Anyone can get acid reflux. About a third of the US population suffers from it. Are you looking for relief? This article will show you some very effective ways to deal with this uncomfortable condition.
Use a wedge-shaped cushion beneath your mattress to elevate your head. Anything that is sturdy enough to elevate the mattress is suitable. For example, you might use a block of wood or a few books. Some modern beds can now raise through electronic controls, which can be a big help.
Acid Reflux
It is common for pregnant women to experience acid reflux. As your baby grows, it crowds the stomach. This can cause stomach acids to backup into the esophagus. A diet consisting of healthy low-fat, low-acid foods is perfect for controlling acid reflux. You could also enjoy gentle herb teas that will help reduce acid but will not harm your baby.
When you suffer from acid reflux, it is a smart idea to lay off the spicy foods. Spicy foods can increase the acidity in your stomach. You can find relief by minimizing your intake of these food items.
Some foods tend to cause acid reflux more than others. Common trigger foods include fried foods, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, and chocolate. Certain acidic foods are really bad for you as far as acid reflux is concerned. Keep a log of what foods seem to cause your acid reflux. You may find some common problem foods are fine for you, while other foods that are not listed upset your stomach. To be as careful as possible, just steer clear of all such items.
While eating, remain in an upright position, and remain this way for three hours afterwards. Your esophagus relaxes when you are lying down allowing stomach acids to rise. Your esophagus may feel better when you stand or sit up.
Drinking Alcohol
You should avoid drinking alcohol if you suffer from acid reflux. Drinking alcohol can cause acid reflux and damage the lining in your stomach. Drink less and feel better.
Try moderate exercise that keeps you upright, such as walking. It will help with acid reflux. An upright posture is a huge help in digestion and keeps your stomach contents where they belong. Exercising also promotes weight loss which will help your acid reflux. Even though it is essential to get regular exercise, you don’t want to be too hardcore about it, as this can indeed make your acid reflux worse, not better.
Eat often, but don’t eat much. Eating larger meals can make acid reflux worse. A very full stomach will open up because the sphincter, located between your stomach and esophagus, has too much pressure on it. The excess stomach acids will enter the esophagus, and the result will be heartburn. Therefore, it is important to eat little meals instead of big ones.
Lose some weight. Too much weight around your midsection can affect your acid reflux. Belly fat increases pressure on the stomach, almost urging it to reflux. Sometimes, just losing several pounds will help.
Slippery Elm
A lozenge containing slippery elm may give you some relief. Slippery elm bark creates a protective layer in your stomach, helping your digestive system. It can make your throat feel better and relieve the cough that often comes with reflux when you suck on the lozenge. These can bought at most health food and natural remedy stores.
Refrain from consuming alcohol if you want to get rid of your acid reflux pain. Alcohol can increase the production of stomach acid. If you must drink, limit intake to a single glass. Experiment to find a liquor or wine that does not aggravate your symptoms.
Never diagnose yourself. Any symptoms you experience should be checked out by a doctor. There are many other conditions, including ulcers and heart disorders, that have the same symptoms as acid reflux disease. Your physician has tests he can conduct to determine a diagnosis.
For people who have acid reflux, simply chewing some cinnamon gum after eating a meal can help. Gum chewing stimulates the salivary glands, which helps to clean the esophagus and balance out the acids in the stomach. Chewing gum makes you swallow more, too. This pushes stomach acid down into the stomach, instead of allowing it to come up into your esophagus.
Your last meal consumed for the day should be no less than three hours before bedtime. In other words, do not eat any later than 6:00 PM if you typically go to sleep at 9:00 PM each night. In a fully reclined position, a full stomach places significant pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter muscle. When you do that, you’ll have acid reflux flare ups.
Drink fewer beverages when eating. Drinking provides added stress to the stomach. It puts pressure in areas that can trigger acid reflux. Try to drink mostly between meals instead.
There are many foods that are difficult to consume with acid reflux, like pizza. To help alleviate this, adding a pinch of sugar to the tomato sauce will eliminate some of the acid. You will find that it won’t bother your symptoms as much and only adds a slight touch of sweetness to the sauce.
Eat slowly and take a break between bites to allow for digestion. Take time to enjoy the taste of your food. It’s also a good idea to push your plate away once you are full.
See a doctor right away if there is blood in your feces or vomit. This may be a more serious condition than acid reflux. Ruling out more serious problems is important.
If you’re stressed out constantly, you must figure out a way to lower stress. While stress isn’t necessarily a cause of reflux, there is a possibility that your means of coping with stress could be to blame. For example, stress-related habits known to cause reflux include smoking, overeating and drinking alcohol. Adopting healthier means of coping with stress can make you less prone to reflux.
As you can now see, many people suffer from acid reflux. If you’re one of them, take action against the condition. Use the tips mentioned above and you are sure to live a pain free life.