Have you been struggling with acid reflux? Is it a condition which plagues you through its miserable symptoms? Do you feel hopeless, as if there is no end in sight? When you are at your wits end, this is the article for you. The tips and tricks below will teach you how to combat this condition.

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.

Never, ever, EVER lie down after you eat! Even if you have only had a few bites, you may find that food comes back to haunt you in short order if you lie down. Eat all meals at least two hours before lying down for a nap or overnight to ensure that acid doesn’t sneak back up your esophagus.

When your symptoms are at their worst, mix 1 teaspoon of regular baking soda with eight ounces of water. Drink this slowly, one sip at a time, until your symptoms subside. Do NOT do this every day as baking soda contains a great deal of sodium which can lead to a myriad of other health problems.

Stay upright after eating. It can be quite helpful if you stay sitting or standing for at least two to three hours after you eat a meal. This will give your food time to digest and help keep your acid reflux symptoms down to a minimum. If you must lie down, do your best to elevate your body above your waist.

Loosen up if you’ve been dealing with too much acid reflux. Your clothing, that is. Tight pants, close-fitting shirts or pantyhose can make symptoms of acid reflux much worse. If you can, put a robe on or other over-sized and very comfy clothes and take it easy. Your symptoms should at least be somewhat alleviated.

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.

Did you know that smoking cigarettes could be contributing to your problem with acid reflux? Nicotine causes the esophageal sphincter to relax. When it relaxes, it can allow acid to come up and cause you pain. Kick the habit and you might just kick the acid reflux problem at the same time.

If you suffer from acid reflux you can help alleviate the symptoms and pain by watching what you eat. Eating foods that are high in acidic content will greatly increase the amount of pain you feel from this condition. Try to avoid eating foods like tomatoes, corn, canned fruits, or any other of the thousands of foods that are high in acidic content.

Consider taking a proton pump inhibitor. Drugs such as omeprazole work to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces, stopping acid reflux at the source. Make sure you talk to your doctor before starting these types of medicine, even those that can be obtained over-the-counter. You will need to make sure that too much acid in the stomach is the cause of your acid reflux.

What you drink could play a major role in whether you have acid reflux symptoms or not. Carbonated beverages, such as soda, increase stomach acid production, thus, increasing acid that comes up through the esophagus. Caffeinated beverages also have the same effect. Try to stay away from these drinks and stick to water.

Alter your activity after meals. If you suffer from frequent bouts of acid reflux, watch your activity after meals. Avoid clothing that is tight around the middle, and try not to bend over or do any heavy lifting. All of these things can help keep your stomach acid where it belongs.

Stop smoking to help with your reflux symptoms. Smoking can increase your chances of developing GERD too. It slows down digestion, boots stomach acid, and reduces the production of saliva. Without a higher production of saliva, you don’t have a great defense against the stomach acid. It also harms the esophagus, weakens your LES muscle and weakens your whole digestive system, which can contribute to acid reflux.

Carefully consider the types of foods you are eating if acid reflux is a problem. Fatty, grease filled foods like chicken wings, pizza and french fries can sit in your stomach for a longer period of time, increasing the likelihood of reflux. Instead, choose high quality proteins, vegetables and whole grains for the majority of your meals.

Now that you have read this article in full, you are primed and ready to tackle acid reflux. You know which changes to make to tame your symptoms and take back control of your life. The next step is to start implementing them within your own life to ensure you feel better quickly.

Top Acid Reflux Pointers To Help You was originally published on Spring