If you are someone who has tried to or thought about doing something about the acid reflux problem that plagues you, all you need is the right information and tips. There are lots of natural remedies for acid reflux, along with OTC and prescription solutions. Read on for some helpful information about treatment options so you can make an informed choice.
Stress is a factor in acid reflux. When you are overly stressed out, more acid is produced in the stomach, causing acid reflux. Engage in pleasant pursuits following meals. Meditate or try light yoga. Even watching your favorite television show can be relaxing and stress reducing.
Keep track of the foods you eat so you know what causes your acid reflux issues. Everyone who suffers from acid reflux has some kind of trigger foods that tend to bring it on. After figuring out your triggers, you can avoid these foods.
Certain foods are notorious triggers for acid reflux. 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. The triggers can vary from person to person, meaning that you’ll have to learn from experience which ones cause discomfort and which do not. Stay away from all these foods to avoid acid reflux.
You might realize that a very active lifestyle could be part of the problem. Increase your daily water consumption. This will help you stay hydrated. It also enables your system to digest food more efficiently. You can curb acid production in your stomach by using water to promote healthy digestion. Drink before and not during meals. This also helps you get rid of hunger pains. Additionally, you will help to minimize the amount of acid that is produced.
You should consider quitting smoking if you are a sufferer of acid reflux. Nicotine causes acid reflux to get worse. However, stopping smoking cold turkey can actually worsen your acid reflux as well. Take your time with your quit attempts.
It pays to remain in an upright position for at least two hours following a meal. Your esophagus relaxes when you are lying down allowing stomach acids to rise. As long as you sit up or stand up, you’ll find that your esophagus feels better.
If possible, try to eat your final meal about three hours prior to bed. If your bedtime is at 11 p.m., you would avoid eating after 8 p.m. This is because lying down with a stomach full of food places additional pressure on your LES muscle. When you do that, you’ll have acid reflux flare-ups.
Opt for physical activities that involve an upright position, such as walking. Such exercise helps with acid reflux for a number of reasons. Staying in an upright position will keep acid from creeping up your esophagus. It also contributes to weight loss, which helps to prevent 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.
Don’t exercise vigorously after eating as this could cause terrible acid reflux problems. It could force food in the stomach to travel upwards, back to the esophagus. Don’t engage in vigorous exercise for at least an hour after eating.
Raise up your bed to where your top half is higher up. You can use bricks, wood or even bed raisers to accomplish this. The head of the bed should be six inches more elevated than the bottom of the bed. This will naturally keep the acids and foods in your stomach when you sleep through the night.
If you have chronic acid reflux, you need to limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol like hard liquor, wine, and beer can weaken your esophagus and cause reflux. You can have the occasional drink, however, try to avoid it in excess if you want to avoid acid reflux.
Including honey in your daily diet may help. Although research cannot directly prove that honey helps prevent acid reflux, honey can help alleviate symptoms that are associated with acid reflux. Therefore, consuming honey will help improve the symptoms of acid reflux. Do not buy pasteurized honey, though.
Surgery may be an option to help control your acid reflux, and you will need to speak with a doctor about it. A procedure that can really help this condition is called fundoplication. What happens is the doctor can insert a new valve which can lessen how much acid makes it into the esophagus. This procedure is permanent and can even get rid of reflux completely.
Are ready now to take charge of your acid reflux? We hope that the ideas presented here have instilled confidence in you. You don’t have to suffer from acid reflux any longer. You can take charge of it instead.