Living With Acid Reflux

Answer 1

Acid reflux is a condition that is caused when acid from the stomach is pushed up into the windpipe. The acid burns the delicate tissue of the esophagus, which causes a very uncomfortable pain for people who suffer from acid reflux.

Avoid Eating Before Bed

One of the best ways to avoid recurring acid reflux attacks is to pay attention to what time of day you eat your meals. If you eat at least two hours before you lie down to sleep, your stomach will have plenty of time to digest the food while you are in an upright position. Eating less than two hours before sleeping will cause you to lie down before your stomach is finished producing acid to digest your food. If you have experienced acid reflux before, there is an established pathway for the acid to rise up into your esophagus and cause you pain.

Watch What Kind of Foods You Eat

The types of food you eat have a serious impact on the amount of discomfort you experience. If you eat acidic foods or foods that are difficult to digest, your stomach will produce larger amounts of acid. When there is more acid in your stomach, there is a better chance that it will rise into your esophagus and create an acid reflux attack. Try to eat foods that are easy for your stomach to digest and do not contain large amounts of acid. You will be more comfortable because your stomach will be able to handle the foods easily.

Regulate How Much Food You Eat

Acid reflux attacks can also happen because you have eaten too much. When the stomach has more food to digest than it can comfortably handle there is less space for the acid that is being used to digest the food. To make more space, the acid will be pushed up into your esophagus again. Try to eat moderate meals that are filling instead of large meals that make you uncomfortable. Eating more slowly can also help you avoid acid reflux attacks. When you allow your stomach to digest the food a little at a time there will be less need to push the acid up into your esophagus.