Here we are going to share information on the topic “8 Ways to Get Rid of Acid Reflux.” Heartburn is unrelated to your heart, despite what its name suggests. Instead, it’s a searing feeling in the 10-inch tube that connects your stomach to your oesophagus.
Heartburn might strike for a few minutes or for several hours at a time. In any case, it’s uncomfortable, so it makes sense that you’d want to find a quick cure for the feeling.
8 Ways to Get Rid of Acid Reflux
What specifically causes heartburn, and how does it feel?
Dr. Kerri Glassner, a gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist, states that refluxing stomach contents into the oesophagus is the source of heartburn.
The food you eat must be broken down by the stomach’s acidic contents, which it can handle with ease. On the other side, it irritates and may even cause harm to your oesophagus.
The lower esophageal sphincter is a circular band of muscle at the base of the oesophagus that functions as a valve to prevent the acidic contents of your stomach from entering your oesophagus. Food that has been consumed can enter your stomach when this valve is relaxed. This valve keeps food and acid from backing up into your oesophagus when it is contracted.
Acid reflux happens when this valve relaxes abnormally, allowing stomach contents to return into your oesophagus. The most well-known and visible symptom is heartburn.
The lower esophageal sphincter may weaken or relax due to a number of circumstances, such as:
Certain Foods and Drinks: Chocolate, coffee, alcohol, citrus fruits, tomatoes, spicy foods, and chocolate can relax the LES or encourage the formation of acid, which increases the risk of heartburn.
Obesity: Carrying too much weight can strain the abdomen and relax the LES, which opens the door for acid reflux into the oesophagus.
Pregnancy: Acid reflux and heartburn can result from changes in hormones that relax the LES and raise intra-abdominal pressure.
Smoking: Smoking reduces saliva production and weakens the LES, which both aid in balancing stomach acid.
Certain Treatments: A number of pharmaceuticals, including calcium channel blockers, NSAIDs, and several asthma medications, can relax the LES or irritate the oesophagus, which can lead to heartburn.
Hiatal Hernia: A hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm’s hole and into the chest cavity. This may weaken the LES and raise the chance of heartburn and acid reflux.
An underlying medical problem can occasionally be the source of acid reflux and heartburn, or in certain situations, a drug you are taking. However, the majority of the time, factors like your food and lifestyle choices are what set them off, so having heartburn occasionally is really usual.
According to Dr. Glassner, common heartburn triggers include:
- Eating specific meals, such as those that are spicy or acidic, contains caffeine, chocolate, or alcohol
- Smoking
- Being chubby
8 Ways to Get Rid of Acid Reflux
Here are eight strategies to reduce or even eliminate your symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn quickly:
1. Maintain a diet diary and stay away from trigger foods
- As previously discussed, a few foods and beverages may cause heartburn and acid reflux.
- According to Dr. Glassner, “these meals cause heartburn by lowering the lower esophageal sphincter pressure, which makes it easier for acidic contents to reflux into the oesophagus.”
- By maintaining a food and symptom diary, you can help determine which particular foods are most likely to cause you problems. When you’ve identified them, stay away from these meals and beverages at all costs.
2. Don’t lie down immediately after eating.
- After eating, lying down might exacerbate heartburn symptoms by causing acid reflux.
- Eat something else two to three hours before going to bed to give your stomach enough time to empty.
3. Fight the urge to eat rapidly or in excess.
- This is especially true if you eat a lot soon before bed, as a full stomach may put additional pressure on the valve that prevents stomach acid from passing into your oesophagus, increasing the likelihood of acid reflux and heartburn.
4. If you are overweight, take action to reduce your weight.
- Being overweight puts additional strain on the stomach, raising the possibility of acid reflux and heartburn.
- Maintaining a healthy weight and decreasing extra weight starts with eating a well-balanced diet and doing 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
5. Raise your bed’s head.
- When you sleep, raise your head and chest over your feet to help avoid and relieve acid reflux and heartburn.
- This can be accomplished by either utilising a foam wedge under the mattress or raising the head of your bed by placing blocks underneath the bedposts.
- Piling pillows up should be avoided since it is typically ineffective and could exacerbate your symptoms.
6. Modify your sleeping posture
- Although sleeping on your left side can be difficult with some types of bedding, it is said to help with digestion and reduce acid reflux in the stomach. Dr. Glassner notes this.
