Heartburn is a common problem that affects many people in Buckhead, Atlanta. While there are medical ways to treat heartburn and acid reflux, there are also non-medical ways that can be helpful. Such approaches are helping many improve their quality of life. The best GERD/reflux specialist Buckhead may guide non-medical ways to prevent heartburn and acid reflux.
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Chew Gum
One of the best non-medical ways to prevent heartburn and acid reflux is to chew gum. Chewing gum helps stimulate saliva production, which can help neutralize stomach acid. It also helps keep the esophageal sphincter muscles relaxed, reducing the amount of acid that refluxes back up into the esophagus.
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Eat Slowly and Avoid Trigger Foods
One of the main reasons people experience heartburn and acid reflux is because they eat too quickly and don’t chew their food correctly. This can cause the stomach to produce more acid than necessary, leading to heartburn. Eating slowly and avoiding trigger foods can help to prevent this from happening. Common trigger foods include spicy foods, fatty foods, citrus fruits, and chocolate.
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Wear Loose-Fitting Clothing
Another non-medical way to prevent heartburn and acid reflux is to wear loose-fitting clothing. Tight-fitting clothing can put pressure on the stomach, which can then cause acid to reflux up into the esophagus. Loose-fitting clothing will help reduce this pressure and help prevent heartburn and acid reflux.
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Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is another important way to prevent heartburn and acid reflux. When you are dehydrated, your body produces more stomach acid to try and compensate. Drinking plenty of water and other fluids can help reduce this production and help prevent heartburn and acid reflux.
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Sleep on Your Left Side
Sleeping on your left side can also help prevent heartburn and acid reflux. When you sleep on your left side, the stomach is kept below the esophagus, which reduces the risk of acid refluxing up into the esophagus.
If you often experience heartburn and acid reflux at night, you may want to try elevating the head of your bed. This can help keep the stomach acid from refluxing up into the esophagus while you sleep.
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Eat Dinner Earlier
Another non-medical way to prevent heartburn and acid reflux is to eat dinner earlier. Eating a large meal right before bed can put pressure on the stomach and cause acid to reflux up into the esophagus. Eating dinner earlier in the evening can help reduce this pressure and help prevent heartburn and acid reflux.
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Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals
Eating smaller, more frequent meals can also help prevent heartburn and acid reflux. When you eat a large meal, the stomach is forced to produce more acid to digest all of the food. This can lead to heartburn and acid reflux. Therefore, plan your meals throughout the day to avoid eating a large meal right before bed.
Heartburn is a common problem that affects many people. While there are medical ways to treat heartburn and acid reflux, there are also non-medical ways that can be helpful. These include chewing gum for saliva production stimulation; eating slowly and avoiding trigger foods; wearing loose-fitting clothing; staying hydrated; sleeping on your left side; and eating smaller, more frequent meals.
