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.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • HealthRanker
  • MySpace
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • StumbleUpon

Major Contributors To Acid Reflux & Heartburn

One of the major contributors to heartburn and acid reflux is the different foods we eat. These foods contain high acidic levels and contribute to your condition.

Below is a short list of foods causing acid reflux and heartburn:
citrus foods
tomato products
onions
caffeine drinks, including coffee and carbonated soda pop containing caffeine.
spicy foods, chili, lasagna, spaghetti, etc.

The items listed above should be avoided for the most part if you suffer from acid reflux and heartburn.

Another major contributor causing acid reflux and heartburn is over eating and eating just before it’s time to go to bed. When you over eat, excessive acids are produced, overflowing into the esophagus,causing heartburn and acid reflux. Try and eat 3-4 hours before retiring for the night. Eating just before bed will cause heartburn and acid reflux to develop and before long you will be experiencing heartburn. Your food needs some time to digest before going to bed.

Stress can be another factor. When in stress situations blood is rerouted towards other muscles in your body and not your stomach.
If you’re a smoker, this would be a good reason to consider quiting. As we all know smoking is bad overall for us. Smoking contributes significantly to flare-ups of heartburn and acid reflux.

Left untreated acid reflux can be very dangerous. Stomach acids escape and start to effect the esophagus in a negative manner eroding the lining of the esophagus. Surgery and medication are available for treating acid reflex, but not without downfalls, including, side effects from medication and outstanding expense for surgery.

Natural treatment for your acid reflex might be as close as your kitchen. Many fruits and vegetable’s such as bananas, apples, pineapple, potatoes and carrots to name a few. Fruits and vegetable’s can help control effects associated with heartburn and acid reflux.

Another good place to look is in the spice cabinet. Here we’re going to find cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger,and slippery elm, just for starters. These spices can be soothing and help control acid reflux and GERD.

Other natural remedies include making a tea from chicory or chamomile, very soothing, relieving the burning sensation. Chamomile is also used as a way of relaxing , while helping you get a better nights sleep. These are known to be good treatments to help control heartburn and acid reflux., try them for yourself, you be the judge.

You really need to avoid foods that trigger acid reflux and heartburn. You will thank yourself once you realize how much better you are feeling. We don’t have to suffer no longer in our quest to conquer acid reflux and GERD.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • HealthRanker
  • MySpace
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • StumbleUpon