How To Stop Acid Reflux Stomach Pain

Opt For Cooked Onions Instead Of Raw

Raw onions are a common trigger for acid reflux and heartburn.

One older study in people with acid reflux showed that eating a meal containing raw onion significantly increased heartburn, acid reflux, and burping, compared with consuming an identical meal that didnt contain onions .

More frequent burping might suggest that more gas is being produced. This could be due to the high amounts of fermentable fiber in onions .

Raw onions are also more difficult to digest and might irritate the lining of the esophagus, causing worsened heartburn .

Whatever the reason, if you think eating raw onion makes your symptoms worse, you should avoid it and opt for cooked onions instead.

Summary

Some people experience worsened heartburn and other reflux symptoms after eating raw onions.

Betaine Hcl And Pepsin

Betaine HCL and Pepsin help to replace the low stomach acid. For younger people, this may be a good short term fix while you address the underlying cause, but if you are over 60 years of age it may be a useful long term supplement to help increase your diminished stomach acid levels.

I recommend the Thorne Research Betaine HCL and Pepsin which you can get from or www.iherb.com.

• Follow the lifestyle tips, slow down your eating and eat in a relaxed environment.
• 3CDSA and/or SIBO testing to identify if Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach or a bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine is the underlying cause. This testing is available through Planet Naturopath and you will be helped with a treatment plan to eliminate these infections.
• 4Replace digestive enzymes and address the inflammation of the mucosa with the recommended supplements.

If you need one on one support to help guide you through this process to help you optimize your digestion and health, you can schedule an appointment with Planet Naturopath here

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How To Prevent Excessive Stomach Acid

Excessive stomach acid is not at all good for your health, and if neglected it can lead to more severe issues. One can also find himself pooping stomach acid. Hence, it is necessary to follow a healthier lifestyle and adopt the following tips that can prevent the excessive secretion of stomach acid.

• Maintain a healthy weight. For a healthy digestive tract, it is necessary to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is known to increase the risk of GERD
• Eat smaller portions. Keeping a check on your food portions can prevent overeating and indigestion
• Do not lie down on the bed for at least three hours after a meal
• Switch to a healthy diet. Avoid fried or processed foods and carbonated drinks. There is a direct relationship between the consumption of coke and stomach acid secretion
• Do not smoke
• Avoid liquors as well as caffeinated drinks
• Wear loose-fitting clothes to avoid pressure on your abdomen region
• Raise the head of your bed to about six inches

Stomach acid is a common trouble which can be treated by following some simple remedies. Employ the treatments for how to reduce stomach acid along with the correct lifestyle habits to alleviate your problems.

These are quite effective in relieving heartburn, stomach pain, nausea, and other symptoms associated with excessive secretion of stomach acid. Cure your troubles with them and get back to your normal and happy life. However please note that indigestion and other stomach issues may also be caused due to low stomach acid.

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Supporting Healthy Stomach Acid

Eat protein foods at the beginning of your meal to stimulate the digestive enzymes necessary for digesting protein.

Chew thoroughly. This is one of the most important parts of digestion. Food proteins need to be broken down to be properly digested.

Limit liquid intake during meals until at least 30 minutes after a meal to allow for proper stomach acid production, pathogen sterilization, and protein metabolism.

Stay hydrated between meals to support proper gut motility this pushes the contents of the intestines out of the body instead of back into the stomach. This is very important for those who are prone to SIBO.

Betaine hydrochloride supplements help support healthy gut function and safely restore normal gastric acidity.

Always take the betaine HCL either half-way through the meal or right at the end of the meal. Taking it before a meal may create a false experience of heartburn and can turn off stomach acid production for this meal. Caution: Do not take HCL if you are taking any NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, Tylenol, or aspirin.

HCl with pepsin. Add these to your diet when you consume protein. When you feel warmth in your stomach, that means you are taking enough. Then back it down a notch and monitor your response. Some people need one capsule, others need more as everyone is unique.

Pepsin. Typically used in conjunction with HCl, pepsin is considered very safe when administered to assist digestion.

A Few Lifestyle Changes Are Worth Trying Before Resorting To Drugs For Controlling Gastroesophageal Reflux

If you are sounding a little hoarse and have a sore throat, you may be bracing for a cold or a bout of the flu. But if you’ve had these symptoms for a while, they might be caused not by a virus but by a valveyour lower esophageal sphincter. That’s the muscle that controls the passage between the esophagus and stomach, and when it doesn’t close completely, stomach acid and food flow back into the esophagus. The medical term for this process is gastroesophageal reflux the backward flow of acid is called acid reflux.

Acid reflux can cause sore throats and hoarseness and may literally leave a bad taste in your mouth. When acid reflux produces chronic symptoms, it is known as gastroesophageal reflux disorder, or GERD. The most common symptom of GERD is heartburnpain in the upper abdomen and chest.

