Everyone knows that a person with acid reflux suffers from discomfort and pain each day. But, with some simple advice, anyone can better manage this condition. Continue reading to find out how you can ease your pain.
Your eating style can bring on acid reflux. It’s not uncommon to bolt your food quickly and to excess. However, you should not do this because this will only worsen your acid reflux. Don’t eat excessively. Stop when you are no longer hungry. Eat slower when at the table. Slowly chew and enjoy your food. After you have taken a couple of bites, put down your eating utensil and rest for a minute.
Stress can cause acid reflux. When you are stressed, your body naturally produces more stomach acid. Try to engage in relaxing activities following meals. Read a good book, take a leisurely walk, meditate or spend time with friends and family.
Take note of the foods and beverages consumed immediately prior to the onset of your symptoms. You have some types of foods that trigger acid reflux for you, just like every other person who suffers with this condition. After figuring out your triggers, you can avoid these foods.
It is always a good idea to keep upright after eating a meal for at least a couple hours. If you recline or lie down, the acid will go up into the esophagus since gravity isn’t moving it down. Your esophagus may feel better when you stand or sit up.
Heart Attack
Reflux can sometimes be extremely painful. Occasionally, it may feel like a heart attack. Don’t ever ignore chest pains. It is a symptom of a potential heart attack. Call your doctor immediately to find out what to do. Do not take any risks if you believe your health might be at risk.
Some foods are much more likely to cause acid reflux than others. You should stay away from them if you want to minimize your symptoms. Try to avoid coffee, milk, foods that are spicy or hot, tomatoes, beverages that are carbonated, alcohol, fatty fast food, and acidic fruit juices.
Avoiding acid reflux often means avoiding stress. Stress can produce more acid, which will come up through your stomach and cause acid reflux. You need to eliminate stressful situations and learn to manage your stress more efficiently.
You should eat as slowly as you can. Don’t gorge, take your time. Relax and eat slowly, while savoring the taste of your food. When you eat too fast or continue eating when you feel stuffed, your symptoms will become worse. One trick to slow everything down is to put your fork down after every bite.
Get moderate exercise, preferably a type that keeps you sitting or standing upright, like walking. These types of exercise benefit your body by preventing reflux. Staying in an upright position will keep acid from creeping up your esophagus. Exercising also promotes weight loss which will help your acid reflux. Don’t work out too hard or you’ll find your reflux is exacerbated.
Shed some pounds. Excess weight in the abdominal region can increase the likelihood of acid reflux. Acid will have a tendency to stay inside your stomach if you lose weight in your midsection. Set a goal to shed a few pounds off your body each week.
Drink only between meals. When you have food and liquid in your stomach at the same time, that causes a lot of pressure on the esophageal sphincter. When this happens, stomach acid moves upward and damages your esophageal lining.
Now is the time to lose some weight if you are a bit heavy. If you carry a great deal of excess weight in your middle, you are more prone to suffering from reflux. Being overweight can put your stomach under a lot of pressure. This causes pain and damages the lining of the esophagus. If you want to keep your weight under control, then diet and exercise are key.
Trigger Foods
If you suffer from acid reflux, avoid trigger foods. Avoid foods such as garlic, onions, fried foods or spicy foods. The trigger foods are different for everyone, so you must identify yours.
You should not self-diagnose with the acid reflux. Any symptoms you experience should be checked out by a doctor. It might be other afflictions like an ulcer, or even a heart problem. Your doctor will be able to determine what is causing your acid reflux problem.
Don’t eat in the three hours prior to going to sleep. This is crucial since the stomach doesn’t process food that great when you’re sleeping as opposed to when you’re awake. Heartburn is quite common when the stomach has not had time to properly digest a meal before sleep.
Those who have to face acid reflux can give you a first hand account of how bad it feels. When you take time to learn about treatments, you won’t have to suffer any more. Use this advice to help yourself or help someone you know get their life back on track.
