Acid reflux is a condition that can affect people from a variety of backgrounds. It is caused when the sphincter of the esophagus is weakened and the stomach acid gets stronger. Without intervention, the condition can cause a deterioration of health. Here’s some advice to decrease the chances of acid reflux.

Avoid certain foods. Certain foods can trigger acid reflux, so it’s important to avoid them. Stay away from spicy, greasy or acidic foods, and try to avoid caffeine and alcohol. This is especially important if you are eating a late meal; whenever possible eat dinner at least three hours before bedtime.

If you stay at a weight that is healthy you will be unlikely to suffer from GERD. Your esophagus sphincter relaxes when fat in your stomach presses downward. By reducing your weight you can reverse this process, which will greatly reduce your symptoms.

If you smoke, it’s time to quit. Smoking can actually make your acid reflux much worse. Tobacco slows down your digestion and increases your stomach acids. It will weaken your esophagus’ sphincter too. End the habit for good now.

Always keep gravity in mind. Remember that acid is being held down, so when you position your body in a way where down isn’t towards your feet, problems will ensue. Keep your head up and your stomach uncompressed, then you should be able to find relief from acid reflux all day long.

There is a drug called phenylalanine and it is found inside of most over-the-counter antacids. If you have acid reflux and you also have mental retardation and/or seizures, you should not take them. This is because the phenylalanine will make you more prone to having seizures. Talk to your doctor about other options.

After you make a meal, wait at least 30 minutes for it to cool down before consumption. When you eat food that is too high in temperature, your body can react with heartburn and acid reflux. Make a side platter with your meal so you can consume that while you are waiting for your main dish to cool.

Limit the amount of drinks you have when you eat. Beverages can add volume to the food that you digest and increase how distended your stomach is. Having a full stomach puts some pressure on your LES or lower esophageal sphincter, which is responsible for keeping food from getting back into the esophagus. This increases your chances for having reflux. To lower chances, take small sips when eating and try drinking your beverages between meals instead of during meals.

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.

Exercise regularly but moderately. Your acid reflux problem should not be as bad if you are in shape and live an active lifestyle. Avoid exercising intensely or your stomach could become upset. You could for instance go for walks everyday or find a new hobby that allows you to be more active.

See a doctor. Many people think that acid reflux is something that can be treated at home. While this is true to some extent, you may be missing out on valuable insight and effective treatment. There are many causes of acid reflux, and your doctor can help you identify the root of the problem and devise a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

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.

Keep your stress levels down to prevent flaring up your acid reflux. Stress causes tension and can contract some of your stomach muscles leading to reflux. Watch how you react to emotional or stressful situations to avoid making matters worse in your stomach. Also try keeping your temper below the boiling point to avoid major reflux symptoms.

Eat your meals slow, taking the time to completely chew your food. Relax and enjoy your food. Overeating can inflame acid reflux, so have smaller meals and stop eating when you feel full.

As stated earlier, many people get acid reflux. Due to a combination of increased acidity in the stomach and sphincter weakening, the condition arises and causes pain for anyone who gets it. Rather than letting acid reflux take its toll on you, you can prevent it from happening. Remember this article and eat in peace.

Acid Reflux: You Can Have Relief was originally published on Spring