Acid Reflux

Eating food that’s a little too spicy can upset just about anyone’s stomach, but if it seems like that no matter what you eat, you have to pop some TUMS, then you probably suffer from chronic acid reflux or GERD. As a condition that causes the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and allow stomach acid back into your esophagus, GERD can lead to moderate or severe acid reflux. As one of the conditions that we specialize in at our office, GERD can be treated primarily through small lifestyle changes. Let’s take a closer look at some of those changes.

Stop Smoking

If you’re looking for another reason to give up cigarettes then here is your sign. In addition to causing a variety of different cancers and emphysema, cigarettes can also relax the esophageal sphincter and lead to GERD.

Lose Weight

You may not realize how much of an excess strain weight can have on your entire body including your abdomen. When some patients are overweight, it can put excess pressure on the belly and push the stomach upward which can cause acid reflux.

Elevate Your Head

If you have noticed that you experience a lot of acid reflux when you lay down at night, then try elevating your head by placing wood or cement blocks under the feet of the bed by your head. The extra elevation will help to ease your acid reflux at night. Although you may be tempted to elevate your head with pillows, this will only create pressure on your neck and back.

Eat Slowly

If you are like most people, you probably eat so fast that it looks like someone is going to come to steal your food if you don’t finish your entire plate in under 1 minute. Rather than shoveling food into your mouth, try eating slowly and taking breaks after every bite. By allowing your body more time to digest your food, you can help to alleviate symptoms.