Simple Remedies for Acid Reflux

Acid reflux can wake you from a sound sleep with a horrible rush of burning acid in the back of your mouth and throat. This can leave you feeling scared and breathless, not to mention wreaking havoc with your sleeping schedule, as some sufferers cannot get back to sleep afterward. There are simple remedies and lifestyle changes you can incorporate to avoid acid reflux occurrences.

Prevention

• Try to avoid foods that trigger your acid reflux. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, common dietary triggers include carbonated beverages, garlic and onions, spicy foods, fatty or fried foods, chocolate, mint and acidic foods such as oranges, tomatoes and spaghetti.

  Simple lifestyle changes that you can make: lose weight if you are obese and quit smoking.

  Do not go to bed until at least three hours after eating and raise the head of your bed about 6 to 8 inches (You can do this by putting wood blocks under the bedposts.)

  Wear loose clothing and avoid tight belts.

  Eat four or five small meals a day instead of three large meals. Avoid overeating, and if you must indulge in trigger foods that cause you to have acid reflux, eat them earlier in the day to reduce problems in the night.

Treatment

• Use over-the-counter medications such as antacids and foaming agents such as Gaviscon that cover your stomach lining with a medication to prevent reflux.

  Tagamet, Pepcid and Zantac are H2 blockers and help to relieve acid reflux symptoms by decreasing acid production in the stomach.

  Proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec and Prevacid work to heal the esophageal lining that is irritated by acid reflux, and they decrease stomach acid.

  You can get a prescription from your doctor for a prokinetic such as Reglan. It helps the contents of the stomach to empty faster and strengthens the lower esophageal muscle.

  The revolutionhealth.com website recommends these remedies to prevent acid reflux: Chew sugarless gum for 30 minutes after eating, this stimulates saliva production and acts like water in diluting the stomach contents. Chew candied ginger or add a little to your hot tea. Take a papaya enzyme pill (available at health food stores). Swallow 2 or 3 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar or dilute and drink it mixed with water. Sip chamomile tea or drink lots of water to dilute the acids in your stomach.