Everything You Need To Know About Acid Reflux
Do you sometimes have a burning sensation in your chest? Do you wake up in the middle of the night feeling sick? If so, there’s a pretty strong chance you’re suffering from acid reflux, but it’s nothing to be too worried about. Loads of people suffer from this, and there are plenty of reasons you have it. More importantly, there are lots of reasons to treat it and ease your discomfort as well.
So, what is acid reflux, how do you know if you have it, and what can you do to treat it?
What is acid reflux?
Acid reflux is sometimes called heartburn, but it’s actually a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease - or GERD for short. In simple terms, this is when your stomach acid moves back up through your stomach and into your esophagus, causing a burning sensation. It happens because a muscle in your stomach doesn’t close properly, allowing the acid to come back up. People can suffer from this all the time, but it doesn’t always mean they have acid reflux. Typically, you need to experience these symptoms more than twice a week:
A burning sensation in your chest
A sour taste in your mouth
The feeling of food being brought back up
Difficulty sleeping
A persistent cough
Bloating
Nausea
If you suffer from these symptoms more than twice a week, you will usually be diagnosed with acid reflux/GERD.
What causes acid reflux?
You just saw the scientific reason behind acid reflux, but what can cause that muscle to stay slightly open? Usually, it happens when you eat certain foods or eat too much. Lying down after meals is also a common cause of acid reflux as it keeps your stomach valve slightly open. Things like alcohol, carbonated drinks, caffeine, spicy foods, citruses, garlic, onions, and other fatty foods are all linked to acid reflux. People who are overweight are also more likely to suffer from it.
How do you treat acid reflux?
Well, it starts by looking at some of the causes and stopping them from happening. This means not overeating at meals, and avoiding lying down. Go for a walk instead; this really helps you digest! If you always get acid reflux after eating certain foods, stop eating them. For example, many people suffer from it after eating raw onions, so they can avoid it by cutting this food from their diets.
Some medications can also be used to treat acid reflux, and they are usually antacids. You can also see a gastroenterology specialist for more specific treatment if your heartburn is especially bad. Alternatively, you can find some herbal remedies as well. Licorice is commonly used to treat acid reflux as it can neutralize stomach acid and help you digest. Chewing gum can also help as it contains something that also neutralizes stomach acid, while also increasing saliva production to help get rid of it.
The important thing to note is that acid reflux is very rarely a serious problem. In most people, it is caused by bad eating habits - or by eating things that constantly trigger the symptoms. By adjusting your diet, you can combat it with ease. Of course, there are other ways of treating it as well, such as medication and natural remedies.