Reducing Acid Reflux And GERD Symptoms Naturally

Almost everyone has occasional heartburn or acid reflux and can understand how uncomfortable it can be. Your stomach is filled with acid in order to digest your food. Your stomach is built to handle the acid, but your esophagus is not. When the acid from your stomach backs up into your esophagus, it causes the burning sensation you have experienced called heartburn. While this can happen normally, people who experience symptoms like heartburn two or more days a week for at least three months may have GERD, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or acid reflux disease. GERD is a chronic condition where the valve separating the stomach and the esophagus does not close properly.

It is important for people with GERD to see their doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment, but for people with GERD as well as people with occasional acid reflux, there are natural lifestyle changes that can be done at home that will help reduce the symptoms of acid reflux. This is important because medication treatments have side effects and the more you can do naturally, the fewer side effects impacting your body. This is especially critical for people with GERD who could possibly need to take medication for their symptoms their entire life. The following lifestyle changes have been shown to have a positive effect on acid reflux symptoms.

  • Lose weight Being overweight puts additional pressure on your stomach and increases likelihood of heartburn.
  • Stop smoking The nicotine from tobacco relaxes the valve between the stomach and the esophagus.
  • Use a wedge pillow to elevate your head and esophagus above your stomach while you are sleeping to prevent stomach acid from flowing into your esophagus.
  • Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
  • Wear loose fitting clothing to reduce pressure on your stomach.
  • Wait at least three hours after eating before lying down.
  • Avoid certain foods and drinks such as:
  • Chocolate
  • Peppermint
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Caffeinated beverages
  • Citrus drinks
  • Tomato-based foods
  • High fat and/or fried foods
  • Medical treatment is not the only option for managing acid reflux symptoms. These lifestyle changes used alone for mild conditions or with medical treatment for more chronic conditions will help prevent acid reflux issues and provide relief from symptoms while reducing the impact of side effects from higher doses of medicine. Making healthy choices like the changes above will help keep your body healthy and you will feel better in return.

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