Do you suffer from acid reflux? Is heartburn something you occasionally suffer from?
Were you aware that these are two words for the same condition? When you have a severe type of heartburn, it’s called acid reflux. Once you know more about acid reflux, you can usually prevent it or at least manage it. This is a disorder that does not have to be a major factor in your life, as long as you get medical advice and make the necessary adjustments to keep it under control. You should begin by trying to understand why you are suffering from this condition. Let’s explore a few of the most prevalent acid reflux causes and find out if any of them are creating problems for you.
A doctor should be consulted as a first step. If you have a hiatal hernia, a stomach disorder that can cause your symptoms, you want to find out about it. In cases of hiatal hernia, your digestion is disturbed by your upper stomach and LES being dislocated above the diaphragm. Under normal conditions, acid should not rise out of your stomach, and the diaphragm is what prevents this. There is nothing to stop the acid from rising out of your stomach, however, when you have this problem. You need a surgical procedure to put things back into their proper place. Without surgery, you will have to live with this acid problem.
Is exercise a part of your regular routine? While it is true that some exercises, when done too strenuously can lead to an attack, it is also true that not getting enough exercise can cause heartburn to happen. Not exercising hampers the body’s ability to function properly. This leads to an inability for the body to properly process the stomach acid, causing an acid reflux attack. Make an effort to exercise a little bit every day. Even taking a brisk walk every day will help.
Smoking is a major acid reflux cause. There are a number of reasons why this is so. Smoking is harmful to your mucous membranes. It damages the reflexes of your throat muscles. Your stomach also produces additional acid when you smoke. Smokers tend to salivate less than non-smokers. Saliva has the beneficial effect of neutralizing acid that enters your throat and mouth. If this is the cause of your acid reflux, the answer is obvious. When you quit smoking, you will have no more acid reflux. Naturally, for some people this is quite challenging. Just remember that you have even more important reasons to stop smoking than your acid reflux problem. This can cure or prevent many other health problems, some even more serious than acid reflux!
Most of the causes of acid reflux, you are able to control. You can find out what lifestyle changes you may need to make to get this issue under control by talking to your doctor. With just a couple simple changes, you can start feeling better.
