If you suffer from acid reflux, you may not even know it! Finding out the symptoms is the first step, and you must be properly diagnosed by a doctor. However, if you want to research the nature of this condition, you have come to the right place! Read on to find out more.

If you have acid reflux disease, you may want to consider using Proton Pump Inhibitors, or PPIs. This is a medication is prescribed your doctor and is used to stop stomach acid from getting into your intestines and stomach. Obviously, if there is no acid in your stomach, it cannot come up through the esophagus either.

Fatty foods are detrimental for anyone with acid reflux. Foods high in fat relaxes the esophageal sphincter which in turn contributes to the acid flowing in the wrong direction. Not only will it give you acid reflux, it will contribute to weight gain which makes the problem even worse. Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Keep stomach acid in your stomach by elevating the top of your mattress with a wedge. You can be creative about what you use. Boards, old books, bricks and so forth will all work just as well to elevate the head of your bed. You can also get a bed that is raised electronically.

Keep chewing gum handy. When you chew gum, it not only freshens your breath, but it causes you to salivate. This helps wash acid down your esophagus and back into your stomach, where it belongs. When choosing a flavor, avoid citrus and mint. Mint can cause your esophageal sphincter to relax, and citrus is high in acid.

Do you suffer from respiratory problems? Do you have a chronic couch or wheeze often? If so, it could be an acid reflux problem. Heartburn could cause these symptoms. Your doctor might suggest a pH test. This procedure is done on an outpatient basis over the course of 24 hours and can determine if reflux is a problem.

Don’t just treat the symptoms of acid reflux with antacids. This does nothing to help reverse the damage caused to the esophagus caused by acid. You’ll need to make lifestyle changes that prevent acid reflux from occurring to allow the esophagus to heal itself and prevent serious problems in the future.

If you have been experiencing symptoms of acid reflux, try to cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink. Having some drinks tends to relax the muscles in the stomach. When this happens, people start to experience worsening of these symptoms. If you must have a drink, make sure to limit yourself to one or two drinks.

If you have acid reflux symptoms during the day and at night, gum might solve the problem. Chewing gum helps you produce more saliva. Saliva is a natural neutralizer of stomach acid. If you can, try chewing gum even through the night to try to decrease your level of discomfort through the night and into the morning.

If you would like to reduce acid reflux, avoid alcohol. Drinking alcohol can cause acid reflux and damage the lining in your stomach. Drink less and feel better.

Acid reflux can be caused by eating large meals too quickly. If at all possible, try to break your meals down into smaller portions throughout the day. If that isn’t possible, take the time to eat your food slowly. This will make it easier to tell when you’re full, and prevent acid reflux caused by overeating.

Watch out for foods that trigger your acid reflux. For most people, these include fried and fatty foods, caffeinated and/or carbonated beverages, citrus juices, spicy foods, etc. There may be other foods and drinks that cause your acid reflux, so just be mindful of what you are eating. If you notice that a particular food or drink is worsening your acid reflux, stop consuming it.

Speak to a doctor if you feel like your acid reflux is not improving from the antacids that you are taking on a daily basis. Sometimes, you may need a serious form of medication that you doctor can prescribe, which can improve your symptoms. A professional’s diagnosis may be the solution to your acid reflux issues.

Try some natural ways to reduce the effects of acid reflux in your body. There are lots of medications that you can take to help with your acid reflux, but why take them if you can control it naturally? Try to eat foods that are alkaline. Foods such as milk, bananas, almonds, tofu and avocados are all alkaline foods.

Instead of hoping that you do not have acid reflux or failing to take preventative measures, do what’s best for yourself and learn more. You’ve taken the steps in the right direction, but don’t let it stop here! Remember these tips and educate yourself further so you don’t have to suffer the consequences.