subject: Causes Of Acid Reflux - What You Can Do [print this page] Acid reflux, as far as most diseases and disorders go, is fairly minor. In most cases, a few minor lifestyle changes can control this disorder. Some people are even able to forget that they have this disorder. An attack can be scary when you do go through one, though. To keep from panicking, you need to understand what the major acid reflux causes are. Avoiding an attack is easier to do if you know what can cause it, after all. For the most part, this disorder is easy to keep control of but there are some causes that are purely medical and beyond your control. The following are some of the major causes of acid reflux and what you can do.
If you are not getting enough sleep, that can trigger an attack. You should be getting at least hours of sleep a night. Your body needs this time to rest, relax and repair itself from the day to day life you lead. When you don't get enough sleep at night your body can react badly. This can cause impairment to your mental functions. Your coordination and balance become impaired without proper sleep. Your stomach may produce more acid if you deprive yourself of sleep which will make it more likely that you suffer an acid reflux attack. If you get enough sleep, the frequency of your attacks should decrease.
Do you get enough exercise? While doing certain exercises too strenuously can trigger an attack, not exercising is another acid reflux trigger. This is because, when you don't exercise, your body gets sluggish. This sluggishness means your body is not processing the acid in your stomach properly, leading to an attack of acid reflux. Try to get at least a little bit of exercise every day. The exercise doesn't need to be high intensity; a brisk walk will help.
Another culprit of acid reflux is caffeine. While caffeine is a great pick me up, it tends to wreak havoc on your system. An acid reflux attack can be a sign that you need to limit your caffeine intake or even cut it out all together. Caffeine withdrawals are not fun but these are only temporary and it would be better to live without the acid reflux issues. So be kind to your body by switching to decaf.
Most acid reflux causes can be avoided. Keep in mind, though, while most causes of acid reflux are influenced by lifestyle choices, there are some medical reasons, too. The best way to keep the attacks from happening is to figure out what in your life is bringing them on and then avoid You can work with your primary care physician to figure these things out. Your doctor can also help you figure out the best way to keep the attacks from happening. Believe it or not, you can lead a perfectly normal life, even if you are prone to heartburn.