Do you know what acid reflux is? What are its causes? What can cause the symptoms to become worse? How can they be stopped? By learning the answers to these questions, you can begin experiencing relief. Resources like this article are ideal for acquainting yourself with the nature of reflux and its treatment options.
Do not eat dinner within the three hours prior to going to sleep. Stomach acids stay in the stomach when you have your body upright. If you lay on your back, the acid will come back up through your esophagus. So, you should allow a few hours to pass prior to going to sleep.
Acid reflux can get worse from eating food. Lots of people enjoy eating a large amount of food very quickly. However, you should not do this because this will only worsen your acid reflux. Instead of over-filling your stomach, eat until you are content. Take all the time you need to eat. Chew your food carefully and between each bite, lay down your fork.
Drink only a few hours before or after a meal. Doing so allows you to cope with pangs of hunger by sating your thirst. Further, if you drink in between meals, you will likely see that the stomach will become far less distended at mealtime, and acids will not travel back into the esophagus.
Fatty foods produce bad acid reflux results. Fatty foods can cause your esophageal sphincter to relax, letting acid flow upwards. Additionally, they lead to weight gain and this does not help those with acid reflux. Eating a healthy diet can help your body stay healthy.
The slippery elm supplement can aid your acid reflux symptoms by helping to thicken the mucuous membranes in your stomach. It does this by helping to protect your stomach against acidity. A lot of folks find that a couple of tablespoons mixed into some water following dinner and before bedtime gives them relief.
Smokers should consider quitting in order to get rid 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.
Chew a stick of gum, preferrably cinnamon, after your meal. Chewing increases saliva production inside your mouth. The extra saliva will, in turn, reduce stomach acids. You will also find that you swallow more, clearing acid from the esophagus. Fruit gum can be used too. Do not, however, chew gum with mint in it. Mint can actually cause acid reflux, so you may just be making things worse.
When you have acid reflux, you can benefit greatly from raising the top of your bed up. You can use bricks, wood or even bed raisers to accomplish this. 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.
You’ve now learned a lot. You’ve seen what worsens acid reflux and what you can do to make things better. You need to analyze your life objectively to figure out your personal triggers before you can hope to successfully counteract them. Fortunately, these tips should make your life a lot easier from now on.