How often do you feel a constant burning sensation in your chest throughout the day? If the answer is “quite often”, chances are that you are struggling with a condition called Acid Reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Acid reflux, also known as acid regurgitation, is a condition where the stomach contents move up into the oesophagus, causing burning sensation and irritation. If you experience this condition every day or even more than twice a week, you might be suffering with GERD.
Although treatable with a few lifestyles and dietary changes, the condition can eventually take a turn for the worse and contribute to severe complications if left untreated.
Here, we will be delving into the basics of acid reflux and talk about the foods that cause acid reflux and how you can prevent that from happening.
What Causes Acid Reflux?
When it comes to discussing what causes acid reflux, it is generally due to the dysfunction of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is responsible for relaxing and opening when you swallow your food and then tightening back once it’s done. If the LES fails to tighten and close the juncture, it creates a free passage for the stomach acids and undigested food to travel up the oesophagus, causing acid reflux.
Aside from that, a condition called hiatal hernia is also responsible for pushing the upper part of the stomach and the LES above the diaphragm, leading to risks of acid reflux.
There are a few other risk factors worth considering as well:
- Eating large meals
- Sleeping right after a heavy meal
- Overweight or obesity
- Snacking close to bedtime
- Eating foods that cause acid reflux, including citrus fruits, chocolate, garlic, mint, etc.
- Drinking certain drinks like alcohol and soda
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Certain medications like ibuprofen, muscle relaxers, etc.
What are the Symptoms of Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux imposes a lot of notable symptoms that should indicate that you need immediate medical interventions. Some of the symptoms include:
- Heartburn
- Regurgitation
- Bloating
- Constant burping
- Dysphagia
- Continuous hiccups
- Nausea
- Bloody or black stools
- Unwarranted weight loss
- Wheezing
- Dry cough
- Chronic sore throat
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you can always seek help from a medical professional immediately.
How is Acid Reflux Diagnosed?
It is one thing to self-diagnose yourself with acid reflux based on your symptoms, and it is another thing to get a proper medical diagnosis. If you are experiencing any acid reflux symptoms more than twice a week, it is advised to seek medical help immediately.
That said, depending on your symptoms and complications, your weight loss surgeon will advise undergoing a few routine tests, including:
- Barium swallow or esophagram
- Oesophagal manometry
- pH monitoring
- Endoscopy
- Biopsy (in severe cases)
Once the results are in, it becomes easier for the doctor to move forward with the patient’s treatment. In case of minor acid reflux, the doctor skips medications and advises to make salient lifestyle changes and give a list of acid reflux foods to avoid. Most of the time, the condition eventually gets better without needing medications.
How can Acid Reflux be Treated without Medicines?
If you aren’t fond of medications and want to treat the condition naturally, there are a few alternative ways that you can opt for.
For your convenience, we have sorted out some of the most crucial ones to look into:
Eat slowly
The first and possibly one of the most important lifestyle changes you need to introduce is your eating habits. Not only do you need to avoid eating foods that cause acid reflux, but you also need to be mindful of the pace you are eating your food at.
The reason why smaller meals help is because it doesn’t overfill the stomach. So, not only should you eat in smaller quantities, but you also need to be mindful of the amount of food you are eating in one sitting.
Avoid certain types of foods
When it comes to acid reflux foods to avoid, there are quite a few you need to be mindful of. Most doctors will initially advise you to cut down on every type of food except the bland tasting ones. As weird as it sounds, citrusy and spicy foods primarily contribute to acid reflux. So, it is nothing but logical to eliminate those from the diet for good.
You need to look into your diet and cut out all the foods that essentially trigger acid reflux. It not just includes lemons and limes but can include chocolate, garlic, mint, fatty foods, extra spicy foods, onions, and alcohol. If you are wondering how to cure GERD permanently, focusing on the correct diet is crucial.
Avoid carbonated beverages
While you might have a drink for acid reflux that helps cure it eventually, your worst enemy is carbonated beverages. Not only do they make you burp, they push the acid back to the oesophagus and lead to further worsening of the condition. In such cases, switch your carbonated beverages with flat water or tea.
Avoid sleeping after eating
Many people have a habit of lying down right after their meals. This is another common trigger of acid reflux. Sleeping directly after eating causes displacement of the gravity that keeps your acid reflux in place. So, consider finishing your meals at least three hours before bed.
Sleep on an incline
If you have a hard time sleeping at night due to acid reflux, it is always better to sleep with your head elevated. Keep your head 6-8 inches higher than your feet. You can either stack your pillows one above the other or you can buy a specially designed wedge pillow.
Try losing weight
Obesity is a leading cause of acid reflux. So, if you want to cure the condition without medications, weight loss is hands down one of the most effective modes of treatment. Weight gain causes the lower oesophageal sphincter to lose its elasticity, leading to heightened risks of acid reflux. So, introduce dietary and lifestyle changes to promote effective weight loss.
Quit smoking
The nicotine in cigarettes has direct impacts on the elasticity of the lower oesophageal sphincter. So, if you have a habit of smoking, it is time that you consider quitting it immediately.
How to Spot Acid Reflux in Infants?
Not just adults, acid reflux is also prevalent in kids, especially infants. Children between the ages of 4 months to 1 year are affected by this condition. Keep an eye out on your infant if they experience the following symptoms:
Constantly spitting up food and vomiting
- Refusing to eat
- Trouble swallowing
- Gagging
- Hiccups or wet burps
- Arching their back during or after feeding
- Irritability
- Sudden weight loss
- Recurring cough
- Pneumonia
- Not getting sleep
If your child is experiencing any or all the symptoms mentioned above, you should consult their paediatrician immediately to get a proper diagnosis.
Take Away
Acid reflux, although not fatal, can affect one’s quality of life. If you were confused about what causes acid reflux, we hope this article gives you a detailed insight into the causes and the treatment options it comes with. Keep in mind that acid reflux doesn’t always require medications and can be treated naturally as well. All you need to do is discuss the possibilities with your doctor.
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