According to a study, in women who adhered to an anti-reflux lifestyle, the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms decreased per week. If you have a hoarse voice and sore throat, you may have a cold or flu. However, if you’ve had these symptoms for a while, it’s not caused by a virus, but by a lower valve than your lower esophageal sphincter. It is the muscle that controls the passage of the esophagus and the stomach and, when not completely closed, the stomach acid and esophagus return to the esophagus. The medical term for this procedure is gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflux.
“Acid reflux can cause sore throats and sore throats and can literally leave a bad taste in your mouth.” – says the best gastro doctor in Kolkata.
When acid reflux produces chronic symptoms, it is known as gastroesophageal reflux disorder or GERD. The most common symptom of GERD is burning – pain in the upper abdomen and chest which sometimes makes you feel like you are having a heart attack.
Your digestion controls health. If you experience frequent acid beats or any symptoms of acid reflux, you can try the following:
Eat short portions and eat slowly
When the stomach is too full, there may be more reflux in the esophagus. If this fits your schedule, you may sometimes want to try what is called “grazing” – eating smaller meals more often than three large meals twice or thrice a day.
Avoid certain foods
People with acid reflux were once instructed to exclude all foods except bloody foods from their diet. But this is no longer the case. “We’ve evolved from the days when you couldn’t eat anything,” the best gastroenterologist in Kolkata said.
However, there are some foods that are more likely to trigger reflux than others, such as mint, fatty foods, spicy foods, tomatoes, onions, garlic, coffee, tea, chocolate, and alcohol. If you eat these foods regularly, they might trigger your reflux. Try to exclude these variants from your daily diet.
Do not drink carbonated drinks
They make you burp, which sends acid to the esophagus. Drink plain water instead of mineral water.
Don’t fall asleep immediately after eating
Even when standing or sitting, gravity alone helps keep the acid in the stomach where it belongs. Finish eating three hours before bedtime. This means no sleep after lunch and no late meals or midnight snacks.
Don’t move too fast after eating
Avoid strenuous exercise for a few hours after a meal. Light walks are fine after dinner, but harder work can send acid into your esophagus, especially if it involves twisting exercises.
Sleep in an inclined position
Ideally, your head should be 6 to 8 inches higher than your feet as per the best gastroenterologist in Kolkata. You can achieve this by using the “extra long” bed riser on the legs to support the head of your bed. Do not try to make a wedge by stacking the pillow. They don’t provide the uniform support you need.
Lose weight if recommended
Often increased weight spreads the muscular structure that supports the lower esophageal sphincter, reducing the pressure that keeps the sphincter closed. This causes reflux and heartburn.
Quit if you smoke
Nicotine can relax the lower esophageal sphincter.
Test your medication
Women’s sphincters may relax after menopause. However, if you have severe pain or trouble swallowing, consult the best gastro doctor in Kolkata to detect the underlying causes. You may need medication to control reflux even after tracking changes in your lifestyle.