How to prevent stomach acid from rising is important to know. The reason is, the symptoms caused by rising stomach acid are often very disturbing daily activities. Now, if you are one of those who experience it, let's find out how to prevent it here!
How to prevent stomach acid from rising is quite simple. This condition is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be prevented by improving diet and lifestyle habits. But of course, these ways need to be done regularly and with discipline.
Various Ways to Prevent Stomach Acid from Rising
The following are some ways to prevent stomach acid from rising which at the same time can improve your quality of life:
1. Eat small portions and often
Eating small portions and quite often is one of the simplest ways to prevent stomach acid from rising. For people with GERD, eating 5 times a day in small portions is better than eating 3 times a day in large portions.
When you eat large portions, your stomach will accommodate a larger load, so the pressure in the stomach increases. As a result, food and acid in the stomach can be pushed back into the esophagus and cause a burning feeling in the pit of the stomach or even up to the chest.
2. Lose excess weight
Obesity or being overweight is the biggest triggering factor for acid reflux. This condition can occur because the accumulation of fat in the stomach area can put extra pressure on the stomach, so that stomach acid can be pushed back into the esophagus.
Therefore, losing excess weight can help prevent stomach acid from rising. In addition, maintaining an ideal body weight is also good for overall health, for example, can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
3. Don't eat before bed
For those of you who often experience acid reflux, it is highly recommended to avoid snack or eat before you go to bed, as this habit can worsen acid reflux symptoms.
When you lie down or sleep immediately after eating, gravity will pull the contents of your stomach toward your esophagus. Therefore, sleep when the stomach contents have been emptied into the small intestine, about 2-3 hours after eating.
4. Elevate the head of the bed
Some people can experience symptoms of acid reflux at night even though they have limited their eating time. This of course can interfere with sleep quality.
If you experience this, you can prevent stomach acid from rising by elevating the position of your head and chest by 15-20 cm. To do this, use a block or foam support under your mattress. Using an extra pillow is not recommended because this can actually increase the pressure on the stomach.
5. Take medicines from the doctor
Most people can cope with acid reflux by making some lifestyle changes. However, some others, especially those whose symptoms are severe, require medication from a doctor to prevent stomach acid from rising.
To overcome and prevent stomach acid from rising again, doctors will usually give the following drugs:
- Antacids, to relieve stomach acid symptoms in the short term
- H2 antagonists, to reduce stomach acid production, such as ranitidine
- Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole and lansoprazole, which is more effective than H2 . antagonists
In addition to doing the methods above, you should also avoid foods that cause stomach acid to rise, such as fried, fatty, spicy, or sour foods. Also reduce your intake of alcohol, tea, coffee, and carbonated drinks such as soda.
Some other ways that can be done to help prevent stomach acid from rising are to relieve stress with yoga or meditation, chewing gum after eating, and wearing loose-fitting clothes.
Changes in diet and lifestyle can be an effective way to prevent stomach acid from rising. In addition, if you get medicines from a doctor, take them as directed.
If the symptoms of acid reflux do not improve even though you have applied the methods above and the medicines from the doctor do not help, you should immediately consult a doctor again to get further examination and proper treatment.