2010-03-17T07:31:00.001-07:00

Most Common Symptoms of Acid Reflux

Heartburn is the most common of all the symptoms of acid reflux. Heartburn is a symptom that causes an uncomfortable burning sensation radiating from your stomach up through your chest and into your throat. Heartburn is common after eating a big meal, bending over allowing acid to come up, or when lying down on your back. Most people will suffer heartburn at night.

Another symptom is dyspepsia. This is a syndrome that causes some pain in the upper stomach, giving a feeling of being very full, and you may also feel some nausea after eating. You can have this without having GERD.

Symptoms of acid reflux also include some regurgitation, which can really burn the back of your throat. This is something that we all wish would just go away along with all the other symptoms.

Not all symptoms of acid reflux come as heartburn or spitting up. They may show up as acid laryngitis. This is a condition that can cause hoarseness, a dry cough and the feeling that you have something in your throat, or feeling like a lump. You may have a difficult time swallowing which is called dysphasia.

There are some who may choke or have food trapped in their esophagus. This itself can cause very severe pain in your chest and may indicate a spasm in the narrow tube. It can also indicate damage in the esophagus. You may have a sore throat that never seems to go away and hiccups.

In about 41% of all GERD patients, coughing and wheezing were found as symptoms of acid reflux. The percentage is higher when asthma is involved. There may also be chronic nausea as well as vomiting. This may last a few weeks or months. This is not due to stomach upset, but due to the acid reflux.

As with any illness or disease, you need to be checked by your doctor and follow his or her instructions as to the best treatment. Symptoms of acid reflux should not be taken lightly, but looked into. There can be irreparable damage done to the lining of your esophagus if not treated in time, and worse case, throat cancer.

Acid Reflux Diet

2010-02-26T20:51:00.000-08:00

Eight Tips For An Effective Acid Reflux Diet

Before turning to harsh medications, most doctors suggest that people with acid reflux problems make some lifestyle changes, especially by planning an acid reflux diet. Adopting a diet that reduces acid reflux is one very useful and simple change that people can make.

This article gives some ideas for a diet to reduce acid reflux.

Lose Weight

If you are overweight, you are much more vulnerable to acid reflux than if your weight is normal. If you can reduce your weight even as little as 10%, you may be able to improve your symptoms noticeably. Eating fewer calories and trying to get a little exercise every day should quickly get your weight under control.

Avoid Large Meals, Especially Right Before Bedtime

Most acid reflux diets call for eating several small meals per day instead of three big ones. Eating a lot of food just before bedtime is especially apt to cause reflux problems, since the stomach must manufacture large amounts of acid to digest the meal. The unused acid is then apt to back up into the esophagus when you lie down.

Remain Upright For At Least An Hour After Meals

Gravity is a powerful weapon in the war against acid reflux. If you are lying flat it is much easier for the contents of the stomach to flow back into the esophagus than if you are sitting or standing.

Eat Foods High In Complex Carbohydrates

After years of being told to avoid carbs, you may be surprised to learn that this is one case where a diet rich in complex carbohydrates can actually help you. Breads and pastas can help bind with the acid in your stomach so there is less to reflux back into the esophagus.

Avoid Fast Foods

Most fast foods are high in fat and will encourage your stomach to produce more acid. Fast foods can also lead to weight gain, which will increase problems with acid reflux.

Limit Or Abstain From Alcohol

Alcohol will increase the production of acid in the stomach. It may also inhibit the contractions esophageal sphincter. The esophageal sphincter is a rim of tough muscles at the bottom of the esophagus. It is the failure of this muscle to contract tightly that leads to acid reflux, or stomach acid being drawn back into the esophagus.

Avoid Foods That Stimulate Acid Production

An acid reflux diet aims to avoid foods that increase acid in the stomach. These foods include coffee, tomatoes, citrus fruits, spicy foods, chocolate, and alcohol.

These tips are only intended to get you started. For more detailed information on the acid reflux diet that is right for you, talk to your physician.