Does acid reflux affect you? If you are unsure, you may be surprised by the symptoms. Acid reflux can cause heartburn, bloating, a lump in your throat and more. Continue reading to find out how you can control your acid reflux.
If you aren’t overweight, your GERD may go away. The sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus becomes relaxed when the weight of extra fat presses down on your stomach. Once you tone up, your sphincter will tighten and the acid will stay put.
Keep your head up by raising the top half of your mattress while you’re sleeping. If you do not have a wedge, place a block of wood or a few books under your mattress to raise your head. If you can afford to, get an electronically controlled bed to keep your head elevated.
Acid Reflux
When you have an acid reflux flareup, try to remember what you ate just prior to that. There are probably foods that trigger acid reflux every time. After figuring out your triggers, you can avoid these foods.
Keep cinnamon gum on you at all times, and eat a stick of it after every meal. Chewing facilitates the production of saliva. This neutralizes stomach acid. In addition, people are more likely to swallow when chewing gum. As a result, harmful acid located in the esophagus is more likely to clear out. Fruity gums can also work. You should not chew on mint gum because mint causes your esophageal sphincter to relax, worsening your acid reflux.
Somtimes acid reflux is extremely painful and causes the sufferer to believe a heart attack is in progress. Don’t ignore chest pain! Chest pains are often a sign up a big problem in the body, like a cardiac arrest. Contact your doctor to learn what you should do. Never risk complications or death by misdiagnosing yourself.
To help combat acid reflux, use something to raise up your bed at the head portion only. You can do this by putting a brick under the headboard. You can also prop your head up with pillows. The head of the bed should be six inches more elevated than the bottom of the bed. You can prevent stomach acid from staying in your esophagus by elevating your chest and head.
If you suffer with acid reflux, don’t lay down after eating. When laying down, the digestive tract can have problems with what you eat. When you are upright, gravity will assist in keeping acid down.
Drop pounds. Acid reflux is more likely to occur in people with extra body fat, particularly if it is stored in their abdomen. The fat that is stored in your stomach can lead to more acid, which causes acid reflux. Do some exercise to lose a few pounds and you will see a difference.
Exercising can really help to keep your acid reflux under control. Exercise in moderation to start, until your body becomes accustomed to your regimen. Tough workouts may irritate the digestive system and promote reflux, but lower-intensity ones, such as walking, really can ameliorate your symptoms. These exercises will keep you upright, allowing gravity to facilitate your digestion. Besides, being more active will help you get in shape and reduce the pressure on your stomach.
Avoid Foods
If you suffer from acid reflux, avoid foods that may trigger it. Avoid foods such as garlic, onions, fried foods or spicy foods. The trigger foods are different for everyone, so you must identify yours.
The pH level of a food does not influence the way it tastes or its texture. Acidic foods like lemons are very alkaline after they are digested. You may be confused by this if you have acid reflux. By learning how food’s pH levels affect your acid reflux, you can find relief.
If you have constant acid reflux, you need to do moderate exercise on a regular basis. The best types of exercise to try are low impact, such as walking, cycling or water aerobics. When your body is upright, the gravity can help digestion and retain the food in the stomach where it should be.
Don’t give yourself a diagnosis and declare that you have acid reflux. Stomach discomfort and regurgitation are common symptoms of acid reflux that warrant a trip to the doctor. Certain heart disorders, ulcers and other conditions can actually mimic acid reflux. To determine whether it’s reflux or not, your doctor can do some medical testing.
It is important that you refrain from eating at least three hours before bedtime. This will allow your stomach to process food efficiently. Eating before laying down may cause heartburn or other reflux symptoms.
A serious acid-reflux trigger is gluten. Therefore, if you have acid reflux, you should limit your gluten consumption. Gluten comes from wheat, barley, and rye, so avoid products with any of these ingredients. You may think you have to eliminate all grain from your diet, but this isn’t true. Some great grains that provide your body with necessary fiber and nutrition include millet and quinoa.
Millions suffer with acid reflux. As a matter of fact, about 33 percent of people over the age of 18 experience acid reflux in some form. If you are one of them, use the tips here to reduce your symptoms in the future.
