Avoid Acid Reflux Burning Will Feel Better
Acid reflux burning, or heartburn, can be a painful symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn or burning in the chest area is one of the main symptoms of the disease. You can help prevent this burning by making some simple changes in your life. Research has shown that individuals with chronic GERD symptoms often have them at night. These patients also tend to have more severe symptoms than individuals whose symptoms occur at other times of day. However, severe heartburn doesn't always indicate esophagus damage, so you'll need to see your doctor if your symptom are chronic or severe.
The burning feeling from acid reflux is a common problem. Over 40% of Americans suffer from this problem at least once a month. For many people, the problem happens infrequently and can be treated with over the counter medications like antacids or H2 blockers. Acid reflux is actually very common and even those individuals who don't experience symptoms generally have some degree of reflux. The difference between those who experience symptoms and those that do not is often the level of acid in the stomach. While some people have heartburn chronically, others will only have problems from time to time. A few changes in the way you eat will often help you avoid the burning associated with acid reflux. One of the easiest changes to make is to eat smaller meals more often. Rather than just a couple of large meals, eat more frequently and eat less each time that you normally would at a large meal. At restaurants, eat only half the meal or have part of your order boxed up right away to prevent overeating, which can cause heartburn. Another easy thing you can do is to remain upright for at least an hour after you eat. This will help your body digest the food you eat more easily. This may mean that you'll need to avoid eating before you go to bed for the night. In addition, think about elevating your head and upper body with pillows or a wedge while you sleep. You may also want to avoid eating certain foods that trigger heartburn for you. Your doctor can give you a list of foods that often cause heartburn for people, but you might want to keep your own food journal to see what specific foods affect you. Many people have problems with fatty foods so you might try sticking to low fat or fat free options whether you choose to use a journal or not. If you find that your acid reflux burning isn't getting any better with these simple changes, consider using over the counter medications or consulting with your doctor. Depending on the specific cause of your GERD, another treatment may work better for you. |