3 Tips For Treating Acid Reflux

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Acid reflux is incredibly common. It can anything from a minor annoyance to a completely debilitating condition. Either way, acid reflux is an unpleasant experience for anyone who suffers from it.

Thankfully, there are a number of methods and steps that can be taken to both prevent acid reflux from happening and to reduce the severity of the symptoms. We’ve put together a list with three top tips for treating acid reflux. Check it out below.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Before we get into the details, it’s important to clarify what exactly acid reflux is. Acid reflux, often referred to as heartburn, is caused when stomach acid travels back up through the oesophagus. This can cause an extremely unpleasant, often painful burning sensation, and can also lead to a cough, a foul taste in the mouth, bloating and nausea.

The causes of acid reflux are varied and it can be difficult to pinpoint what the exact cause is in particular causes. Some common acid reflux triggers include fatty foods, smoking, stress, and being overweight. Let’s look at some of the ways you can treat acid reflux.

Medicines

Acid reflux medicines, such as omeprazole tablets, are often the most effective way of treating acid reflux and reducing the severity of the symptoms. They work by targeting the stomach’s proton pumps, which are used to produce stomach acids to aid in the digestion of food. By reducing the stomach’s ability to produce this acid, these medicines effectively reduce the effects of acid reflux.

Eat Smaller Meals

Eating a large meal can cause the stomach to expand. This means that the opening of the stomach, called the lower oesophageal sphincter, fails to properly close. This can lead to stomach acid travelling up the oesophagus and causing symptoms of acid reflux.

To prevent this from happening, focus on eating smaller meals at regular intervals. Your stomach will have a much easier time coping with this and it will significantly reduce the risk of acid reflux.

Sleeping Habits

One main cause of acid reflux is eating late and going to bed soon after a meal. Lying down can prevent food from travelling to the stomach and digesting properly, which can cause symptoms of heartburn. You should avoid going to bed or lying down for at least three hours after a meal.

Sleeping on your left side or on your back with a raised head have also been found to prevent acid reflux. Avoid sleeping on your right hand side or flat on your back, as this can cause heartburn due to the structural makeup of the stomach.

Conclusion

Acid reflux can be an incredibly uncomfortable and unpleasant condition for sufferers. It can be painful and can often lead to people not eating properly in fear of causing a flare up. Thankfully, there are a number of ways in which acid reflux can be prevented and the symptoms reduced. Eat smaller meals at regular intervals, alter your sleeping habits to prevent symptoms from occurring, and consider using medicines to prevent heartburn.

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