How to Prevent Acid Reflux

Unlike a lot of other conditions that happen in the body, gastroesophageal reflux disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease is 100% preventable. There are a number of things you can do to prevent the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. It might not seem like a big deal now, but over time this can be a dangerous, uncomfortable and possibly deadly condition - one that can and usually will cause throat cancer. One of the most important things to remember about gastroesophageal reflux disease though is that the condition is individualized. The meaning behind that is that what works for you, might not work for someone else - instead it may do nothing, or make it worse. Because of this it’s a good idea to see a gastroenterologist in Flushing to really understand and learn what will work for you and how to modify your lifestyle so that you can stop this condition. However, here is a rolling list of a few things to try and see if they work for you when it comes to your symptoms.

Losing Weight

Believe it or not, one of the biggest reasons people have gastroesophageal reflux disease is because of obesity or being overweight. Essentially this is because extra stomach fat

places pressure on the stomach and it pushes those juices that are inside your stomach upwards, and into your esophagus. Makes sense if you really think about it. If you are overweight or obese, consider losing some weight.

Avoid Certain Foods

There is a list of foods that tend to bother everyone with gastroesophageal reflux disease and they include:

Fatty, oily or fried foods

Spicy foods - things like hot sauce, hot peppers or even regular black pepper will send some people over the edge.

Acidic Foods - this includes things like orange juice and tomatoes, as well as ketchup

Mint anything

Chocolate

Onions

Coffee or any caffeinated beverage

Carbonated beverages

Smaller Meals

Eating smaller meals another fantastic way to keep gastroesophageal reflux disease at bay. Again, it puts less pressure on the stomach which puts less pressure on the LES which tends to cause gastroesophageal reflux disease less likely from happening. One thing to consider if you are often hungry is to try some water with or before your meal, this tends to make people feel fuller than people that do not have water, and it’s a good type of full - not bloated, but fulfilled. Also, water tends to be a good lubricator, its healthy for you to drink, it helps to hydrate you and your body so you feel better, and it is said to have many other benefits.

Laying Down

Some people swear that lying down is the way to go when they are done eating, but actually you are doing yourself more harm than good. You have to consider how gravity works. Normally it helps keep any acid down and from happening in the first place, but when you take a nap or lay down right after you are done eating, you are taking gravity out of the equation. Because of this acid comes up into the lining of the esophagus much easier.

Watch Your Medications, Vitamins, and Supplements

There is a variety of medications, vitamins and even supplements that can make gastroesophageal reflux disease worse and they can include:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs

Calcium channel blockers (often used to treat high blood pressure)

Certain asthma medications, including beta-agonists like albuterol

Anticholinergics, medications used to treat conditions such as seasonal allergies and glaucoma

Bisphosphonates used to boost bone density

Sedatives and painkillers

Some antibiotics

Potassium

Iron tablets

Gastroesophageal reflux disease can be a terrible thing to live with. Not only does it cause upset stomachs, but most people with gastroesophageal reflux disease throw up often which can cause deterioration of teeth, even higher chances of throat cancer, uncomfortableness, it’s just an overall yucky condition. If you or someone you know is having issues with gastroesophageal reflux disease, please talk to your doctor about a referral to a specialist and try the above mentioned tips and tricks to try and stop the gastroesophageal reflux disease completely, or at least make it happen less often. This can become a really dangerous way to live your life.