Acid reflux results in one of the worst feelings you can have. The discomfort and pain that acid reflux sometimes provide can make some feel like they are going insane. If you suffer from acid reflux, you aren’t alone, as many are affected by it. You can help yourself, however, with the advice in this article.

Drink between meals, not during them. This can really help with hunger pain, since you’re likely to find yourself thirsty. In addition, doing so will help your stomach and will keep the acid down.

To sleep well at night and prevent acid reflux, you may want to place a wedge underneath the mattress in order to keep your head raised. Wood blocks or books work well to elevated the top of the bed above the bottom. There are also beds that allow you to make this adjustment electronically.

If you smoke, it’s time to quit. Smoking exacerbates acid reflux and actually can be a cause of it. It slows digestion and increases stomach acids. It also slows down the production of saliva. It also weakens the muscles that keep your stomach closed tight. That’s why it must be controlled.

Sometimes, pregnant women develop acid reflux during gestation. When the baby matures in your body, there will be more acid that develops. When pregnant it is a good idea to avoid trouble foods, and eat low fat foods to prevent problems. If this fails, certain types of tea can help buffer stomach acid without causing harm to your baby.

Our acid reflux can be triggered by specific foods. Among them are chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and fried foods. Citrus fruits and acidic vegetables like tomatoes are also well known culprits. Different people have different triggers, and it will take time to learn which ones affect you. Stay away from all these foods to avoid acid reflux.

Acid Reflux

If you smoke and have acid reflux, you may wish to quit. Nicotine increases stomach acid, thus, increasing bouts of acid reflux disease. Avoid quitting cold turkey, as the added stress could actually intensify the problems with reflux. Take your time with your quit attempts.

It is always a good idea to keep upright after eating a meal for at least a couple hours. Lying down allows acid to climb up your esophagus. You will notice that the esophagus feels much better if you remain upright.

The feeling of a heart attack can be mimicked by severe reflux pain. Always take chest pains very seriously. You could be experiencing a heart attack. Call for medical assistance, right away. You could have a serious issue on your hands and not even know it.

Raise up your bed’s headboard. You can use bricks, wood or even bed raisers to accomplish this. The head of the bed should be six inches more elevated than the bottom of the bed. When your chest and head are elevated, it will make it quite difficult for acid to rise upwards during sleep.

Exercising too strenuously can actually aggravate your acid reflux. The solution is drinking more water. Water keeps your body from becoming dehydrated, from the inside out. Also, it aids in digestion. Water can help balance out the actions of acid in your stomach. Just don’t drink too much water at the time.

Acid reflux discomfort is no small thing. Just the feeling itself is quite unpleasant, but if left untreated then it can become more severe. Now, you have the knowledge to stop it in its tracks. Use the advice that you’ve read here so you can eliminate acid reflux.