You have to take control of your life. There is no one out there who can help you if you can't help yourself. This means you have to become educated on your condition and how to make it tolerable. Start with this article and all of its tips on controlling acid reflux.


The most significant factor attributed with acid reflux is being overweight. Those who are obese are two times more likely to have GERD than someone who is at a healthy weight. The pressure on your stomach of all the extra pounds can cause the esophageal sphincter to relax, allowing acid to give you trouble.


Loosen up if you've been dealing with too much acid reflux. Your clothing, that is. Tight pants, close-fitting shirts or pantyhose can make symptoms of acid reflux much worse. If you can, put a robe on or other over-sized and very comfy clothes and take it easy. Your symptoms should at least be somewhat alleviated.


If you find you have heartburn more than once a week, you may actually have GERD. This is a serious condition which needs to be both treated and monitored by a medical professional. Talk to your doctor about your condition and whether there is a treatment out there to cure it for you.


Certain foods will cause your acid reflex to act up. Chocolate is one of them, unfortunately. Also try to avoid mint, ketchup, mustard and even mint. If you are able to change your diet even just a little bit, you should feel much better and should have less episodes going forward.


Medications that are available over the counter at a drugstore or pharmacy will only temporarily mask acid reflux disease symptoms with not much effectiveness. If you find yourself using these products with increasing regularity, you should consult a doctor. They can prescribe stronger prescription medications that prevent acid reflux from occurring.


Drinking a large amount of liquid while eating can lead to acid reflux. You may not think about it, but liquids also add to the volume of food in your stomach. When the volume of food is too great, it overpowers your body's resources to keep food in your stomach. Limit the amount of liquid you drink while eating, or only drink between meals.


There are known food triggers for acid reflux symptoms. Avoid consuming such foods to reduce your symptoms. Avoid spicy foods, acidic foods and fatty foods.


One of the best things you can do if you suffer from acid reflux is to lose a few pounds. Obesity is a huge contributor to acid reflux and heartburn. If you are at a healthy weight, statistics show that you are less than half as likely to suffer from acid reflux as people who are overweight. This is a great reason to shed some pounds.


Staying active can help fight acid reflux. Exercises that you could incorporate into your routine include walking and aerobic swimming. Keeping your body upright helps put gravity on your side when it comes to digestion.


Try to create separation between your workout regimen and the meals that you eat during the day. It is important to give your body this rest so that it can rehabilitate from your intense session of working out. This time will give your stomach the opportunity to become strong so that it can break down your food efficiently.


Try wearing loose clothes if you have acid reflux. Do what you can to avoid having anything that fits tightly near your middle area. This can cause unnecessary pressure on the stomach and worsen your acid reflux symptoms. You may resume wearing tight clothes after your symptoms are dealt with. In the mean time, try sticking with comfortable and stretchy clothes.


One of the worst things you can do if you suffer from acid reflux is to lie down after a meal. It is very important that for at least two hours after you eat, you do not lie flat on your back or stomach. It is best if you stand up and walk a little bit. This will help get your stomach juices flowing in the right direction.


If you have acid reflux, you should talk to your doctor about being tested for a hiatal hernia. This condition allows the stomach to move past the diaphragm and up into the chest, making acid reflux easy. Having this condition diagnosed and remedied may spare you from having acid reflux.


Cut down on the amount of coffee that you consume if you want to eliminate GERD symptoms. There is nothing wrong with having a small cup of coffee in the morning, but if you are consuming three to four large lattes every day, that is asking for acid reflux issues.


If you experience blood in your stool or vomit, you must see a doctor immediately. These are symptoms of a far more serious problems than acid reflux. Your symptoms may be highly treatable if you are not suffering from acid reflux.


Don't eat for three hours or more before bedtime in order to treat your acid reflux. Eating activates your digestive tract. Your stomach produces the acid it needs for this process. This can help to moderate the acid that your stomach produces.


If you get heartburn after eating spicy foods, try eating a few ounces of natural yogurt afterward. The yogurt acts by calming down the gastric acid production that is responsible for your discomfort. You may get ahead of the game by eating the yogurt before consuming foods that give you heartburn.


Wearing clothing that is too tight can increase the risk of acid reflux. Choose clothes that are loose-fitting to avoid pressure on the abdomen. Wearing clothing that is tight around your stomach interferes with the digestive process, which causes acid reflux.


Now that you have this knowledge, you must use it. You have to start changing your lifestyle to help you cope with your condition. You need to take life by the reins and guide it where you want it to go. What you must do most of all is start the changes today.