Symptoms of Acid Reflux - 5 Ways to Prevent Getting Heartburn

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Are you tired of getting heartburn day after day? Does the sour taste gastric reflux leaves in your mouth make you sick? I know I was completely fed up with putting up with all of the symptoms of acid reflux. It seemed like nothing I would do helped reduce the likelihood that I would experience that painful burning in my chest that I learned quickly to dread. Fortunately for me, I learned the secret to getting rid of my heartburn forever.

Avoid Fatty Foods - We have been hearing that fatty foods are bad for us for a few years now. Not only do fatty foods increase the levels of bad cholesterol in your arteries, it can also cause heartburn. Foods that are high in fat tend to stay in the stomach much longer than other non-fatty foods. As a result, your stomach typically increases the production of acid in order to help digest it faster. Limit the consumption of red meats to a few times a month. Instead, try eating more lean protein such as chicken.

Avoid Spicy Foods - It is quite astonishing at the number of people who are sensitive to eating spicy foods. Typically if I eat anything that has garlic, onions or spices, I can almost guarantee that I will get heartburn later that night. Other related foods that have been known to cause problems include chili pepper (powder or liquid), tomatoes and citrus fruits and juices. These foods have a tendency to irritate the esophagus, which can ultimately lead to experiencing symptoms of acid reflux.

Avoid Alcohol - At the point where the esophagus joins the stomach, the human body has a set of muscle tissue called the lower esophageal sphincter. This tissue regulates the passage of food into the stomach. Alcoholic beverages weaken the lower esophageal sphincter allowing acid to leak into the esophagus and mouth.

Avoid Smoking - Nicotine weakens the lower esophageal sphincter. Many people fail to associate their heartburn episodes with their smoking habit, typically blaming it on something they ate. Additionally, smoke interferes with the ability of the esophagus to heal itself from the damaging effects of acid reflux. Basically smoking prevents your body from healing itself as it would under normal conditions.

Avoid Eating Before Bedtime - While in a standing, or seated, position, gravity helps reduce heartburn by putting downward pressure on the acidic juices in your stomach. When you lay down to sleep this advantage is reduced, or even eliminated. If you elect to eat close to bedtime, you run the risk of having the stomach acid that is being produced to digest your meal, wash back into your esophagus. Instead, avoid eating at least two hours prior to going to bed. This should reduce your nighttime acid reflux significantly.

Learning to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux is more about determining what you should not do instead of figuring out what you should do. Putting too much dependence on over-the-counter antacids, or prescription drugs, may mask more serious underlying conditions. If you experience heartburn more than a few times a week, over an extended period of time, you should consult with a qualified medical professional.