subject: Stopping Acid Reflux Symptoms [print this page] There are numerous disorders and diseases and acid reflux is a fairly minor one. By making a few lifestyle changes, acid reflux is most often controllable. When properly controlled it is possible to even forget you have acid reflux. Experiencing an attack can be a scary thing, however. 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. You have control over most causes of this disorder although there are some that are purely medical. The following are some of the major causes of acid reflux and what you can do.
One major cause of an attack is not getting enough sleep at night. In order to function properly, you need to sleep for eight hours a night. Daily life causes damage to the body and when you sleep is when it repairs itself. Without this rest, your body starts breaking down. In some cases, your mental function becomes impaired. Sometimes you get clumsy. Without enough sleep, your stomach may produce more acid which increases your chances of suffering from an acid reflux attack. Getting enough sleep should help reduce the number of attacks that you suffer.
Some medications can be acid reflux causes. If you regularly take muscle relaxers, this may be what's causing your acid reflux or heartburn. Blood pressure drugs can also be a contributing factor to acid reflux. Some people even suffer from acid reflux symptoms after taking over the counter medications that thin the blood, such as Advil and ibuprofen. If you have a sensitive stomach you should try to stay away from these medications.
If you can't avoid them because of a serious medical issue, you should find out from your doctor if there's a way to prevent these symptoms from arising.
Another common cause of acid reflux is smoking. Smoking can do this in a number of ways. Your mucous membranes are damaged when you smoke. Your throat muscles' reflexes can also be damaged when you smoke. It creates a reaction in your stomach so that more acid is produced. You also tend to produce less saliva. Saliva has the beneficial effect of neutralizing acid that enters your throat and mouth. For anyone whose acid reflux is the result of smoking, the cure is simple. If you want to get rid of your problem, just stop smoking. Naturally, for some people this is quite challenging. Just remember that you have even more important reasons to stop smoking than your acid reflux problem. People who stop smoking can be helped in many ways, and can prevent many future problems as well! Usually you can avoid acid reflux fairly easily. If you can keep stress under control, eat right and make smart lifestyle decisions you can avoid the experience of heartburn or acid reflux. Work with your doctor to identify the major acid reflux causes in your life. With the assistance of your doctor you will be able get your symptoms under control if not completely rid yourself of them.