Acid Reflux Risk Facts and Prevention
There several conditions that can up your risk of facing acid reflux. Pregnancy can make a person more prone to suffer from acid reflux because of the elevated hormone levels that expectant mothers experience. Elevated hormone levels induce reflux by making the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter, which is meant to seal off the esophagus so stomach acid can’t pass through when it is being regurgitated. This pressure causes the esophageal sphincter’s contractions to malfunction or function poorly. Hormone imbalances can create a similar effect on the esophagus, resulting in acid reflux and its unpleasant symptoms, including heartburn, bitter breath, chest pain, and more. Other conditions that increase the risk of a patient suffering from acid reflux include those that weaken the esophageal muscle along with other muscles. One example of such an illness that can put you at higher risk for acid reflux due to muscle weakening is scleroderma. Patients with disease that weaken connective tissues are also at an increased risk of coming down with a case of acid reflux. Patients who have asthma and some other respiratory diseases—particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases like emphysema—have a very high incidence of acid reflux.
While, in the situations described above, the risk of acid reflux was increased as a result of conditions and complications beyond a person’s immediate control, there are many instances in which you can take an active role in preventing acid reflux. For instance obesity poses an increased risk of acid reflux that can be minimized with exercise and weight loss. Obesity creates an excessive amount of pressure in the abdomen, pushing stomach contents into the esophagus in a reflux motion. Increased body mass index can also lead to esophageal cancer. Participating in a proven-effective weight loss program can go a long way in protecting you and your esophagus against disease.
Even if you’re not overweight your eating habits may be placing you at an increased risk. Eating heavy meals and lying down after eating are definite no-nos, as is snacking before bedtime. You’re best bet is not to eat within three hours of going to sleep. When you do go to bed, keep your head elevated at a higher level than you stomach. This will allow gravity to reduce the pressure of the stomach’s contents on the lower esophageal sphincter. Also, try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Smaller meals are less likely to put excessive pressure on the lower esophagus and cause a reflux of stomach acid that makes it’s way to the vulnerable esophageal lining.
Avoid consuming an excess of food and drinks that cause a laxity of the lower esophageal sphincter. Acid reflux causing foods and beverages include caffeinated, carbonated, and alcoholic beverages, chocolate, and fatty and spicy foods.
Smoking increases the risk of acid reflux and it also increases the risk of respiratory diseases that have acid reflux as one of their complications. What’s more, the chemical ingredients in cigarettes weaken the LES when they travel from the lungs into your bloodstream. By quitting smoking, you may be able to significantly lower your incidence of acid reflux episodes, or even prevent getting acid reflux in the first place, if you haven’t already.
Last but not least, simply by wearing clothing that fits loosely around the abdomen will reduce the pressure that sends food up from the stomach into the esophagus.