Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly called acid reflux disease, is a condition in which the contents of the stomach leak into the esophagus, causing irritation that can trigger heartburn, stomach pains, coughing, sore throat and vomiting. Dietary choices contribute greatly to heartburn and reflux, and many products are available from pharmacies and doctors to or reduce symptoms. There are also ways to stop or prevent reflux disease and heartburn without prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Instructions
1. Limit your food choices. Identify foods that cause reflux and heartburn and remove these items from your diet. Culprits may include chocolate, caffeine, citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato products, spicy foods, fatty foods and peppermint. Keep a food journal to track what you eat and the symptoms it causes.
2. Wear loose clothing around your waist. Tight clothes and belts can push your stomach up and trigger a backflow of stomach acid into the throat.
3. Don't eat within two to three hours of bedtime. Stomach acid can travel to the throat when you are lying down if you haven't given your food time to digest.
4. Reduce portion size. Overeating is another common reflux and heartburn trigger. Eat smaller meals--and eat more frequently, if necessary--to control reflux without drugs.
5. Go on a diet. Lose excess pounds to reduce stomach pressure and decrease the risk of acid reflux. Exercise regularly (at least three times a week for 30 minutes), and eat a healthy diet that consists mainly of fruits, vegetables and lean meats.
6. Keep stomach acid in your stomach at night by elevating the head of your bed by 6 inches--gravity will make it unlikely that the acid will be able to travel up the esophagus. Preventing acid reflux at night is particularly important so you can sleep uninterrupted.
Tags: acid reflux, reflux disease, prevent reflux, reflux heartburn, stomach acid