How to Prevent Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is cyclical in nature. People who suffer from acid reflux know symptoms tend to come and go in waves. Preventing acid reflux is a matter of diet and lifestyle control. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, however, you may require over-the-counter or prescription medications.

Instructions

1. Understand your triggers. The medical profession used to think acid reflux was triggered by certain foods, and for some people that may be the case. Keep a food diary. Note what, when and how much you eat and keep track of when your acid reflux symptoms develop.

2. Consider factors beyond food. It may be the timing or quantity of a particular food that triggers your reflux, not the food itself. You may be eating too close to bedtime, or you may be eating too much of a particular food. Eat multiple small meals throughout the day and avoid eating within one hour of bed time. Then see if it's really the food or some other factors causing your symptoms.

3. Drink water. Beer, wine, soda and other carbonated or acidic beverages all cause stomach acid to spike, increasing the likelihood that you will experience symptoms.

4. Give yourself a boost. Raise the head of your bed about a 6 inches to prevent acid reflux symptoms while you're sleeping. Raising the head of the bed prevents stomach acid from rising into your esophagus.

5. Try an over-the-counter acid reflux treatment after first consulting with your doctor. Some over-the-counter medications interfere with prescription medications or are contraindicated for people with certain conditions, so get an OK from your primary care physician before using them.

6. If you can't prevent the recurrence of acid reflux, visit your doctor for a complete examination. Acid reflux is a serious condition that left untreated could lead to severe complications, such as esophageal ulcers or cancer.

Tips & Warnings

• Infants and children can suffer from acid reflux. If you have a young child who tends to be colicky when you lay him down or who has lots of cavities, have him checked for acid reflux. Recent studies have shown a link between acid reflux and cavities in young children.

• Adding more whole grains to your diet can help prevent acid reflux symptoms from recurring. Whole grains, such as wheat, oats and brown rice, are complex carbohydrates that use up more stomach acid to digest, preventing acid reflux symptoms.

• Try substituting low-fat foods for high-fat versions. High-fat foods, particularly fast foods, tend to aggravate acid reflux symptoms.