Acid Reflux

trueThe Solution To Your Acid Reflux Predicament Lies Herein People that have acid reflux truly suffer. Knowing as much as you can about your condition is what is going to help you find a solution. This includes gaining knowledge from articles, such as what you are about to read, to come up with a treatment plan. Stay away from acidic foods. They can both cause and exacerbate acid reflux. While this is by no means a comprehensive list, try to avoid oranges, tomatoes, grapefruit and vinegar. If you can't cut them out of your diet completely, at least try to avoid eating them in the evenings, so acid reflux doesn't strike when it is time for bed. Try to avoid drinking anything while you eat. When you drink, your stomach fills up and expands, which can cause distension. This puts pressure on the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus, sometimes causing food to pass back up through it. When this happens, acid reflux has begun, as will your suffering. If you smoke, it's time to quit. Smoking can worsen or even cause acid reflux. Tobacco slows down your digestion and increases your stomach acids. This causes weakness of the esophageal sphincter. End the habit for good now. Wait to exercise after you eat. If you put off your exercise by at least an hour, the food will have a better chance to digest. Physical exertion right after you eat could cause the food to move back up toward the esophagus. This could be very uncomfortable and hard to fight. Limit the amount of liquid you consume with all your meals. Too much liquid can cause the stomach to become much too full, which increases your chances of suffering from acid reflux symptoms. You should only allow yourself to have small sips of water in between your bites of food. Medications that are available over the counter at a drugstore or pharmacy will only temporarily mask acid reflux disease symptoms with not much effectiveness. If you find yourself using these products with increasing regularity, you should consult a doctor. They can prescribe stronger prescription medications that prevent acid reflux from occurring. Learn to manage the stress in your life if you've been experiencing frequent symptoms of acid reflux. A nervous stomach will certainly exacerbate your problem and make diagnosing the real causes difficult. Eat in a calm environment and savor each bite. Forget about the stress in your life at least during the meal; it's better for your mind and body. Try to relax. You will suffer from acid reflux if you feel stressed after or during eating. After each meal, relaxation techniques are highly recommended. These include deep breathing, meditation, and yoga. Do not lie down following a meal, but keep yourself upright. Chew gum after your meals. Believe it or not, chewing gum can help alleviate acid reflux because it encourages saliva production. Saliva helps eliminate stomach acid. In addition, you will likely swallow more often, which further helps clear acid. Aim to chew cinnamon or fruit-flavored gum rather than mint because mint could worsen your acid reflux. One easy way to combat the symptoms of acid reflux is by chewing gum, especially after meals. This gets your saliva glands producing fluid that counteracts stomach acids. This also will help you to swallow more often than normal. This works to return stomach acids to the proper place. 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. Consider losing weight if acid reflux is a problem for you. Any excess weight your system has to deal with can increase the frequency and severity of symptoms. Talk to your doctor about a smart diet and exercise program that will get you in better shape and lessen the discomfort you experience due to acid reflux issues. Tight clothes could make your digestion harder. If you often suffer from acid reflux, try wearing pants that are more comfortable. Do not hesitate to purchase pants that fit more loosely or wear softer fabrics than denim. You should also avoid wearing belts that could put pressure on your stomach. Reduce or eliminate your alcoholic consumption because alcohol can interfere with gastric emptying. As a result, your acid reflux can worsen. If you cannot completely eliminate alcohol, then try consuming it in moderate amounts and diluting it with water or soda. In addition, if you are a wine drinker, try white wine rather than red because white doesn't flare up acid reflux symptoms as bad. Consume peppermint if you are trying to reduce the severity of your acid reflux symptoms. Peppermint can give you a cooling sensation and help you to feel comfortable when you are experiencing your pain. You can get peppermint in supplement form or simply add it to the meals that you consume. Look for your acid reflux trigger foods. Every body is different, and there will be certain types of foods that really kick your acid reflux into high gear. Keep note of times when that occurs and analyze what you ate. If you see recurring patterns, look to strategically change your diet. If acid reflux episodes are a problem for you, avoid lying down after you eat a meal. Sitting, standing or walking are all good positions that improve the digestive process and decrease the risk of acid reflux. To prevent or reduce night time episodes, sleep with the upper body elevated. After eating, avoid the urge to sit still or, worse yet, lie down. This can cause acid to go from your stomach to the esophagus. Stay upright and move around instead so that your food is properly digested. If you are suffering constant pain, you are sure to be ready to get control of acid reflux. Now that you have been properly educated you can make the lifestyle changes necessary. Start making changes in your diet and exercise, along with the other advice you learned here, and you will start feeling better soon.