Many people do not realize exactly how painful and annoying untreated acid reflux can become. Whether you want to take preventative measures or need advice on medicines you can take, researching is the right thing to do. Read this article for helpful tips so you can reduce the suffering you experience!
Keep a diet diary. Everyone is different, and which foods will trigger your acid reflux may not be the same as mine. Write down how you feel before, during and after each meal, and include a list of what you eat and drink all day. After a month, you should have a clearer picture of which foods cause you the most grief.
When you are done eating a meal, prevent acid reflux by chewing on some gum. More saliva is produced when you chew some gum. The more saliva that is produced during digestion, the less acid is produced, in turn, preventing acid reflux from occurring. Ideally, you should chew on sugar-free gum.
There are some foods which people who suffer from acid reflux must avoid. These include high-fat foods, alcohol, drinks with caffeine, anything with mint in it, chocolate, citrus, anything with tomato in it, foods with spices in them, peppers, garlic, carbonated drinks and onions. You may find your acid reflux flares with many other foods as well, so make a list.
If you are experiencing acid reflux issues and you do not have an antacid on hand, you can use baking soda to alleviate the problem. One spoon of baking soda mixed with a cup of water is a simple and inexpensive antacid. You will start to feel relief within a few minutes of taking it.
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While eating your meals, limit your beverage consumption. Although this may sound silly, drinking lots of beverages during your meals can actually cause acid reflux. This is because liquids increase the volume of food in your stomach.
When your stomach is full, the lower esophageal sphincter has more pressure placed upon it. This muscle prevents food from coming up through your esophagus, which prevents acid reflux. You need to protect your lower esophageal sphincter as much as possible.
Wear clothes that are loose-fitting and comfortable. If you wear clothes that are too constricting and tight, they will put added pressure around your abdomen and your lower esophageal sphincter. When your abdomen area is free from any added stress, it can do its job much better and tight fitting clothes do not allow this.
Try drinking less during a meal to help with your acid reflux. Liquids can cause food to expand in your body, and they increase the volume of foods inside of your body. Instead, consider eating your meals first, and then enjoy your beverage about fifteen minutes after your meal is through.
Learn stress coping techniques. Being stressed out can cause you to tense up your body and this causes you to contract some, or all, of your stomach muscles, causing acid reflux symptoms. Learn how to better handle stressful situations and you’ll find out you may have much less stomach troubles.
Believe it or not, one of the big causes of acid reflux has nothing to do with what is inside your body. The clothes that you wear can contribute to your acid reflux symptoms. Tight clothing that puts pressure on your midsection can worsen the pain and discomfort. Wear loose or stretchy clothing and you will be much more comfortable.
Be sure to stop eating three hours before bedtime. For instance, if you eat at 7 P.M., don’t go to sleep until 10 P.M. When lying down on a full stomach, more pressure is applied to the LES muscle. This can cause an increase of acid reflux symptoms.
If your acid reflux is severe, then the importance of not lying flat on your back cannot be stressed enough. Therefore, whenever you sleep, you need to keep your entire upper body slightly elevated. You cannot just add more pillows to lay your head on because this just elevates your head, which is not enough. Place wooden blocks or bricks underneath your mattress can significantly help in relieving your acid reflux symptoms.
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Keep your stress levels down to prevent flaring up your acid reflux. Stress causes tension and can contract some of your stomach muscles leading to reflux. Watch how you react to emotional or stressful situations to avoid making matters worse in your stomach. Also try keeping your temper below the boiling point to avoid major reflux symptoms.
If you suffer from acid reflux, try to wear loose fitting clothes. An article of clothing like a tight belt or restrictive pantyhose will apply pressure to your stomach. This makes heartburn much more likely. Take a close look at your wardrobe and see what you need to change.
Eat smaller portions throughout the day instead of larger meals. A big meal takes longer for your body to digest it and usually puts added pressure on your stomach, causing not only irritation, but damage, too. Instead of eating three large meals, break them up into five or six smaller ones.
Are you overweight? Being too heavy could cause your stomach acid to go back up into your esophagus. Therefore, making an effort to eat right and exercise daily will help you with your symptoms. If necessary, speak with your doctor to see if they have any advice or suggestions for you.
Do you tend to become nauseous after you finish eating a meal? This could be an indication that you have acid reflux. Many times acid reflux is overlooked because there are so many different ailments associated with nausea. If you think acid reflux might be the culprit then make sure you talk to your doctor.
As stated in the beginning of the article, you do not have to deal with the problems of acid reflux without help. Besides using preventative measures, there are other avenues to explore. By remembering that as well as the tips in this article, you can take your life back and enjoy it again.