7. Dress in baggy clothes
- Tight belts and garments that press against your stomach may be aggravating your heartburn symptoms if you are prone to it.
8. If you smoke, give it up.
- Giving up smoking might lessen acid reflux’s frequency and intensity and, in rare circumstances, completely eradicate it.
What to do in the event of severe or regular heartburn
Over-the-counter drugs like antacids can help reduce the symptoms of moderate, sporadic heartburn. Before taking any drug, always read the label, and never take more or a bigger amount than prescribed.
See your doctor if you have severe heartburn or if it doesn’t go away or gets worse after you’ve tried to ease it.
According to Dr. Glassner, “it’s time to be checked by a gastroenterologist if you are having everyday symptoms requiring antacids.” “It’s also crucial to speak with your doctor if your proton pump inhibitor trial doesn’t control your heartburn symptoms.”
According to Dr. Glassner, it could be necessary to think about other acid reflux treatments. Heartburn may occasionally be a risk factor for esophageal cancer, Barrett’s oesophagus, or precancerous changes in the oesophagus.
Additional indicators that call for a gastroenterologist’s examination are as follows:
- Heartburn that has just started in those over 60
- spitting blood
- Experiencing bloody or dark stools
- Inability or discomfort when swallowing
- Vomiting
- Insufficient appetite
- Unexpected weight reduction
Frequently Asked Questions
8 Ways to Get Rid of Acid Reflux
How can I get rid of nighttime heartburn?
Nine Tricks for Treating Heartburn at Night
- Take a nap on your left side.
- Reduce your weight, even a tiny bit.
- Elevate your upper body when you sleep.
- Put on loose-fitting clothing.
- Steer clear of things that give you heartburn.
- Avoid eating large meals or eating late at night.
- When you eat, unwind.
- After eating, keep your stance straight.
How should I sleep if I want to avoid heartburn?
Because of gravity, the anatomy of the stomach, and the angle at which the stomach and oesophagus join, sleeping on your left side can significantly lessen reflux (see bottom picture). Using gravity to lessen GERD symptoms at night also includes raising the head of the bed by around six inches.
Why does nighttime heartburn worsen?
The force of gravity on food passing through your digestive system is absent when you’re lying down. Additionally, when you lie down, gravity stops acids and bile from ascending into your oesophagus and creating heartburn. Many people discover that their heartburn is worse at night as a result.
What is the best way to get rid of heartburn quickly?
Antacids. The most traditional and well-known heartburn medications are still in use today because they are quick-acting, affordable, accessible without a prescription, and generally safe when taken as prescribed. Examples include Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, and Tums.
Is heartburn lessened by hot water?
Heartburn, acid reflux, and gastric reflux disease (GERD) can cause excruciating discomfort. Understanding which meals and beverages to avoid in order to prevent acid reflux, as well as the fact that easy fixes like drinking a cup of warm water will help flush acids from the oesophagus and possibly alleviate symptoms, can be helpful.
What naturally relieves heartburn?
Heartburn Treatments: Six Natural Ways
- baking powder. Take note that we mentioned baking soda, not baking powder (don’t mistake the two; you’re not a cake)… aloe juice. Most supermarket stores have aloe juice.
- Gum without sugar, apple cider vinegar…
- Consume a banana.
- Give up smoking.
- Lifestyle changes
Does walking relieve reflux of acid?
After a meal, taking a quick stroll can greatly improve digestion and lessen the likelihood that heartburn or acid reflux symptoms will manifest later in the evening. Similarly, if you’re looking for a more mild approach to working off the heat, group activities like Pilates or dance are excellent options for stretching.
Does sitting worsen reflux symptoms?
Because hunching over compresses your chest and stomach, the stomach acid that breaks down food becomes obstructed when you eat or afterward. Acid then runs backward into your oesophagus as a result. Furthermore, there is evidence to show that slouching slows down intestinal transit.
Conclusion
8 Ways to Get Rid of Acid Reflux
In summary, treating acid reflux necessitates a multimodal strategy that includes food modifications, lifestyle adjustments, and, in certain situations, medical intervention. Through the application of the eight tactics that have been outlined, people can effectively reduce their symptoms and enhance their quality of life. To create a customised plan that tackles the underlying causes of acid reflux and guarantees long-term treatment, it’s crucial to speak with a healthcare provider. People might experience better digestive health and relief from acid reflux by being diligent and taking preventative actions.
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