Are you living with acid reflux? The symptoms can sometimes be surprising. Besides the typical heartburn, reflux may also cause nausea, lump in your throat and bloating. This article will give you the information you need to tackle this health issue if symptoms are plaguing you.
Acid reflux symptoms are often worse when eating habits are poor. Some people eat fast and take in a good bit of food. This habit does much more harm than good. You should not eat past the point of feeling full. You need to eat slowly at the dinner table. Chew your food thoroughly and rest between bites.
If you are a healthy weight, you are less likely to suffer from acid reflux. The weight of excess fat can press on your stomach, causing the 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 foods make acid reflux more. These can encourage acid to flow in the wrong direction by sending incorrect messages to the esophageal sphincter. They also contribute to obesity, and people who are overweight suffer from acid reflux more frequently than those at a healthy weight. Try to stay as healthy as possible with your diet.
Some foods may trigger acid reflux. Foods such as chocolate, fried foods, alcoholic beverages and caffeinated beverages can trigger acid reflux. Food that are high in acid, like tomatoes and oranges also cause reflux. However, triggers are an individual thing so you need to read your own body to just what is not working for you. Avoidance of all of this list would be your best bet.
Chew cinnamon gum after meals. The chewing causes more saliva to be generated in the mouth and throat. Saliva is very useful to neutralize the acids produced in the stomach. Also, chewing gum causes people to swallow, which helps clear away acid from the esophagus. You can use gums that come in fruit flavors as well. Mint gums can exacerbate the problem.
Do not wear extremely restrictive clothing. Things like pantyhose, belts and waistbands should not be too tight. Wearing these tight pieces of clothing can cause some unnecessary stomach pressure. Tight clothes could be responsible for acid reflux. Wear comfortable clothes, which help give your stomach breathing room.
Do not lie down after a large meal, especially if you have reflux problems. That’s because lying down after a meal can make digestion more difficult, resulting in acid reflux. When you are upright, gravity will assist in keeping acid down.
Increase the amount of upright exercises that you perform, such as walking. This type of exercise can improve acid reflux symptoms for several reasons. Initially, standing up can help the digestion process. Secondly, it promotes weight loss which has also been shown to help with acid reflux. While moderate exercise is beneficial for acid reflux sufferers, vigorous exercise can exacerbate your symptoms.
Do not drink when you are eating a meal. Your esophageal sphincter experiences constant pressure whenever your stomach is filled with liquid. This pressure can force the acid from your stomach to work their way up into the esophagus. Continued exposure to the stomach acid can harm, or possibly destroy, the lining of your esophagus.
Exercising can really help to keep your acid reflux under control. It’s important the exercise stay moderate. Exercises that are vigorous can actually case reflux, but low-impact exercises could help. Since you are upright with these exercises, gravity aids in digestion. Also, you can lose weight when you exercise, which will help diminish acid reflux.
During pregnancy, you may suffer from acid reflux because the growing fetus places pressure on the stomach. Speak to your doctor concerning the best actions to take during your pregnancy.
Slippery Elm
Try a slippery elm lozenge. You coat your digestive tract with a protective layer by sucking on slippery elm bark lozenges. In lozenge form, it will also relieve the coughing that often accompanies a bout of reflux and will soothe an irritated throat. Health food stores are the best place to find this product.
Avoid all the foods that may be causing your acid reflux. Foods that are too rich in fat and grease, caffeine, alcohol, onions, garlic, spicy foods and mint flavored foods can cause acid reflux. You need to eliminate such things from your diet and identify your own triggers since everyone reacts differently to foods.
Perhaps you could have your last meal no less than three hours prior to bedtime. If you retire to bed at 11pm, be done eating by 8pm. Why you may ask? Because when you lie down completely with a stomach filled with food, it places pressure on the LES muscle. When you do that, you’ll have acid reflux flare ups.
While eating, it is best to limit consumption of liquids. The more you drink, the more pressure on your stomach. The food will take up more room in your stomach and trigger acid reflux. It is best to consume small sips, never gulping during a meal.
There are millions that suffer from acid reflux. Facts show that 33% of all adults experience some kind of acid reflux. The tips in this article can teach you how to control the condition.
