Health

What Are the Treatment Options for Acid Reflux?

It can be frustrating if you suffer from acid reflux. This is a condition that can impact people of all ages. For example, some people are diagnosed with acid reflux when they are babies. It could be so severe that babies have a difficult time gaining weight. There are plenty of people who suffer from acid reflux as an adult as well. It can be very frustrating to eat a meal only to feel it come back up a few hours after you are finished. Fortunately, there are treatment options available for acid reflux. Take a look at a few treatment options below, and remember to contact a doctor if you have issues with acid reflux.

Dietary Changes

If you feel like you suffer from acid reflux, you may want to make some dietary changes. As the name suggests, you might be able to treat acid reflux by avoiding acidic foods. For example, you could try to avoid things that have tomatoes in them if you suffer from acid reflux. They are particularly acidic, and your symptoms make it better if you stay away from them. You should also try to avoid chocolate and peppermint. These are two foods that are associated with acid reflux as well. You may also want to stay away from citric fruit, such as oranges. Orange juice could make acid reflux worse. You might be able to treat your symptoms by changing your diet.

Remain Upright After the Meal

You can also alleviate your symptoms by staying upright after you are done eating. There is a sphincter that separates your esophagus from your stomach. If you suffer from acid reflux, the sphincter might not be closed tight enough. Therefore, you need to make it harder for your body to regurgitate food. One of the ways to do that is to ask gravity to help you. If you remain upright after a meal, it will be harder for you to regurgitate food through your esophagus. Even though you may feel like you want to lay down, this will only make your symptoms worse. Remain upright after you are done eating.

Consider a Medication

There are also medications that can treat acid reflux. For example, you may want to take an antacid. This is a medication that directly neutralizes acid in the stomach. Or, you might even be interested in an H2 blocker. This is a medication that can reduce the production of acid in your stomach. There are also situations where you might benefit from a proton pump inhibitor. This is a powerful medication that is usually reserved for individuals with severe cases of acid reflux. You should talk to your doctor about the benefits and side effects of each medication. If you experience side effects during acid reflux treatment, you may want to reach out to a PPI lawyer.

Address Acid Reflux with a Doctor

These are just a few of the many treatment options that are available for those who suffer from acid reflux. It can be frustrating to suffer from acid reflux, but there are lots of treatment options available. Remember that you may want to avoid acidic foods if you feel like you suffer from acid reflux. You should also try to remain upright for an hour after you finish eating. There are some individuals who require medication to control acid reflux, but this is something that you need to talk about with your doctor. If you feel like acid reflux is having an adverse impact on your quality of life, reach out to a doctor who can assist you.

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