Acid Reflux and Your Lifestyle

Isn't it amazing how the lifestyle choices we make in our lives can affect our overall health. If, like me, you have been diagnosed with ACID REFLUX, it is important that you find our eveything there is to know about how to control your symptoms and how you can begin to live a more comfortable life. Unfortunately, for those of us who have this terrible yucky thing called ACID REFLUX DISEASE, the bad news is that it will never go away. However, there is some good news, the effects that it has on us can be relieved and even be reduced and your symptoms can even be prevented through simple CHANGES IN YOUR LIFESTYLE.This is the key thing. I have some ideas here that helped me that I would like to share with those of you who are struggling with ACID REFLUX DISEASE. If you are wanting to make a change in the way you live in order to help relieve your problem with this disease, then please read the following tips that I have outlined and think about how they could pertain to you

TIPS YOU SHOULD TRY

1. CONTROL THE SIZE OF YOUR MEALS

If you are a person who consumes three big meals in a day, then try adjusting your daily, if you do this. Let me point out to you that this was not me. I could never in a pink fit eat three big meals in a day. However, some people can and do eat this amount of food, and this does lead to overeating. When you stomach becomes too full, the gastric pressure increases, and this is a major cause of the flare-ups of Acid Reflux. If you want to avoid this then stick to smaller meals and give your poor old stomach, that has to bear the price of this horrible mess inside its poor interior, a break and eat more slowly as well. This can also help to reduce this discomfort that you experience.

2. BECOME A PICKY EATER

It is a common fact to Health Professionals and Nutritionists, that man foods and beverages will and do trigger Acid Reflux, either through the increased production of acid and gastric pressures, or by loosening up the lower oesophageal muscle. Any foods that you eat that you find do trigger the symptoms of your Heartburn (a burning pain felt behind the breastbone, extending into the throat) avoid at all cost if you don't want to be continually putting up with these awful symptoms. Other foods, such as spicy foods, citrus fruits and even beverages such coffee and fruit juices are also know to irritate the lining of the Oesophagus( another name for the gullet, a tube connecting the throat with stomach, running throughout the chest and the diaphragm.) Foods similar to these, should be eaten in moderation, and you should also try to avoid eating these types of foods with dinner, to help prevent you from getting heartburn at night -time. I wasn't sure at first what it was that was triggering my heartburn , so I decided to keep a record for one week to try to determine which foods it was that I needed to stay away from. When I had found out what it was that was causing me to have such bad symptoms, I made an effort to avoid these foods and beverages, just like you should when you discover what it is that sets off your symptoms of Heartburn.

3. YOU SHOULD AVOID ALCOHOL AND SMOKING

It is a well known fact that in lots of health problems and other diseases and illnesses, and , as well, Acid Reflux Disease, that smoking can cause these symptoms to occur. Smoking can stimulate the production of acid, among other things. Alcohol is also another stimulant that does a similar thing as well as relaxing the lower oesophageal muscle, and this potentially allows the Acid Reflux to occur. It could be alright however, to drink alcohol in small amounts, but it would be wise to watch out for any signs of your symptoms, and if this happens make a note of it. Obviously, it would be a good thing to keep a record of this as well in your diary.

4. STOP BEDTIME SNACKING

Your should not eat or drink at least for a couple of hours before you go to bed. If you happen to have a little nap in the afternoon, make sure that you are in a comfortable chair. The reason I am telling you this, is because I am talking from a personal view. I found that lying down with a full stomach had a tendency to allow my stomach contents to press against my lower oesophagus, and this would have increased the likelihood of getting Acid Reflux to occur once again. Speaking from a personal view again, this is a very unpleasant feeling, as anyone suffering from this ailment will tell you.

5. BE A SMART SLEEPER

When you go to bed to sleep, the acid in your gut responds to gravity, so by keeping your head higher than your waist, you can help, to some degree, to keep the amount of acid down. I was advised by a nurse that specialised in this field, that I should by myself a big wedge-shaped pillow, which would help to elevate my shoulders and my head. I also bought myself one of those beds that you can adjust be remote control after I had my stroke. These beds can be made to incline the head of the bed, which gives a good result to this problems also. If you can't afford to buy one of these beds, and you would be gamer than me to try this one, you could try propping up your own bed. As I said "If you are game".

6. KEEP YOURSELF COMFORTABLE

I don't know about you, but I can't wear clothes that are too tight, I found that whenever something I was wearing was just a little bit too tight, I felt constricted around my stomach area. This is not a nice feeling and I try to avoid this also because when this squeezing action happens, the food that is in your stomach is forced up against your lower oesophagus and the occurrence of Acid Reflux is very likely. Therefore, the lesson here is to choose comfortable clothes that have loose or adjustable to wear, and avoid anything that is tight.

7. BE MORE RELAXED

According to my research, there is no clear evidence as to why Heartburn and Stress are related. However, stress may be a factor in Acid Reflux Disease, especially as a precursor. Regardless of whether or not this is the case, I have found from my own experience that when I have been in a stressful state of mind, that I would be tempted to eat the wrong kind of foods, thus giving myself the biggest pain in my chest from, yes, you guessed it, Heartburn . When you think that this is a small price to pay, think again. Anyone suffering from this dreaded disease will tell you that at no time should you indulge in the foods that make your symptoms occur. That is what makes this so hard to bear because you can't always fight temptations when you are in a stressful period of your life. You need something to help you through this time, and unfortunately, you find your piece of solace in the foods under the category of Creators of My Heartburn. People like me who are in a constant state of stress are therefore under a considerable amount of pressure to want to go to the fridge and get the chocolate, a eat too much of eat, or have a few glasses of their favourite wine to calm the nerves. NOW I ASK YOU, WHAT BIG MISTAKES WOULD THEY BE?

WHAT DID WE LEARN BY THESE TIPS?

You can see from all these tips that I have outlined that there are a lot of things that you can do to alleviate the symptoms of your Acid Reflux Disease. Although, we know that there is no single cause for the onset of our symptoms, we have found that there are a variety of small contributing factors that can cause the same result to happen.

Therefore, if you are able to, why not try taking these small steps that I have shown you that I have tried in helping to reduce my symptoms, and see how far they can help you in relieving the problems that you suffer with your Heartburn, which is being caused by your Acid Reflux Disease.

IN SUMMARY

• CONTROL THE SIZE OF YOUR MEALS
• BECOME A PICKY EATER
• YOU SHOULD AVOID ALCOHOL AND SMOKING
• STOP BEDTIME SNACKING
• BE A SMART SLEEPER
• KEEP YOURSELF COMFORTABLE
• BECOME FOR RELAXED AND LESS STRESSED

I HAVE SHOWN YOU WHAT I DO TO HELP MY SYMPTOMS OF ACID REFLUX DISEASE,

                            NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO HELP YOURSELVES