Three conditionspoor clearance of food or acid from the esophagus, too much acid in the stomach, and delayed stomach emptyingcontribute to acid reflux, says Dr. Jacqueline Wolf, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of A Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Stomach: Taking Control of Your Digestive Health.

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When Should I Call The Doctor With Acid Reflux Symptoms

Be sure to call your doctor if you dont get lasting relief from medications. Also call the doctor right away if you have any alarm acid reflux symptoms, such as these:

• Black, tarry, or maroon-colored stools
• Difficulty or pain with swallowing

Other acid reflux symptoms that should prompt a call to your doctor include:

• Asthma-like symptoms, such as wheezing or dry cough
• Hoarseness, especially in the morning
• Chronic sore throat
• Hiccups that dont let up
• Nausea that lasts for more than a day or two

Sometimes, people confuse the symptoms of heart attack with symptoms of acid reflux disease. Thats because pain in the chest can feel like heartburn. When in doubt, call your doctor.

• Chest pain, pressure, or fullness lasting more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back
• Pain or discomfort in your neck, shoulder, upper back, or jaw
• Shortness of breath, with or without chest pain
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea
• Sweating along with chest pain

Show Sources

American Academy of Family Physicians: Dyspepsia: What It Is and What to Do About It.

American Academy of Family Physicians: Heartburn: Hints on Dealing With the Discomfort.

How To Get Rid Of Acid Reflux Fast

The number of people who suffer from acid reflux has gone up significantly over the last few years. Could it be because of our change in lifestyles or because of our changing diet? If you have had acid reflux for the longest time, you clearly need not be told how frustrating this condition can be. Acid reflux is the most noticeable symptom of GERD . This chronic condition can have serious consequences if left untreated. Fortunately, most cases of acid reflux respond well to treatment with a combination of lifestyle changes and home remedies. Read on to learn how to get rid of acid reflux.

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Can I Do Anything Else To Avoid Dyspepsia

You can do quite a bit to help yourself feel better:

• If you smoke, stop smoking.

• If some foods bother your stomach, try to avoid eating them.

• Try to reduce the stress in your life.

• If you have acid reflux, don’t eat right before bedtime. Raising the head of your bed with blocks under two legs may also help.

• Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, don’t take a lot of anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen and ketoprofin . Acetaminophen is a better choice for pain, because it doesn’t hurt your stomach.

Everything You Need To Know On How To Reduce Stomach Acid

Stomach acid is needed to digest food and allow the body to absorb nutrients. You need a certain level daily, or you can end up with digestive problems and constipation.

However, there are times that your stomach acid causes other problems. You can have too much, causing stomach ulcers and heartburn. Some people must deal with the stomach acid leaving the stomach the wrong way, causing discomfort on the esophagus.

So, you need to find a way to reduce stomach acid. You want to cut the problem of heartburn and stomach ulcers as much as possible. While there are medications to help, you can also help to reduce stomach acid naturally. These tips will help to deal with the symptoms of heartburn at the same time.

Heres a look at all you need to know about reducing stomach acid.

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When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider

Indigestion can be a sign of a serious health problem. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have indigestion and any of these symptoms:

• Frequent vomiting
• Weight loss or not feeling hungry
• Bloody, black, or tarry stools
• Sudden sharp pain in your belly or abdomen
• Trouble breathing
• Pain that spreads to your jaw, neck, or arm
• Difficult, painful swallowing
• Yellow coloring of your eyes or skin

Also call your healthcare provider if you have indigestion that lasts longer than 2 weeks.

Are There Any Complications From Oesophagitis

• Scarring and narrowing . If you have severe and long-standing inflammation it can cause a stricture of the lower gullet . This is uncommon.
• Barrett’s oesophagus. In this condition the cells that line the lower oesophagus become changed. The changed cells are more prone than usual to becoming cancerous.
• Cancer. Your risk of developing cancer of the oesophagus is slightly increased compared to the normal risk if you have long-term acid reflux.

It has to be stressed that most people with reflux do not develop any of these complications. Tell your doctor if you have pain or difficulty when you swallow, which may be the first symptom of a complication.

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How To Reduce Stomach Acid With Exercise

Stress and anxiety are other prime reasons that may lead to increased acidity. Due to high levels of stress, you resort to unhealthy eating habits that directly affect your digestive health. Hence, you must work upon lowering your stress. While you may not be able to avoid stress, some ways can help you out inefficiently reducing it. Physical activity is one such medium to relieve stress.

What to do?

• Try going out for a walk and connect with nature
• Or you can try meditation and breathing exercises
• Indulge in some fun physical activities like aerobics

Benefits of Exercise

Physical exercise acts as a stress booster. It not only helps you in keeping fit but also prevents various health disorders.

