Acid Reflux Disease is a condition in which the oesophagus becomes irritated or inflamed because of acid backing up from the stomach. The oesophagus or food pipe is the tube stretching from the throat to the stomach. When food is swallowed, it travels down the oesophagus.
Causes of acid reflux-
- Suffering from Hiatus hernia
- Consuming large meals & lying down immediately after a meal.
- Being overweight or obese.
- Midnight snacking
- Consuming foods such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, or spicy or fatty foods
- Drinking alcoholic beverages, carbonated drinks, coffee or tea.
- Pregnancy
- Take aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers, or blood pressure medications.
Symptoms- Commonly seen symptoms of acid reflux-
Heartburn: Due to internal disorder, sometimes a burning sensation or pain may be felt in the abdomen, chest or even at the throat.
Regurgitation: A foul, sour-tasting, vitriolic acid flows into the throat or mouth.
Other symptoms of acid reflux disease include:
- Bloating, hiccups & Burping.
- Bloody vomit & stools
- Dysphagia
- Nausea
- Weight loss without a reason.
BEST WAYS TO TREAT ACID REFLUX DISEASE-
- Don't eat large meals. Eating a lot of food at one time increases the amount of acid needed to digest it. Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.
- Don't eat within 3 hours of bedtime. This allows your stomach to empty & acid production to decrease.
- Don't lie down right after eating at any time of day.
- Avoid fatty or greasy foods, chocolate, caffeine, mints or mint-flavoured foods, spicy foods, citrus, & tomato-based foods.
- Avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol increases the likelihood that acid from your stomach will back up.
- Stop smoking. Smoking is known to increase reflux.
- Try & Lose excess weight. Overweight and obese people are much more likely to have bothersome reflux than people of healthy weight.
- Stand upright or sit up straight, & maintain good posture. This helps food & acid pass through the stomach instead of backing up into the oesophagus.
FOODS THAT CAN AGGRAVATE ACID REFLUX DISEASE-
The diet for acid reflux is one of elimination. Certain foods may stimulate the production of stomach acid & may irritate the oesophagus. People with ACID REFLUX DISEASE should avoid the following foods.
- Onions & garlic
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Fatty foods
- Coffee (caffeinated & decaffeinated), tea, cola, energy drinks
- Spicy foods
- Tomato & citrus juices
- Mint