Are you an acid reflux sufferer? If you are not sure, it might surprise you how it may manifest itself. Not only can acid reflux cause heartburn, it can also cause nausea, excess bloating and throat lumps. To prevent this, give this article a read.
Eat your last meal of the day many hours before you go to bed. Standing upright keeps stomach acid and food in your stomach where it belongs. Lying in a prone position allows acid to travel upwards. Allow for a couple of hours before you lay down after eating.
The manner in which you eat can aggravate acid reflux symptoms. Lots of people enjoy eating a large amount of food very quickly. This unhealthy approach to eating does your body no favors whatsoever. Instead, you should eat only until you are satisfied, not full. You need to learn to eat at a conservative pace. Slowly chew and enjoy your food. After you have taken a couple of bites, put down your eating utensil and rest for a minute.
Fatty food should be avoided. These can encourage acid to flow in the wrong direction by sending incorrect messages to the esophageal sphincter. They also contribute to putting on those pounds, which can worsen your acid reflux. Learn to make good nutritional choices.
Keep your head up by raising the top half of your mattress while you’re sleeping. Wood blocks or books work well to elevated the top of the bed above the bottom. It is possible to find electronically adjustable beds also.
Some foods are more prone to causing acid reflux than others. Alcohol, chocolate, caffeine and fried foods are a few of the different items that can cause acid reflux. You should also avoid spicy foods as much as possible. Everyone has different triggers for acid reflux and you need to figure out which foods you should stay away from. Just avoid all these foods to be safe.
Smoking can cause serious problems if you suffer from reflux. Nicotine boost stomach acid and can cause increased occurrences of acid reflux. Quitting cold turkey can make acid reflux symptoms worse. Work on quitting gradually.
Avoid overly restrictive clothing. This means beware of tight belts, waistbands and pantyhose. There will be added pressure on the stomach if you wear tight clothes. Acid reflux signs and symptoms often result. Don’t wear clothing that has a tight waistband.
Weight loss can help to lessen or prevent acid reflux. Obesity is one major cause of acid reflux occurring. Losing just 10 percent of how much you weigh can reduce the occurrence of acid reflux. Eat smaller portioned meals during the day to help your acid reflux.
There are particular foods that are well-known acid reflux triggers. You have to figure out which items affect you the most. This list includes spicy foods, tomatoes, carbonated beverages, alcohol, acidic juices, fatty food, coffee, and even milk.
Give slippery elm lozenges a try. You coat your digestive tract with a protective layer by sucking on slippery elm bark lozenges. When it is in lozenges, it relieves the coughing that comes with acid reflux and it soothes throat irritation. Health food stores generally carry this product.
Never diagnose acid reflux yourself. Even if the symptoms indicate acid reflux to you quite clearly, you must find out what your doctor has to say. Sometimes the culprit is more severe, such as heart disease or peptic ulcers. Your doctor can determine whether you have acid reflux by running tests.
Drink less during your meal. Drinking while you eat can put additional stress on your stomach. There is more pressure, and thus, acid reflux is more likely to occur. Instead, sip water during your meals.
Try not to be reclined for two or so hours following meals if you want to avoid reflux flares. Gravity is your friend when you remain upright. The amount of time it takes before you can lie down will vary from person to person and also will depend on what was eaten.
A great way to prevent acid reflux pain is to eat slowly, pausing regularly to assist in proper digestion. Take time to enjoy the taste of your food. In addition, you shouldn’t consume too much food during a single meal. Aim to stop eating as soon as you are not famished anymore, not whenever you are full.
Avoid consuming a large meal immediately before turning in for the night. Stop eating approximately three hours before retiring. If you go to bed on a full stomach, increased acid production may lead to the unpleasant effects of reflux.
There are a lot of people who deal with acid reflux on a daily basis. Really, over a third of adults have some level of acid reflux problem. If you are one these people, use the tips here to help you treat the symptoms and live a life without discomfort and heartburn.