Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle situated at the entrance to your stomach remains open long enough for the stomach acid to reach your esophagus. Frequent occurrences of acid can result in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
When it comes to GERD, it’s not rare. In fact, it is among the most common gastrointestinal disorders. A study by El-Serag et al showed that in the US, GERD affects between 18.1% and 27.8% of the citizens.
Luckily, there are many ways for one to stop/treat acid reflux. Before discussing the best thing for acid reflux, let’s find out its symptoms.
The most evident symptoms of acid reflux are heartburn (a burning feeling that may initiate in your stomach and move on to the chest section or in some cases, the throat) and regurgitation i.e. an acidic taste receding up your throat.
It is very important to stay up-to-date on critical health diseases and to be aware of precautionary measures against them nowadays. Some additional symptoms of acid reflux that you should look out for are dysphagia, nausea, hoarseness, burping, and in some cases, bloody vomiting.
Easy Remedies for Acid Reflux
Once you start experiencing symptoms of acid reflux, it’s time you consult a doctor and find out the proper medication that could help you get rid of the problem. An effective medication, in this case, is Prokinetics (Reglan, Urecholine) as it is known for aiding in boosting the strength of the LES, in addition to emptying your stomach rapidly, thus easing acid reflux.
However, if you are not a big fan of getting medication, worry not because there are many easy home remedies for you to get rid of acid reflux. Let’s list down and discuss a few effective ones here!
#1 Eat a bit less, sit a bit longer
The LES muscle opens in order to allow the food to enter the stomach. It’s when the LES remains open for longer than usual that the acid in the stomach starts backing up the esophagus, resulting in the occurrence of acid reflux. Thus, chewing or swallowing a lot of food at the same time may result in the ELS staying open for longer than usual.
Therefore, it’s recommended that you eat small meals at a time. Moreover, try not to lie down immediately after having a meal as it could result in heartburn. Sit for a while before you change your position.
#2 Meditate
One of the most effective remedies for GERD relief is indulging in exercises that can relax your body and mind. Doing yoga and taking deep breaths can do wonders in this regard.
#3 Strive for attaining a healthy weight
When someone asks you what is the best thing for acid reflux, advising them to lose weight might seem strange at first but it makes complete sense. Because even though many people experience heartburn regardless of their weight, GERD mostly occurs when a person is overweight.
#4 Chew gum
Literally, the easiest and most enjoyable remedy for acid reflux is to chew gum. A study revealed that chewing gum (preferably free of sugar – avoid peppermint gum) after a meal could considerably bring down the acid levels in the esophagus.
#5 Wear Loose Clothes
Wearing tight clothes can trigger heartburn since such type of clothing can result in more pressure being put on the digestive system. So, opt for wearing loose clothes especially when you are about to go to a party or a festival where you will be enjoying delicious meals.