Acid reflux can cause a painful, burning sensation in the throat or chest, which people refer to as heartburn. Simple home remedies and lifestyle tips can help reduce or prevent acid reflux and heartburn. Acid reflux is very common, and other symptoms may include vomiting, bad breath, tooth erosion, and a bitter or sour taste in the back of the mouth. Acid reflux occurs when the valve between the food pipe and stomach, known as the lower esophageal sphincter LES, fails to close properly after eating, which allows stomach acid to leak up into the food pipe. Frequent or prolonged acid reflux can develop into a more severe form of reflux known as gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD. Several scientific studies have found an association between obesity and GERD. Although the reason for the association is unclear, researchers believe that the increased abdominal pressure that occurs due to weight gain may cause the LES to relax, resulting in stomach acid leaking up into the food pipe. A study investigated the effect of weight loss on GERD among overweight and obese adults.
If you experience heartburn, you know the feeling well: a slight hiccup, followed by a burning sensation in your chest and throat. Or perhaps you have gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD, a chronic condition with many potential causes. Whatever the cause, heartburn is uncomfortable and inconvenient. What can you do when heartburn strikes? Heartburn happens when the contents of your stomach rise up into your esophagus, where stomach acids can burn the tissue. In some cases, you might be having an episode of heartburn because tight clothing is compressing your stomach. Your posture can also contribute to heartburn. An upright posture puts less pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter LES.
Since esophageal muscles play a large role in keeping stomach acids down where they belong, it may help to learn techniques that can relax both your body and mind. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you experience acid reflux more than twice a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD. Avoiding food near bedtime. Heartburn happens when acid from the stomach comes back up into the food pipe. But before you rush to your local pharmacy, there are natural GERD home remedy solutions you can try to alleviate the unwanted side effects of this uncomfortable problem.