Acid reflux – What are the the causes and symptoms?

Just as importantly: how do I control the symptoms and keep a bad situation under control?

For those dealing with this painful condition, this article will show you ways to both prevent and control your acid reflux and get some comfort.

If you have acid reflux symptoms, make sure that you let your dinner settle for three or so hours before you go to bed as this is the time that most feel it the most due to lying down. Allowing this time gap will allow the acid in your stomach to work and prevent the reverse flow of the stomach acid back through your oesophagus.

If at all possible try avoiding  drinking too much during meals. Quenching that thirst separately from your meals will slow down the effects of reflux. Drinking too much during meals can make you feel bloated. If you think you are hungry between meals, try having a drink first, you may find that satiates your need.

It is nice to relax after a meal, but do so sat up in a chair, not lying down. When you lie down, your stomach can push acid back up through the oesophagus. Any position that involves sitting or standing will give you a better chance of relief.

If you prop up the head side of your bed, your stomach will have a better chance of not backing up. If you raise the top of the bed more than six inches (achieved by placing “raisers” under the legs of the bed or the use of a bed wedge pillow  placed on or under the mattress), your body will feel some relief.

As if smoking does not cause you enough problems, here is one more reason to quit. If you have acid reflux, it can be made worse if you are a smoker. Smoking will affect your oesophageal sphincter that keeps the acid in the stomach. The smoking will also prevent the production of saliva and stymies the digestive process, which means stomach acid will remain longer.

You may think that tight fitting pants are a great way to avoid overeating. You may be right; however, pushing in that waist also will push in that stomach giving acid nowhere to go but inevitably back up past the oesophagus and which in turn will heighten acid reflux symptoms. Make sure your pants and any undergarments are loose enough to allow the digestive process to work unrestricted.

Exercise helps and is a superb way to avoid acid reflux symptoms. It will help you avoid carrying a spare tire around your waste. That unnecessary weight that you are carrying may cause acid reflux to flare up as the correlation of being overweight and acid back are well documented.

 

Do you realize that a food’s pH level has no impact on its ability to form acid in your stomach? Foods you might think are acidic could be more alkaline after you digest them. This causes a lot of confusion for many acid reflux / gerd sufferers. You should get to know the pH content in the food that you are eating if you suffer from acid reflux.

 

 

 

PH Levels in food may or may not aggravate an existing acid reflux condition. In fact, some foods become more alkaline when they enter the digestive tract. Working out which foods are good and which are bad foods for acid reflux,  do your research. To avoid the issues that might come from acidic foods, look up your favourite foods to see what their acid levels are.

 

Your mother was right what she said to slow down while you eat. You are not shovelling coal when you are eating. Make sure that your meal is fully chewed properly will help that it gest digested more easily. Focus on eating and stop when you are full. Enjoying the meal is not just a way to relax; it is a healthy way to avoid acid reflux.

Acid reflux can be soothed with cinnamon gum. Along with the gum itself, the chewing action will keep the stomach feeling better and allow the acid to work through the system.

As you can see above, acid reflux conditions can be relieved & controlled if you take the proper precautions. Take the time to review your eating and sleeping habits to see where you can make the changes that will make your life much more comfortable.

How do you control the symptoms of acid reflux or excessive heartburn (gerd)?

Let us know by leaving your comment below.