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More bout Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is a condition whereby the stomach juices rises up to the esophagus causing discomforting feelings and heart burns. Ushering into the stomach are the lower esophageal sphincter muscles that close immediately after food intake into the stomach. The acid reflux happens due to the disorder of this muscles whereby they relax when no food intake is taking place leading the acid produced in the stomach to rise up.
This doesn’t happen often and is sometimes considered to be a normal rare occasion. It is only serious if it happens more than twice a week. If it does, then you might be suffering from the acid reflux disorder. The disorder is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). You should then seek medication.
Over to this, acid reflux doesn’t only occur when one is suffering from the disorder but can also be triggered by other activities that you do. Some of these activities are like:
- Lying down after taking a meal.
- Intake of huge meals.
- Intake of some drinks like tea, coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol.
- Taking medications aimed at muscle relaxations.
- Frequent in pregnant women.
The above are some of the activities that can trigger acid reflux. This disorder has some symptoms that you can gauge for self-diagnosis. Below are some of them:
- Immature hiccups.
- Dry cough and sore throat.
- The narrowing of the esophagus that leads to difficulties while swallowing food.
- Blood or black stool.
If you notice some of these signs manifesting in your body, you should seek medical advice. Learn to keep healthy.
Acid Reflux Checklist
- Avoid excess weight: It has been clinically proven that overweight contributes to acid reflux.
- Do not wear tight clothing: Tight belts and clothing would increase the pressure in your abdomen and your stomach, contributing to heartburn.
- Avoid trigger foods and drinks: High-fat meals, citrus fruits, caffeine, mint, and alcohol may aggravate your symptoms.
- Keep a food journal: Trigger foods and drinks may be different from one person to another. By keeping a food journal, you will identify which ones are better to avoid.
- Avoid large meals: By eating small amounts of food, you will put lower pressure on your stomach, and there’s a lower chance of an acid backflow.
- Do not lay down after eating: Laying down after eating would add up to the pressure in your stomach and contribute to acid reflux.
- Eat more protein and fiber: High-protein foods will contribute to prevent acid reflux, and fiber will keep you satiated without large meals.
- Control your fiber intake: Eating moderate amounts of fiber is fine, but too much fiber would have the opposite effect because it slows down the gastric emptying.
- Chew gum after eating: Chewing gum increases the saliva you produce and swallow. Constantly swallowing maintains the direction of food and stomach acid. Keep in mind your chewing gum should not contain mint.
- Stop smoking: Smoking is one of the most critical risk factors for heartburn and acid reflux. It weakens the esophageal sphincter, which is essential to keep the stomach acid in place.
- Drink herbal teas: Chamomile and licorice are especially useful. Avoid those herbal teas with caffeine, such as green tea or black tea.
- Talk to a physician: If you experience gastric reflux more than twice in one week, your reflux problem might be worse than you think, and you may require medical assistance to prevent complications.