If you wondered what you need to do about acid reflux, you just need useful information and advice. There are lots of medications and natural remedies for acid reflux. You can make good choices by knowing what your options are.
If you maintain a healthy weight, you are less likely to suffer from acid reflux. Those extra pounds put pressure on the stomach and cause the bottom of your esophagus to relax and allow reflux. You will need your sphincter to become tight if you want to prevent the acid from coming up; losing weight will help.
Use an additional pillow to keep your head raised while you sleep. Wood, books or any other object could also be used to raise the mattress on an angle. Also, there are beds that allow you to raise and lower the head of your bed.
Watch the types of foods you eat before a reflux episode. You have some types of foods that trigger acid reflux for you, just like every other person who suffers with this condition. If you can identify the problematic ingredient, you can avoid that food throughout the day, especially around dinnertime.
Acid Reflux
Avoid alcohol to rid yourself of acid reflux. Drinking alcohol can cause acid reflux and damage the lining in your stomach. Do not drink too much while out with friends if you don’t want a lot of discomfort later that night.
You should eat more frequently and smaller portions of meals. Limiting yourself to large meals twice daily could make you more prone to experiencing 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. Stomach acids thus get into the esophagus, and heartburn results. Instead, opt for small meals about five times a day.
Shed a few pounds. Too much weight around your midsection can affect your acid reflux. Extra pressure on your stomach by stored fat makes it much likely to reflux. Losing a small amount of weight can offer a lot of relief.
Exercising can really help to keep your acid reflux under control. Moderate is the key here. Working out excessively can irritate the stomach and cause acids to rise into the esophagus. A better approach is lower impact exercises like moderate walking. Staying upright ensures gravity does its job. Moderate exercise helps you lose weight too.
Slippery Elm
Pop a lozenge made with slippery elm. Slippery elm helps coat your digestive tract. When it is in lozenges, it relieves the coughing that comes with acid reflux and it soothes throat irritation. You should be able to find this product at your local health food store.
If you think you have acid reflux disease, ask your doctor for a second opinion. If you have symptoms of acid reflux, you need to talk to your doctor. There are many other conditions, including ulcers and heart disorders, that have the same symptoms as acid reflux disease. To determine whether it’s reflux or not, your doctor can do some medical testing.
Do not eat within three hours of sleeping. For instance, if you hit the sack at 11, you should be eating your last meal before 8. When you lay down and you have a full stomach, there is more pressure on the LES muscle. This could cause acid reflux.
Drink less liquids with your meals. You increase the load your stomach is taking when you fill it with fluids on top of food. This excess stress and pressure make reflux happen. Drink only minute sips of water with your meals.
Shed some weight if you have some extra pounds to spare. Obesity can contribute to acid reflux. That extra pressure on your gut worsens your reflux symptoms. Dropping a few pounds could really help you reduce the symptoms.
One way to cut down on reflux is to avoid drinking while eating. This will only add weight to your stomach, increasing your chance for acid reflux. This adds pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, which increases the chances of getting reflux. Therefore, try to drink before and after meals in order to reduce acid reflux.
Limit the amount you drink during your meals. This can add to the amount of food inside your stomach and make it distend. A full stomach adds pressure to the lower esophageal sphincter. This muscle keeps food in the stomach and away from the esophagus.
If you’re stressed out constantly, you must figure out a way to lower stress. Even though stress might not directly cause your acid reflux, it may entice you to do other activities that can cause acid reflux, including overeating, drinking alcohol, smoking, etc. So, when you decrease stress, you are helping out acid reflux, indirectly.
Now do you feel ready to tackle acid reflux? You have all the knowledge you need now, so you should be ready. If you are committed to finding relief, there is no reason why you must live with reflux.