Video: How to Prevent Acid Reflux

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Acid reflux, or indigestion, is caused by excessive acid content in the stomach coming up into the esophagus, and this can be prevented by using antacids. Find out how to elevate the head at night to prevent acid reflux with help from a physician's assistant in this free video on acid reflux.

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Video Transcript

Acid reflux or indigestion is where the acid content of the stomach comes up into the esophagus. The way to prevent this is to use anti-acids which neutralize the acid from the stomach and prevents it from being in the esophagus and burning the esophageal tissue. You can also elevate your head at night to prevent gravity from allowing gastric secretions to flow freely up into the esophagus when you're horizontal. You should not eat or drink anything after about 6:00 pm or at least four or five hours before you go to bed. Particularly if you're going to lie flat. But the best way if you have that problem, to prevent the acid content from coming up into your esophagus is to elevate the bed, the head of the bed or your head on pillows in the bed. There are several medications to treat the immediate symptoms of acid reflux. These are all anti-acids which reduce or neutralize the acid secretions from the stomach. There are other medications that actually reduce the amount of acid produced by the cells or the acid glands in your stomach that are there to help break down the food that you ingest.

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How to Prevent Acid Reflux

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