When you are having pain after eating certain foods, especially spicy things, and aren’t sure how to deal with it, you may have acid reflux. Although this disorder can be troublesome and annoying, you can learn how to deal with it effectively. Read this article for some great tips that you can use!

The most significant factor attributed with acid reflux is being overweight. Those who are obese are two times more likely to have GERD than someone who is at a healthy weight. The pressure on your stomach of all the extra pounds can cause the esophageal sphincter to relax, allowing acid to give you trouble.

Many pregnant women suffer from acid reflux. As the fetus grows in size, it crowds your stomach, causing acid to be pushed up from the stomach into the esophagus. It’s easy to deal with symptoms by avoiding foods high in fat or acidity. A woman should watch how she deals with acid reflux symptoms when pregnant and consult their doctor.

To help avoid acid reflux, take your time and chew your food slowly. This technique helps you to avoid overeating. When you overeat, food is pressed in the top of your stomach; thus, it allows stomach acids to build up in you esophagus. For best results, eat small meals often.

Stress is a major contributor of acid reflux disease. Stress increases the amount of stomach acid and makes acid reflux more likely. You should relax before and after having a meal. Some examples include reading, listening to music, watching television, meditating or taking a little stroll.

Always remain in an upright position while eating and in the two to three hours following each meal. If you lie down or recline, acid can move up your esophagus more easily as gravity isn’t holding it down. Your esophagus will feel much better when you get up on your feet.

To reduce the risk of acid reflux, lose those extra pounds. Obesity is one of the most common contributing factors to acid reflux symptoms. If you lose 10% of your weight, acid reflux will have a lesser effect on your body. Don’t engage in fad diets. Instead, control your weight by eating small and sensible meals several times daily.

Chew a stick of gum if you feel like your acid reflux issue is not under control at night. A stick of gum can increase the amount of saliva that you have in your mouth, which can help push down the acid that is getting into your esophagus from your stomach.

It is best for people with acid reflux to avoid certain beverages. Drinks like soda, energy drinks and coffee are all big causes of acid reflux. The caffeine content is usually the culprit and can cause the stomach to produce large amounts of stomach acid. They can also irritate the lining of the stomach.

Gluten is a major acid reflux trigger. Foods with gluten, such as oats, barely or wheat, need to be avoided by people who have acid reflux. Millet and quinoa are grains that are well-suited to helping digestion.

Elevate your head at least 5 inches when you are sleeping to create a better flow of saliva down your esophagus when you are sleeping. This will help to reduce the acid that builds up in your stomach so that you do not wake up with any symptoms in the morning.

If you suffer from acid reflux, try to wear loose fitting clothes. An article of clothing like a tight belt or restrictive pantyhose will apply pressure to your stomach. This makes heartburn much more likely. Take a close look at your wardrobe and see what you need to change.

Get medium-level exercise into your daily routine. Exercises such as walking for two miles can really help your digestion. As an added benefit, it can also help you lose weight which can again help your acid reflux issues. It’s a win on both ways! Steer clear of high-level exercise though, as it can actually cause your acid reflux to spike.

Although not always the case, tight clothing can sometimes cause acid reflux. If a belt or waistband seems tight, try loosening your clothing to relieve the discomfort. When too much pressure is put on your midsection, gastric acid can be forced from the stomach and upward into your esophagus, creating the burning sensation.

Eat your food slowly. When you eat slowly, this gives your food time to digest and your brain time to register what is going on in your stomach. This helps your body do its job the correct way and can help lower the amount of acid reflux symptoms you have.

Instead of allowing yourself to suffer continuously due to acid reflux, take control of your life again. You have already taken some steps in researching what exactly it is, and now you can learn to control it. If you or a loved one suffers from acid reflux, remember these great tips!

What You Should Know About Acid Reflux was originally published on Spring