Acid reflux, also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, occurs when acid present in the stomach travels to your food pipe and causes burning and irritation. Acid reflux is one of the common problems faced by adults. The food pipe is called the esophagus that connects your mouth to the stomach through a lining.
If you observe a feeling of burning in your chest or a feeling of food caught in your throat, then it is advisable to avoid acidic foods such as cheese, tomatoes, and dark chocolates and seek medical help as soon as possible. You can also visit our best Cypress acid reflux specialist for treatment and proper guidance.
Symptoms of acid reflux
- Nausea or vomiting
- Chest pain
- Heartburn
- Difficulty in swallowing the food
- Bad breath
- Sour taste in the mouth
- Dry cough
The esophagus becomes tight once the food enters your stomach, but if the esophagus relaxes and loosens, the acid flows back to the mouth. If you experience any of the symptoms above, contacting a professional is very important.
Causes of acid reflux
- Specific types of foods like tomatoes, orange juice, spicy and fatty foods, and drinks such as alcohol and other carbonated beverages must be avoided as they contain acids.
- Maintaining weight is wise because being overweight or obese pressurizes the stomach, which may increase the probability of the acid traveling back to the esophagus.
- Smoking irritates the esophagus, so you should quit/avoid smoking.
- If you take blood pressure medicines, you should talk to your doctor about them, as some blood pressure medications can aggravate heartburn and symptoms of acid reflux.
- Pregnant women can experience reflux because of the pressure of their growing uterus.
Managing acid reflux
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Proper meal timing
Have your meals according to a timeline. Avoid eating food close to your bedtime. Make sure to have your last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime. Do not lie down directly after eating.
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Suitable diet plan
Avoid eating fatty, spicy foods to prevent aggravating acid reflux again. Chewing your food slowly and eating in smaller quantities for the time being will prevent you from overloading your stomach.
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Meditate
Sometimes stress and lack of sleep also worsen gastroesophageal reflux, so try practicing deep breathing, meditation, and yoga to prevent that from happening.
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Sleep
Sleeping on your left side will balance the connection between your stomach and esophagus. Having a good amount of sleep is also necessary, but with a good posture without putting pressure on the stomach.
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Surgery
In severe cases, if other treatment methods do not work, surgery may be the only treatment option.
