Does the idea of eating a slice of pepperoni pizza give you heartburn? Does going to bed usually mean experiencing acid reflux? The symptoms that occur from eating foods that are high in acid and fat result in acid reflux. Keep reading to learn how to get rid of symptoms for good.
Dinner should be had no less than three hours prior to bed. The acid and foods you’ve eaten stay in your stomach when you are awake and upright. Laying down can cause the acid to rise again. Consequently, you should wait at least two or three hours before bedtime.
If you maintain a healthy weight, you are less likely to suffer from acid reflux. When extra pounds press down on your abdomen, it causes your esophageal sphincter to relax. You will need your sphincter to become tight if you want to prevent the acid from coming up; losing weight will help.
Acid Reflux
Fatty food and acid reflux go hand in hand. Fatty foods tell the esophageal sphincter to take a break, allowing acid to flow the wrong way. Also, they cause weight gain; thus, the reason people who are overweight suffer from acid reflux. Eat healthy to stay healthy.
If you’re suffering from acid reflux while sleeping, try putting a wedge below your mattress. It raises up your head, keeping symptoms from increasing. You can be creative about what you use. Boards, old books, bricks and so forth will all work just as well to elevate the head of your bed. If you can afford to, get an electronically controlled bed to keep your head elevated.
Stop smoking now. Smoking can worsen or even cause acid reflux. It slows both digestion and saliva production, while encouraging the body to produce more stomach acid. This causes weakness of the esophageal sphincter. Therefore, stop smoking immediately to help your condition.
Working out right after a meal will not help your acid reflux; in fact, it will make it worse. If you do, you’ll find what you eat creeps up your esophagus. Wait a couple of hours after you eat before doing any physical activity.
Be sure to savor your food. Rather than consuming your entire meal all at once, stop before you get full. Instead, take the time to chew and enjoy your food as well. If you consume your food quickly or you eat too much, acid reflux can be exacerbated. One trick to slow everything down is to put your fork down after every bite.
Work on drinking only in between your meals if acid reflux is plaguing you. When you have food and liquid in your stomach at the same time, that causes a lot of pressure on the esophageal sphincter. As a result, stomach acid can rise into your esophagus, damaging the lining and causing acid reflux.
Moderate physical activity may assist with acid reflux. Moderate is the key word here. Vigorous routines can aggravate your digestive tract and cause reflux, but moderate or low-impact activities like walking can help your reflux greatly. These exercises allow gravity to aid in your digestion. You will also lose weight by exercising, therefore reducing heartburn.
Avoid trigger foods. Certain foods are known to make acid reflux worse. A partial list is alcohol, mint, garlic, caffeine, tomatoes, and pepperoni. Your triggers won’t be the same as mine, so while onions may affect me, you may be fine with them.
Exercise is key to acid reduction. Low impact exercises like walking and water aerobics can greatly aid acid reflux issues. Keeping your body upright helps put gravity on your side when it comes to digestion.
Don’t self-diagnose. Instead, schedule an appointment to see your physician. A lot of other conditions, such as ulcers and types of heart disorders, resemble the effects of acid reflux. Your doctor may wish to run a battery of tests to make a firm diagnosis.
Extra weight makes acid reflux worse, so work on losing weight. That weight could be responsible for your acid reflux. It places unneeded pressure on the stomach, which leads to heartburn. Losing a little bit of weight can really help to give you some much needed relief.
If you have acid reflux, you know it’s often impossible to eat spaghetti and pizza. Use sugar in your meals to reduce the acid percentage. The sauce will be sweeter and more easily digested.
Slowly consume your meals to alleviate your acid reflux. Take time to enjoy the taste of your food. Never eat too much too quickly.
Go to a doctor if you notice blood in your vomit or stools. Acid reflux is a common issue, but it could be the symptom of a more serious health problem in some cases. By determining the exact cause of your symptoms, you can find relief more quickly.
In order to avoid an acid reflux attack, you need to pay attention to the beverages that you consume and how much you consume them. Alcohol and soft drinks are two triggers of this condition. Try to drink a lot of water to help with your condition.
You have to watch the kind of beverages you drink, and watch the amounts as well. Do you drink a lot while you eat? While four may be a lot, it is still important to watch the amount of liquid you drink with your meals.
Now you understand what foods to eat and which foods to eschew. You even know what kinds of changes that must be made in order to calm down the symptoms. You can live your life well after reading these tips. Use one method at a time to figure out what works best for you.