Lifestyle changes for acid reflux

If you suffer from acid reflux disease there are a few basic lifestyle changes you can make to alleviate heartburn symptoms.

Probably your diet will have a lot to do with how much stomach acid you produce. There are certain foods like peppermint chocolate, tomatoes which will give you problems. Acidic foods like pineapple, ad oranges are another problem. Also on the list of do nots are alcohol, coffee and fatty foods.

Foods you can eat include most vegetables and I find I never have problems with potatoes especially jacket potatoes.

But changing your diet is only part of what you do. You should also not eat large meals. Try to cut down on the size of the meals but eat more often if you are still hungry. Also chew your food. The digestion starts in the mouth so the more you chew your food the better. Also the saliva in your mouth will start to break down the food even before it reaches your stomach.

Other things to do include not lying down after a meal especially at night before going to bed. At bedtime you should eat at least 2 to 3 hours before lying down as acid reflux is at it most potent when you are asleep and unable to clear the acid from your esophagus.

Another thing to do at night is to elevate your head and torso. There are a number of ways to achieve this. You could prop up the end of your bed, but there are better ways. Wedge pillows are specially designed to help you sleep at the correct incline. Bed wedges can be placed under your mattress and inflated or deflated as desired. There is of course the electrical adjustable bed which can be also be raised and lowered as you desire. Because you spend quite a lot of your life in bed this may be a great option not only for acid reflux but for your comfort in general.

Other lifestyle changes include loosing weight which will reduce pressure on the stomach. Wear loose fitting clothing will also do the same thing. Smoking is another problem which helps promote acid reflux.

If you suspect that you are suffering from acid reflux you should always see your doctor for advice and tests. He will probably put you on a course of medication to alleviate your severe heartburn symptoms but you can still help yourself with lifestyle changes.