When you are having pain after eating certain foods, especially spicy things, and aren't sure how to deal with it, you may have acid reflux. Although this disorder can be troublesome and annoying, you can learn how to deal with it effectively. Read this article for some great tips that you can use!


You need to exercise if you have GERD, but don't overdo it. Losing weight is a huge factor in controlling acid reflux, so go out for a run, play some soccer or go for a swim. That said, don't push your body too hard or you may find your GERD becomes active.


When you eat high fat foods like fried chicken, your stomach empties very slowly. This allows it to become distended and your esophagus may fill up with acid. Choose healthier foods like lean proteins or beans to avoid this situation and you should be able to control your acid reflux like a pro.


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.


Smoking can cause serious problems if you suffer from reflux. The nicotine in cigarettes creates acid in the stomach, causing acid reflux. However, it is not wise to quit cold turkey; doing so could put stress on the body and worsen acid reflux. Slowly slack off.


Did you know that smoking cigarettes could be contributing to your problem with acid reflux? Nicotine causes the esophageal sphincter to relax. When it relaxes, it can allow acid to come up and cause you pain. Kick the habit and you might just kick the acid reflux problem at the same time.


Beans are a food that can worsen acid reflux disease. Stomach acids form due to foods that are rough on the stomach and beans fall into this category. This tends to go for all kinds of beans, so as healthy as they may be, you may need to totally cut them out of your diet.


Drink at least 10 glasses of water a day if you want to get rid of acid reflux. Water is important to help reduce toxins and acid that is in your stomach and causing your constant heartburn. Consume water when you wake up, during your meals and right before you to go bed for maximum effectiveness.


Learn stress coping techniques. Being stressed out can cause you to tense up your body and this causes you to contract some, or all, of your stomach muscles, causing acid reflux symptoms. Learn how to better handle stressful situations and you'll find out you may have much less stomach troubles.


If you smoke, you need to quit. Obviously, there are many reasons why you should quit, but if you suffer from acid reflux, this is yet another reason. Smoking slows down your digestion and reduces your saliva production, which worsens acid reflux symptoms. In addition, smoking harms your LES muscle, further worsening your acid reflux. Quitting this terrible habit can significantly improve your acid reflux, not to mention all the other benefits.


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.


Your body weight can play a major role in your stomach issues. Having extra fat in your mid-section puts extra added pressure on your stomach and increases acid reflux symptoms. If you have some weight to lose, losing it can help you cut down on acid reflux incidences. Living a healthier lifestyle can help you feel better in more ways than one.


Try to eat your final meal about three hours prior to bed. If you retire to bed at 11pm, be done eating by 8pm. If you lay down and your stomach is full, your LES muscle will have more pressure on it. The result is more intense acid reflux.


If your acid reflux is severe, then the importance of not lying flat on your back cannot be stressed enough. Therefore, whenever you sleep, you need to keep your entire upper body slightly elevated. You cannot just add more pillows to lay your head on because this just elevates your head, which is not enough. Place wooden blocks or bricks underneath your mattress can significantly help in relieving your acid reflux symptoms.


Spaghetti and pizza can be a problem if you are prone to the symptoms of acid reflux. Adding sugar to tomato sauces may help mitigate the negative affects. It will sweeten it some, but it can make it easier to consume.


When you experience acid reflux, you should try taking some ginger. You could eat it or put it in your tea or certain foods if you would like. For ages, ginger has been used as an anti-inflammatory and has also been down to reduce gastrointestinal conditions, acid reflux disease includes.


To help decrease the chances of acid reflux, make sure that you do not lay down for approximately two or more hours after you eat. You can take advantage of the laws of gravity to fight your acid reflux issues. Each person will need to wait different amounts of time prior to lying down, so you just need to determine what works for you.


Are you overweight? Being too heavy could cause your stomach acid to go back up into your esophagus. Therefore, making an effort to eat right and exercise daily will help you with your symptoms. If necessary, speak with your doctor to see if they have any advice or suggestions for you.


Instead of allowing yourself to suffer continuously due to acid reflux, take control of your life again. You have already taken some steps in researching what exactly it is, and now you can learn to control it. If you or a loved one suffers from acid reflux, remember these great tips!