Acid Reflux – Risk Factors, Causes and Prevention Tips

The searing pain of heartburn can be brought on by eating fatty, spicy or acidic foods, or just by eating too much too quickly. Luckily, it is easy to avoid.

What is Acid Reflux?

A trapdoor of muscular tissue called the lower esophageal sphincter usually keeps stomach acid just where it belongs in the stomach. However, heartburn occurs when the sphincter allows the contents of your stomach to flow back into the esophagus, causing a burning pain behind the breastbone. This is known as Acid Reflux.

These are other common risk factors for acid reflux disease:

Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal
Being obese or overweight (As per study reports, In 2016, 39% of adults aged 18 years and over (39% of men and 40% of women) were overweight. Overall, about 13% of the world’s adult population (11% of men and 15% of women) were obese in 2016. The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly tripled between 1975 and 2016)
Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or bending over at the waist
Snacking close to bedtime (Experts recommend waiting at least three hours after you’ve eaten to go to bed which allows your body time to digest your food)
Eating certain foods, such as tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, citrus or spicy or fatty foods
Drinking certain beverages, such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea
Smoking
Being pregnant
Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers, or blood pressure medications

When stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, you feel the burning pain of acid reflux. At the first sign of heartburn, try one of these natural solutions.

Baking soda can neutralize excess stomach acid.
Stir 1 teaspoon (5 ml) in a glass of warm water and drink.
But if you have High BP problem, then it is not recommend to use Baking Soda at all.
Try a tonic: Steep 1 tablespoon (15 g) each dried gentian root and dandelion root in 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water.
Drink ginger tea: Boil 1½ teaspoons (7 ml) fresh ginger or ½ teaspoon (2 ml) powdered ginger in 1 cup (250 ml) water for 10 minutes before drinking.
Chew a licorice tablet before meals. This encourages mucin production in the esophagus, providing a protective barrier against stomach acids.
Seasoning food with fennel seeds or peppermint makes it more digestible and soothes heartburn.
Eat a piece of dry white bread or toast to neutralize stomach acids, or 1 tablespoon (15 ml) dry oatmeal.
Sleep with your upper body slightly elevated at night to prevent acid from entering the esophagus.

Prevention Tips

Eat sensibly, avoiding foods, drinks and combinations you know give you heartburn—perhaps fatty or acidic foods, chocolate or wine.
Avoid alcohol, nicotine and caffeine; they increase gastric acid secretion, which can cause heartburn.
Eat slowly and always opt for smaller, more frequent portions.
Watch your weight. If you are carrying excess pounds (kilos), this increases pressure inside your stomach, which can lead to acid reflux and heartburn.
Eat early in the evening to give your stomach time to digest the meal; this takes about 3 hours. If you go to bed shortly after eating, stomach acid can flow back into your esophagus.

Furthermore, If you are a frequent victim of heartburn, then you have to consult your doctor immediately.