Is Gerd Dangerous Or Life

GERD isnt life-threatening or dangerous in itself. But long-term GERD can lead to more serious health problems:

• Esophagitis: Esophagitis is the irritation and inflammation the stomach acid causes in the lining of the esophagus. Esophagitis can cause ulcers in your esophagus, heartburn, chest pain, bleeding and trouble swallowing.
• Barrett’s esophagus: Barrett’s esophagus is a condition that develops in some people who have long-term GERD. The damage acid reflux can cause over years can change the cells in the lining of the esophagus. Barretts esophagus is a risk factor for cancer of the esophagus.
• Esophageal cancer: Cancer that begins in the esophagus is divided into two major types. Adenocarcinoma usually develops in the lower part of the esophagus. This type can develop from Barretts esophagus. Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the cells that line the esophagus. This cancer usually affects the upper and middle part of the esophagus.
• Strictures: Sometimes the damaged lining of the esophagus becomes scarred, causing narrowing of the esophagus. These strictures can interfere with eating and drinking by preventing food and liquid from reaching the stomach.

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When Do Acid Reflux Symptoms Occur

Acid reflux symptoms most often occur:

• After eating a heavy meal
• When bending over or lifting an object
• When lying down, especially on your back

People who have frequent acid reflux symptoms most often experience them at night. Nighttime GERD also produces the most pain. However, the level of pain does not always indicate the degree of damage to your esophagus.

More than half of all pregnant women experience heartburn during pregnancy. Increased hormones and pressure from a growing fetus can combine to produce this acid reflux symptom. In most cases, heartburn improves or completely goes away after delivery.

How Is Indigestion Treated

You should not have foods or medicines that cause indigestion. It is also helpful to avoid stressful situations. Your symptoms may feel better if you:

• Quit smoking
• Take medicines that weaken or neutralize stomach acid

Your healthcare provider may suggest you take medicines that:

• Help your stomach move food more quickly into your small intestine
• Kill bacteria if tests show you have the H. pylori bacteria in your stomach
• Help calm the gut’s nervous system

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When To See The Doctor About Acid Reflux

You should see a doctor about your acid reflux if it gets to a point where its causing persistent discomfort in your daily life. The condition is not life-threatening, but you can end up with some serious complications.

GERD can lead to chronic inflammation in your esophagus. You could end up with the following conditions if you dont receive proper and timely treatment:

• Esophageal stricture An esophageal stricture forms when your lower esophagus ends up with damage from stomach acids, leading to scar tissue formation. The presence of that scar tissue causes your food pathway to narrow, which causes you to have trouble swallowing your food.
• Esophageal ulcer An esophageal ulcer is a sore that develops when your stomach acid wears away the issue of your esophagus. It can start bleeding, which can cause pain and leads to problems with swallowing.
• Barretts esophagus The damage caused in your lower esophagus tissue by stomach acid can induce changes that increase your risk of developing esophageal cancer.

Drink Baking Soda Water

Drinking baking soda water is one of the easiest, most cost-efficient ways of relieving acid reflux. Baking soda has a pH of 8.3, which is alkaline enough to combat heartburn and excess acid production. However, like antacids, drinking baking soda water does not cure the underlying cause of your acid reflux symptom.

To make baking soda water, simply mix ½ teaspoon baking soda with 4-ounces of water. Sip the mixture slowly and observe the symptoms. If heartburn symptoms persist, you can make the mixture and repeat the procedure after two hours. Be sure not to exceed 3 tablespoons of baking soda daily. Too much can cause bloating, gas production, stomach pain, and diarrhea.

Also, drinking baking soda water daily is not advisable as overuse can cause toxicity. That can lead to hypokalemia or low potassium levels and hypernatremia or high sodium levels. These can cause kidney disease and muscle weakness and worsen heart diseases.

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What Causes Heartburn And What Does It Feel Like Exactly

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, stomach acid is needed to break down the food you eat, something your stomach has no trouble handling. Your esophagus, on the other hand, is irritated by it.

To keep stomach acid in your stomach and out of your esophagus, a circular ring of muscle at the tube’s base, called the lower esophageal sphincter, acts as a valve. When this valve is relaxed, food you’ve consumed is allowed to pass through to your stomach. When contracted, this valve prevents this food and acid from backing up into your esophagus.

If this valve relaxes abnormally and stomach acid is allowed to travel back into your esophagus, acid reflux occurs. Heartburn is the most well-known and obvious symptom.

It can feel differently depending on its severity, but heartburn symptoms include:

• A burning sensation in your chest, behind your breastbone
• Burning pain that rises up toward your throat
• Having a bitter or sour taste in your mouth

Acid reflux and heartburn are sometimes caused by an underlying medical condition, or even a medication you’re taking in some cases. But, more often than not, they’re triggered by things like your diet and lifestyle choices making the occasional bout of heartburn fairly common.

Common triggers of heartburn include:

Causes Of Heartburn And Acid Reflux

Lots of people get heartburn from time to time. There’s often no obvious reason why.

Sometimes it’s caused or made worse by:

• certain food and drink such as coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods
• being overweight
• some medicines, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers
• a hiatus hernia when part of your stomach moves up into your chest

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