this risk.
If you are pregnant and your pregnancy triggered your acid reflux, try and see what could be the cause. Something as silly or simple as drinking water after 7 in the evening could be the trigger. Locating the cause can help you eliminate the problem.
Now you know just how common acid reflux has become in recent years. If you are one of those people, it’s time to take the initiative to address your problem. Use the advice you just learned and live life in less pain.