Acid reflux can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as a weak esophageal sphincter ring, a hiatal hernia (a part of the stomach sticking out into the chest area through the opening in the diaphragm), or an unhealthy diet and daily living habits.
Basically, stomach acid disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can occur due to bad habits that are carried out every day. So, it’s good to pay attention to these bad habits.
Overweight or obese
The sphincter muscle at the lower end of the esophagus relaxes at the wrong time and causes acid reflux, in which stomach acid moves up into the esophagus. Being overweight or obese lowers the pressure holding the sphincter closed, which causes acid reflux. So, try to maintain your weight by exercising and eating a healthy diet.
Sour food
Have you ever experienced heartburn after consuming certain foods? Launching from the HealthShots page, there are certain foods that can trigger an increase in stomach acid, such as fatty foods, spicy foods, tomatoes, onions, garlic, coffee, tea, alcohol, chocolate and mint. Therefore, try to limit these types of foods if you want to reduce your risk of acid reflux.
(Spicy food often triggers stomach acid. Photo: Illustration. Doc. Freepik.com)
Carbonated drinks
Carbonated drinks contain components that send acid into the esophagus, creating a burning sensation. It’s uncomfortable and can make GERD symptoms worse. So, avoid this drink if you don’t want to experience other symptoms of acid reflux.
Smoking
A study published in the journal Gut found that smoking can trigger acid reflux and make symptoms worse. So, smoking weakens the sphincters, which are muscular valves that protect the esophagus from this acid. Several studies have found that quitting smoking can reduce symptoms of acid reflux
Eat heavy before bedtime
Avoid consuming a heavy meal before going to bed as it can exacerbate existing acid reflux symptoms. Ideally, avoid heavy dinners. If you want to eat, make sure there is a gap of at least three hours between dinner and bedtime. So, don’t snack or eat a hard-to-digest dinner close to bedtime.
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