Acid reflux is a condition that you can have no matter what age you are. Moreover, acid reflux is quite common in babies that are up to one year old. When suffering from acid reflux, there are symptoms which can tell you that something is wrong, but some people and especially children have acid reflux symptoms that are harder to recognize.
Heartburn is the main symptom for acid reflux in both adults and adolescents. When it comes to children, things rend to get a little more complicated. Spitting or vomiting is the main acid reflux symptom in babies and older children. But you see, vomiting can be cause by many other conditions, besides acid reflux. To make a difference between the vomiting that happens when your baby has a flu and the vomiting that is caused by acid reflux you have to know that in the second case, the vomiting will last more than four months in a row. Furthermore, if vomiting actually indicates an acid reflux case, then this symptoms will be severe at times and mostly accompanied by crying.
Children who are between 4 and 6 years old and suffer from acid reflux will also have other symptoms as well. Besides vomiting, which is intermittent, those children suffer from abdominal pain and also have gas as acid reflux signs. As they grow older, so do the acid reflux symptoms start to get worse. Many of them may actually suffer from heartburn that can last up to a couple of hours. Chest pain may also be a sign of acid reflux. All these acid reflux symptoms will actually get worse after meals and then decrease in intensity.
However, there are many other acid reflux symptoms that a child can have. Furthermore, not all children will have the same signs of acid reflux. When in some the loss of weight indicates acid refuse, in other gaining a few extra pounds will actually be an acid reflux symptom. Some children will eat more when having acid reflux, because having their stomach full seems to ameliorate the acid reflux symptoms, whereas other will not eat very much and be picky, because eating will only agravate their acid reflux symptoms.
So, as you can see there are many symptoms that can indicate acid reflux, many of them being different from a person to another. No matter the symptoms, if you think that you or your child suffers from acid reflux, the best thing to do is see a doctor.
It is surprising how much influence your lifestyle choices can have on your health overall. If you've been told you have acid reflux, you will obviously want to figure out how to control the symptoms, and live a more comfortable life. Of course, acid reflux disease doesn't simply go away, but its effects can be reduced, and many symptoms prevented by making a few easy lifestyle changes. Here are seven tips that you can try before you attempt more drastic steps:
1. Control Meal Size
Many people eat two or three big meals each day, but experts believe that eating five or even six small meals is preferable. This can certainly prevent overeating at any one meal. Gastric pressure increases with a full stomach, and often leads to acid reflux symptoms. Choosing to eat smaller meals, and eating more slowly, can help avoid this.
2. Avoid Snacks at Bedtime
Don't eat or drink anything for at least two hours before going to bed. If you typically take an afternoon nap, try doing it in a chair. Lying down on a full stomach will cause the contents of your stomach to press against the lower esophagus, increasing the chances of acid reflux.
3. Watch What You Eat
Many common foods and beverages will trigger acid reflux either through the increased production of acid and gastric pressure, or by loosening up the lower esophagus muscle. Any foods that trigger heartburn should be avoided. Certain foods, spicy foods, coffee, and citrus fruits and juices can irritate the lining of the esophagus and should be eaten in moderation. Try to avoid eating these types of food with dinner, to help prevent nighttime heartburn. If you're not sure which foods tend to trigger your heartburn, try keeping a heartburn record for a week to determine which foods you need to stay away from.
4. Avoid Alcohol and Smoking
Alcohol consumption should also be avoided in your efforts to reduce acid reflux. Alcohol not only creates excess stomach acid, it also relaxes the lower esophagus muscle. When this muscle is relaxed, the contents of your stomach tend to reflux back up into the esophagus. If you do plan on consuming alcoholic beverages, do so in very small quantities. If complications arise, stop drinking alcohol altogether. Smoking is another poor choice for those with digestive problems. In addition to the seemingly endless list of health concerns caused by smoking, it also stimulates the production of stomach acid, leading to an increase of acid reflux symptoms.
5. Smarter Sleeping
The basic laws of gravity apply here. If you sleep with your head higher than your torso, the contents of your stomach are more likely to stay where they belong. Purchase a wedge-shaped pillow to keep your head and shoulders elevated. You can also try propping the legs of your bed with bricks or blocks to create an incline. Adjustable beds are also excellent choices.
6. Wear Loose Clothing
Tight-fitting clothing will constrict the area around your stomach. As a result of this squeezing action, the food in your stomach is forced up against the lower esophagus, and acid reflux will likely occur. Choose comfortable clothes with loose or adjustable waistlines.
7. Get More Relaxed
Even though stress hasn't been specifically linked to heartburn, it has been known to lead to the behaviors that can trigger your acid reflux symptoms. Learn and implement good relaxation practices to help alleviate stress, and reduce your likeliness of taking part in stress-related heartburn behaviors.
These seven tips can help relieve your acid reflux symptoms. As you know, no single factor can be blamed for this health condition, but a lot of little factors acting together can lead to your problems. So tackle the little things one at a time, and you can find the relief you seek.
Both Groshan Fabiola & Fallon Cullerne are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Groshan Fabiola has sinced written about articles on various topics from Woman Menopause, Medical Condition and Health. For more resources about many subjects like. Groshan Fabiola's top article generates over 6120000 views. to your Favourites.
Fallon Cullerne has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux. Fallon Cullerne is a writer for a variety of online magazines, on and subject. Fallon Cullerne's top article generates over 1300 views. to your Favourites.