I am always amazed at just how simple solutions to some problems can be. For years I struggled with symptoms of acid reflux. Almost every week I would dread eating my favorites foods because I knew what would happen later that night - heartburn.

Acid reflux hurts. The burning sensation in your chest is actually a symptom of a common digestive disorder called gastroesophageal reflux, or GER. It is caused by acid from the stomach leaking into the esophagus and mouth. Typically, acid reflux will also leave a terrible taste in your mouth that can sometimes seem to never disappear.

At the point where the stomach connects to the esophagus our bodies have a set of muscle tissue called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. The LES was designed to act as the main gatekeeper; regulating what is allowed in and out of the stomach. During normal circumstances, the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes when it is time for food to pass into the stomach or to allow built up gases to escape, thus reducing internal stomach pressure.

Certain foods, however, have a tendency to cause the LES to relax at times when it should not. When this happens acid from the stomach, and sometimes even food, can wash back into the esophagus causing the painful burning typically associated with heartburn. Our stomach are capable to handling large quantities of acid. If it was not, we would not be able to effectively digest the foods we eat into the nutrients we need to survive.

Basically, if we did not have stomach acid, we could not survive. Our esophagus, however, was never meant to need protection from harmful acidic juices. The LES was tasked with the responsibility to ensure that stomach acid stayed where it was supposed to - in the stomach.

By avoiding certain foods, such as chocolate, peppermint, peppers, garlic and onions, you can reduce the main symptoms of acid reflux. There are, however, a few things you can do now that will also reduce the likelihood that you will get heartburn tonight.

1. Eat more often - Anytime you eat, the amount of pressure inside your stomach increases. When you eat a large meal, this increased pressure tends to negatively impact the lower esophageal sphincter. This can cause the LES to relax allowing undigested food, acidic juices and gas to wash back into the esophagus. Eating smaller meals, spaced evenly throughout the day, helps keep stomach pressure at a minimum, thus allowing the LES to function appropriately.
2. Wear Loose Fitting Clothes - While I realize that baggy clothes are no longer in fashion, wearing clothes that squeeze tight around your waist actually has the same impact as eating too much food. A tight pair of jeans, or a belt that is too small, can put too much pressure on the stomach. When this happens, food can be pushed upwards into the LES causing it to open and allowing food to escape.
3. Never Lie Down After Eating - During the day gravity helps prevent heartburn by applying downward pressure on the fluids in our bodies. If you were to lie down after eating a large meal you would lose the positive benefits that gravity affords. Try to remain standing, or seated upright, immediately after a meal. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least two hours after eating before going to bed.
4. Avoid Carbonated Beverages at Night - Carbonated beverages stimulate the production of acid. When you are attempting to reduce your symptoms of acid reflux, you should reduce your consumption of any food or beverages that increase acid production. I know this may sound like common sense, but before I figured it out there was no telling how many times I tried to quench the fire of heartburn by downing a soda.
5. Sleep With Your Head and Shoulders Elevated - Sometimes you can immediately reduce gastric acid reflux by elevating your head a few inches off the bed. While many manufacturers sell expensive acid reflux pillows, I typically just stack two normal pillows on top of each other. This has proven to be just as effective in helping me get rid of heartburn.

You do not have to continually suffer from the painful effects of heartburn. There are a few simple ways you can reduce the symptoms of acid reflux immediately, without resorting to chalky antacids or other over-the-counter medications. If you want to learn how to get rid of your heartburn forever, visit http://getridofheartburn.info.