Tips To Reduce Acid Reflux

Did you know that the pill sold best in the United States is to reduce acid reflux or heartburn ? The United States is not the only country with a population that suffers from this “burning” stomach problem after eating. If you also have this problem from time to time, you should read this article. Here we are going to give you some tips on how to reduce acid reflux.

Some information about acid reflux

Acid reflux and heartburn are among the most common problems people have in connection with the digestive tract. Most people experience this, to a greater or lesser degree. The problem occurs when stomach acid (which is used to digest food) enters the esophagus. The most common symptoms of acid reflux are:

• Acidity (a bitter feeling, as if it burns in your throat or chest after eating)
• Food regurgitation (vomiting)
• Nausea with sour taste
• Difficulty swallowing food
• Reflux

If a person struggles with acid regurgitation at least once a week, it is usually referred to as a gastroesophageal reflux. Half of the US population suffers from acid reflux and almost 20% of these suffer from gastroesophageal reflux. The American diet is not the best in the world, but the truth is that the numbers are the same in other western countries, such as Spain.

When you swallow your food, it must travel down the esophagus and through the sphincter before ending up in your stomach. The sphincter forms a barrier or lid that opens and closes every time food passes through. It is about seven cm long and its job is to control what ends up in the stomach and prevent what is already there from coming up again.

Eating too fast

Since it is a muscle, its ability and strength to stay closed will vary. Many cases of acid reflux are due to eating too fast. Certain ingredients in your food can also cause acid regurgitation, go to bed right after eating, as well as pressure on the stomach or physical activity.

Your stomach contains very strong acid whose job is to break down food during the digestive process. If the sphincter does not work properly, this acid will get up into the esophagus and cause the burning sensation you feel in your chest. Think about what happens when you vomit. You get a sour taste in your mouth along with the burning sensation in your throat. This is because your food is mixed with stomach acid.

Acid reflux becomes a problem when it happens so often that you develop stomach ulcers and chronic inflammation of the esophagus. In some people, it can actually end up with lung disease! Acid that reaches the mouth causes erosion of tooth enamel and bad breath.

It is important to note that some patients go to the doctor and talk about reflux based on the symptoms we have mentioned here, others do not notice anything about the disorder. This is known as “silent reflux” and can be detected by measuring your pH level, as well as performing an endoscopic examination.

Reflux through life

Ever since you were born you have had some form of acid regurgitation and that is not a bad thing. It happens to your child from time to time and is no cause for concern. Approximately 85% of all newborns experience acid reflux after receiving breast milk. During the first year of life, this is completely normal. Pregnant women often suffer from acid reflux due to the pressure on the abdomen.

This is why acid reflux is often associated with obesity. Too much fat around the abdomen puts pressure on the abdominal cavity. In addition, overweight people may eat foods that aggravate the problem. This can occur while you are a child, adolescent or adult.

As we have mentioned, reflux is a part of life. It is also often the case that people over 60 develop this problem because the muscle at the top of the esophagus has become weaker after many years at work.

How to avoid and reduce acid regurgitation

Have a healthy diet

While some people experience acid reflux due to food they have eaten or various ingredients, almost all experience an increase in acid reflux after consuming coffee, mint, chocolate, alcohol, tomato sauce, spices or spicy foods and processed dairy products. Therefore, it is a good idea to eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and water.

Get better eating habits

In addition to having the list of foods that can aggravate reflux, it is also a good idea to eat less, especially at night. Eating full at dinner just before bedtime is not a good thing.

It is wise to choose light foods for the evening, with plenty of fruits and vegetables to reduce acid regurgitation. You should also avoid drinking too much alcohol or eating too much fast food. Make sure your food is neither too hot nor too cold and eat slowly. Chew your food several times before swallowing.

Get enough sleep

After a meal (either lunch or dinner) you should try to take a rest, long enough to make you feel good and refreshed. This helps your muscles relax, especially the esophagus which will thus work better and more efficiently and reduce acid regurgitation.

Likewise, it is a good idea to try to keep the stress at an acceptable level. Otherwise, you run the risk of having acid reflux every day. This in turn can lead to more health problems of a more serious nature.