Factors That Can Increase Your Risk Of Suffering From Acid Reflux
Reflux, fortunately, isn’t a condition you just have to cope with as you age. There are even babies and younger children who suffer from heartburn. Young adults also suffer from the condition. Genetic factors may play a role in the disease but this doesn’t mean you just have to cope with it.
There exists several factors that increase one’s risk of suffering from heartburn or acid reflux. You may be suffering from the disease just occasionally or you can suffer from it every day. Look at your lifestyle choices first in order to see if you can manage the condition.
Diet is the greatest factor leading to heartburn. Eating citrusy foods or spicy foods, especially tomatobased foods, you will be more likely to get heartburn. Desserts with chocolate in them can contribute to the disease as well. Overeating or eating before bedtime can get acid reflux as a result.
Pregnancy is a contributor to heartburn. This is due to the hormones of pregnancy and the pressure from the expanding pregnancy on the stomach. Eating late-night foods can make nighttime reflux worse.
Those who are overweight can have pressure placed on their stomach and can get acid reflux. They can often overeat as well. Reducing one’s weight, even by ten pounds or so, can lessen the symptoms of acid reflux. Eating healthy foods that are not fried can improve the overall picture of acid reflux.
Smoking and drinking can contribute to heartburn symptoms. Both of these habits weaken the esophageal lining and make it more susceptible to damage by stomach acid. Research reveals that smokers produce more stomach acid and reduces the saliva production in the mouth, which would counteract the stomach acid.
Certain medical conditions will play into getting heartburn. Some of these are ulcerations of the stomach, which can cause more acid to enter the esophagus and a hiatal hernia, which damages the valve between the esophagus and the stomach. Acid winds up in the esophagus where it doesn’t belong.
Your doctor can diagnose many of these problems and provide effective treatment to reduce the incidence of heartburn. Allowing this medical condition to go unchecked can result in a worsening of the esophagus.
It’s important to identify the different factors involved in getting heartburn. You don’t need to suffer the pain of having the condition. The damage, too, to your esophagus can become irreparable. By taking good care of your body, you can lessen your chances of dangerous acid reflex.
