People who have acid reflux disease experience real suffering. No matter what causes it, information can help with the cure. This includes reading about what changes a person needs to take in their life to gain control over acid reflux.
Our acid reflux can be triggered by specific foods. These foods include alcohol, caffeine, fried foods and chocolate. Citrus fruits and acidic vegetables like tomatoes are also well known culprits. Not all foods affect every person the same way, so it may require some trial and error to determine your specific triggers. Try avoiding these things to feel better.
Slippery elm, an herbal supplement, is believed to thicken the stomach’s mucous lining and limit erosion from acid reflux. The extra mucous provides protection from acid. Two tablespoons mixed with water taken post-meal and at bedtime will be a huge help.
Remain upright during and following meals. Doing so can cause a build up of stomach acids into the esophagus. If you remain upright, your reflux should lessen.
Reflux may feel painful enough to trick you into thinking you are suffering from a heart attack. You should not be ignoring chest pains at any time. There is a chance that you are suffering from a heart attack. Talk to a doctor to learn how to handle the situation. You will feel better knowing a health professional has checked the cause of your chest pains.
When you have acid reflux, you can benefit greatly from raising the top of your bed up. Raise your bed up for your top half using items like heavy books or bed risers. You want to work against gravity, so keep your head at least a half a foot higher than your feet. Raising your head is a good way of keeping the acid in your stomach.
Don’t lie down after eating. When you lay down, your digestive tract can sometimes have difficulty with the food you have consumed. Remaining in a seated position allows you to bypass the unpleasant effects of acid reflux.
Participate in gentle, upright exercise such as cycling or walking. Walking, for example, can help improve symptoms in several ways. First, staying upright helps your stomach digest food more easily. Next, it helps with weight loss, which will further reduce acid reflux. Don’t work out too hard or you’ll find your reflux is exacerbated.
Eat small meals throughout the day. You are more likely to suffer from acid reflux when you have only one or two big meals each day. A stomach that is too full puts pressure on the sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus, causing it to open in order to relieve itself. This can end up leading to a lot of discomfort. Eating smaller meals on a more frequent basis will help to reduce your symptoms.
There are things you can do to help relieve acid reflux. With the above information on hand, you can start making changes now. Eat well, get plenty of exercise and use the other tips here and you will feel better right away.