Acid reflux affects nearly sixty percent of the adult population in the U.S. every year, and nearly every adult in the U.S. will experience reflux symptoms at least once in their life. Living with reflux can cause a strain on people’s social lives, work, and relationships because of the constant nausea and pain following each meal. Keep reading to find out how acid reflux affects your daily life.
5 Things Reflux Stole From Me
1. Thai food and basically any other of your spicy favorites, as they are a main cause of reflux.
2. Dinner dates… because it’s hard to be suave when your body is rejecting dinner.
3. Bacon, sausage, donuts, French fries, burgers, and any other fatty foods, because like spicy foods, fatty foods can be just as detrimental.
4. No more yoga. While experiencing reflux bending over can cause the symptoms to become exaggerated. Downward dog is a no go.
5. A good nights sleep because lying down can be especially bad for people dealing with reflux.
Acid reflux happens when the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach functions improperly. This valve, called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter or LES, is responsible for keeping acid in the stomach from coming back up into the esophagus. When the LES is not functioning properly acid usually confined to the stomach will travel back up through the esophagus causing symptoms like heartburn, coughing, nausea, and sore throat.
Acid reflux becomes acid reflux disease when the individual is experiencing symptoms more than three times a week. In this instance its recommended to see a doctor in order to manage your symptoms. Those who are experiencing severe acid reflux are in danger of developing long term symptoms like trouble breathing due to throat swelling, and damaged taste buds because of the large amounts of acid traveling through your mouth.
While it’s easy to be discouraged by a disease that affects your daily life there are many forms of medication used to manage and treat acid reflux. Natural treatments include: getting to a healthy weight, stop smoking, and avoiding trigger foods. If your reflux has reached a more serious level reflux medication may be necessary. Antacids, H2 Blockers, and Protein Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are effective treatments for reflux and heartburn symptoms, and while antacids work for immediate relief studies show that PPIs are the most effective form of treatment.
The most important thing to remember when dealing with a disease like acid reflux is that it’s not the end of the world. Thousands of Americans are living with reflux every day, and with time you too can manage your symptoms, take strides in your health, and come out on top!