in a prescription medication for acid reflux to treat the
symptoms, however little is usually offered in the way of
preventing or treating the underlying cause of why acid reflux
developed in the first place.
Acid reflux medication can be very effective in dealing with
symptoms however, it is usually only prescribed in short course
of 4 –8 weeks. Unless the cause of the acid reflux is addressed
it's likely that there will be many more trips to the doctor in
the future for a repeat prescription. Is this something you want
to have to do over and over again as you go through life?
There are many people who have an aversion to taking any type
of medication. Some won't bother with a painkiller when they
have a headache, and would rather let it go away on its own.
Others fear what medications can do to their bodies in the long
run and rarely think it is a good idea to take anything. For
others, cost is an issue – repeat prescriptions can start to get
rather costly. If the thought of being reliant on medication to
control your acid reflux concerns you then you'll have to find
an alternative way of dealing with the issue.
If you really want to avoid taking prescription medication for
acid reflux, making some simple lifestyle changes can
successfully address the underlying cause of your condition. You
may find it beneficial to take medication to get your reflux
under control initially, especially if there is damage to the
delicate esophagus lining, but implementing lifestyle changes at
the same time means that you're targeting the cause immediately.
If you are overweight, you should try to lose the excess
weight. The extra weight can weigh heavily on your stomach and
esophagus, especially when lying down. This can place excess
pressure on the muscle at the top of the stomach (lower
esophageal sphincter) that holds your stomach contents in,
leaving it weakened and unable to close properly.
Plus, if you're a smoker, you should aim to stop or at the very
least cut down significantly as smoking also acts to weaken the
lower esophageal sphincter muscle.
Diet also plays an important role when controlling acid reflux
symptoms naturally. There are a number of common trigger foods
that can bring on symptoms in most acid reflux sufferers
including:
Alcohol
Chocolate
Fatty or fried foods
Spicy or rich foods
Fatty red meats
Tomatoes and tomato based sauces
Onion and garlic
When and how much you eat can also have an impact on your acid
reflux symptoms and can be just as important as what you eat.
Rather than having 3 large meals a day aim for 5 – 6 smaller
meals and don't rush your food. By eating smaller meals more
frequently and chewing food thoroughly, you reduce the risk of
developing acid reflux symptoms.
Eating your evening meal earlier can also help you avoid acid
reflux or heartburn symptoms when you get into bed at night. Try
to eat at least 3 hours before you go to bed to allow your food
time to digest and leave your stomach.
Sleeping with the upper part of your torso elevated allows
gravity to do its job and keep acid in your stomach where it
belongs. Try this by either propping up your bed head with some
bricks (making sure it's sturdy) or through pillows – either
purpose bought acid reflux pillows or by stacking ordinary
pillows. Sleeping on your left-hand side can also help to reduce
the risk of nighttime acid reflux.
These simple lifestyle steps can help you keep acid reflux at
bay, however it's important never to stop taking prescription
medication for acid reflux without first consulting your
physician.
About The Author: Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker's
brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter here
http://www.naturall
overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you combat
Acid Reflux and GERD.
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