A diet high in fast food, spicy condiments, and stimulants like coffee is a recipe for acid reflux. Before heading to the doctor, try some dietary modifications to see if they relieve your symptoms of acid reflux.
Acid reflux got you down? While there are medications that can help, Toronto family physician Shafiq Qaadri, M.D., suggests making these lifestyle changes to keep the problem under control.
Don’t Eat on the Go
Sometimes, making the time to sit down and eat can make all the difference, Qaadri says. Eating in your car while driving to work doesn’t count. Try to take a more scheduled approach to meal time. Make time to eat and digest.
Take It Easy on the Spices
If your motto is “the hotter the better” when it comes to food, you’ve got a problem. Spicy foods can cause acid reflux. There are many cultural foods that have plenty of kick, so it can be hard to eat blander food, but if you’re struggling with the uncomfortable sensations of acid reflux, it might be time to try.
Give Up Stimulants
All that caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol is contributing to your acid reflux. It’s not easy to cut all the stimulants out of your life, but cutting back could bring some relief.
Try a Proton Pump Inhibitor
If changing your diet and lifestyle isn’t improving your chronic heartburn, a prescription medication might be your best solution. Dr. Qaadri says the best medicines are known as PPIs, or proton-pump inhibitors. These pills reduce stomach acid by up to 90 percent, which keeps it from coming back up your throat and allows the esophagus to heal.
See a Doctor
Everyone gets heartburn on occasion, but it you’re dealing with it twice a week for several weeks straight, it’s time to see your doctor.
“People buy time, nursing their symptoms with chewable antacids, over-the-counter medications, herbals, potions from the internet, and home concoctions,” Qaadri tells The Globe and Mail. “Often, it’s only when all these maneuvers fail to bring relief that they see a physician.”
Don’t let the problem go untreated. See a doctor for help.
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