Many people do not realize exactly how painful and annoying untreated acid reflux can become. Whether you want to take preventative measures or need advice on medicines you can take, researching is the right thing to do. Read this article for helpful tips so you can reduce the suffering you experience!

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.

Slow down! When you eat more slowly, your body is able to keep up with what is being deposited in your stomach. This means that it will know that it is full when it truly is full, and you will eat less. If you overeat, you’ll find your acid reflux goes crazy.

When eating, never lie down! It is important that you sit in a sturdy chair with good posture. Allow your stomach to be decompressed and your esophagus to be fully extended. As you eat, enjoy every bite of your food so that you eat slowly and chew fully, then you may avoid acid reflux afterward.

Did you know that losing weight can help tame the symptoms of GERD? There is scientific proof that having too much body fat leads to the release of chemicals which cause digestion not to function correctly. This can lead to acid reflux and its resulting suffering. Shed the pounds and feel better!

It is important to avoid vigorous exercise if you deal with GERD. When you are compressing the stomach violently, you’ll find that acid makes its way up into your esophagus. Instead, engage in moderate activity which helps you lose weight, stay in shape and yet ensures that acid stays where it belongs.

Never skip a meal if you have acid reflux disease. When you skip even one meal, you are not putting anything into your stomach, allowing acid to intensify. If you do not feel hungry during a meal time, you could always eat a little something, like a banana or apple.

Exercise is an important habit for those who have GERD, but your timing is key. Wait for two hours after eating before you become active, and don’t follow your activity with a sports drink as they are acidic and can make your GERD flare up. Instead, drink water or milk to refuel.

If you are experiencing acid reflux issues and you do not have an antacid on hand, you can use baking soda to alleviate the problem. One spoon of baking soda mixed with a cup of water is a simple and inexpensive antacid. You will start to feel relief within a few minutes of taking it.

Elevate the headboard of your bed. You can lift this up by using bricks or a piece of wood. Ideally, your head should be elevated six full inches higher than your feet. You can stop stomach acid from rising into your esophagus by elevating your chest and head during sleep.

There are certain foods that trigger acid reflux. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to avoid these if possible. One example is chocolate. While dark chocolate doesn’t appear to be as bad as high-fat milk chocolate, they both contain caffeine and cocoa, which are both known to cause acid reflux.

Try popping a few pieces of chewing gum into your mouth every time you are feeling the symptoms of acid reflux. This will cause the body to produce a much larger amount of saliva than it does on a regular basis, and this will help neutralize the acid inside of the stomach.

Include plenty of high fiber foods into your diet. High fiber foods absorb the fats which will limit the effects of acid reflux. Good choices of high fiber foods should include natural grains such as wheat bread, brown rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes and beans. Incorporate some high fiber choices into each meal for best results.

Don’t self diagnose! Stomach discomfort and regurgitation are common symptoms of acid reflux that warrant a trip to the doctor. You could have an ulcer or heart problem that just mimics acid reflux. Tests may be run to be sure it is actually acid reflux.

Chew some mint-free gum after every meal. Chewing gum helps with producing saliva, which can neutralize stomach acid. It also causes frequent swallowing, which can clear aggravating acid away from the esophagus quicker. Mint flavored gums can relax the LES and worsen a reflux, so try going with fruit or cinnamon gums.

As stated in the beginning of the article, you do not have to deal with the problems of acid reflux without help. Besides using preventative measures, there are other avenues to explore. By remembering that as well as the tips in this article, you can take your life back and enjoy it again.