It seems like acid reflux is a constant threat regardless of your choices in foods. This article will give you advice about how to manage acid reflux. When you understand it, you can make it a thing of the past.

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.

Chew your food. The more you chew your food, the less work your stomach will have to do. This also slows down the rate at which you are eating, which allows your stomach to keep up with its fullness level. Once you’ve eaten enough, your stomach will alert your brain and you’ll feel full.

Enjoy your food. If you savor each bite, investigating the flavors and truly allowing yourself to taste it, you will chew more and even eat less. Your stomach will realize it’s full when you eat slowly, which allows you to keep your weight in check by eating less and also keep your stomach from overfilling.

If you have been having any acid reflux symptoms over an extended period of time, make sure that you go in to be seen by a doctor. You may think that this condition is not that serious, but if it is not treated it can lead to more serious health issues, including ulcers and gastritis.

It is always a good idea to keep upright after eating a meal for at least a couple hours. By lying down, acid can rise due to the fact that gravity is working against it. Your esophagus may feel better when you stand or sit up.

Learn your trigger foods. When you know what foods or beverages cause you acid reflux, you can avoid them to keep your symptoms to a minimum. Some foods that often cause symptoms are foods that are fried, fatty, spicy and carbonated drinks. These are just some examples and what bothers someone else, might not bother you.

There is a drug called phenylalanine and it is found inside of most over-the-counter antacids. If you have acid reflux and you also have mental retardation and/or seizures, you should not take them. This is because the phenylalanine will make you more prone to having seizures. Talk to your doctor about other options.

If you would like to reduce acid reflux, avoid alcohol. Alcohol is one cause of acid building up in the stomach, and it can also eat away at the stomach’s lining. Reduce your alcohol intake as much as possible and quit drinking if you experience acid reflux every time you drink.

Do not wear clothes that are too tight if you want to limit acid reflux. Belts, pantyhose and tight pants can push against your waistline and cause inflammation. Wear clothing that you feel comfortable in when you are in motion and sitting down at work to limit acid reflux from occurring.

If you often have acid reflux, avoid drinking during your meals. A glass of water will add to the volume of food in your stomach and make digestion harder. You should wait until you are done digesting to drink and avoid drinking just before having a meal or a snack.

Try to drink mostly in between meals if you suffer from acid reflux. When your stomach is full of food an liquid, the lower esophageal sphincter is under constant pressure. This can cause it to allow the food and acid in your stomach to come back up into your esophagus and destroy the lining within.

If there are not enough reasons to quit smoking, here is one more. Quitting smoking will greatly reduce the likelihood of contracting GERD. The digestion process is slowed down by smoking and it also increases production of stomach acid. Smoking reduces the production of saliva which is the body’s defense against stomach acid.

Avoid lying down after you eat for at least two hours. Instead, get up and walk around to help your digestive tract work properly. The first two hours after eating is the perfect time to do the dishes, clean the house and go for a walk. Additionally, if your acid reflux flares up while you sleep, use risers to slightly elevate the head of your bed to help avoid stomach acids from going into your esophagus.

Acid reflux gets in the way of sleeping, working, eating and general living. Take a stand against acid reflux and put an end to your suffering. The techniques and tips presented in this article can help you beat this uncomfortable condition. Your life will be more enjoyable, and you won’t feel pain.