Are you a frequent sufferer of acid reflux? If you don’t know the answer to this question, it may be because you don’t understand how acid reflux works. It can cause usual heartburn, bloatedness, nausea, and a lump in your throat. Read this article if you would like to know how to get rid of your symptoms.

Make sure you eat dinner at least three hours before bed. When you’re upright, gravity causes both your stomach acid and food to be pulled downward into your stomach. If you lay on your back, the acid will come back up through your esophagus. Therefore, stay in an upright position for at least three hours.

You are much less likely to have acid reflux if you are at your ideal weight. This condition occurs when fat weighs down on the stomach. Your sphincter will work properly once you get in shape.

Production Goes

If you smoke and suffer from acid reflux, you need to consider quitting. Stomach acid production goes up when you smoke while saliva production goes down. Don’t stress yourself by stopping smoking all at once as this could also exacerbate your problem. Take your time when quitting.

Stay upright after meals. Lying down allows stomach acids and the contents of your stomach to move easily into your esophagus. Keeping yourself in an upright position will help to stage-off symptoms.

Lower your stress levels when it comes to relationships, school or your home life. Stress is a leading cause of excessive stomach acid production, which can cause acid reflux. Eliminate the triggers to solve the problem at its root.

You should eat as slowly as you can. Try eating until you are still a little hungry. Chew each bite many times and enjoy the taste. Stuffing yourself and wolfing down your food will surely lead to acid reflux. Slow down and take some extra time to finish your meals.

Slippery Elm

A lozenge containing slippery elm may give you some relief. The main ingredient, slippery elm bark, will coat your digestive system with a protective layer. When taken as a lozenge, it provides relief for reflux-related coughing. These can be purchased at many drug stores and at most health and natural food stores.

If you’re overweight, try shedding some pounds. A few extra pounds in your midsection could be responsible for acid reflux. It pushes acid up your esophagus. When stomach acids rise into the esophagus, it causes discomfort. Diet and exercise will help alleviate your symptoms in addition to helping you lose weight.

Keep your acid reflux at bay by limiting your alcohol intake. Alcohol increases stomach acid production. If you must drink alcohol, limit yourself to 1-2 glasses and look for an alcohol that won’t aggravate your symptoms.

People with acid reflux should always avoid foods that trigger attacks. Citrus, onions, tomatoes, mint, alcohol and carbonated drinks are some of the many culprits. Of course, different people have different trigger foods, so if these do not cause problems, you can certainly still have them.

Find ways to wind down and release stress. Avoid eating when you are under stress as this will surely lead to heartburn. When you finish a meal, try some relaxing exercise like deep breathing or meditation. Don’t lie down right after. You need to stay upright.

Acid Reflux

To reduce acid reflux symptoms, consume your last meal of the day a minimum of three hours before you settle in for sleep. For instance, if you eat at 7 P.M., don’t go to sleep until 10 P.M. When lying down on a full stomach, more pressure is applied to the LES muscle. If it isn’t, your symptoms of acid reflux may flare up.

There are millions that suffer from acid reflux. In fact, 33 percent of adults experience some form of acid reflux. If this describes you, try using the tips above to reduce future acid reflux symptoms.