Acid reflux or heartburn can cause grave discomfort. Some lifestyle problems are to be blamed for most cases of this condition. Here's what you need to look out for!
Being overweight or obese: The sphincter muscle at the lower end of your oesophagus relaxes at the wrong time to cause acid reflux, which causes stomach acid to back up into your oesophagus. Being overweight or obese decreases the pressure that holds the sphincter closed, which leads to acid reflux. So, try to keep your weight in check with exercise and eat a healthy diet.
Eating acidic foods: Ever experienced heartburn after eating a certain food? There are certain foods that trigger acid reflux, including fatty foods, spicy food, tomatoes, onions,garlic, coffee, tea, alcohol, chocolate and mint. Try to limit these foods from your diet if you want to mitigate the risk of acid reflux. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock
Smoking: A study published in the journal Gut found that cigarette smoking can provoke acid reflux, exacerbating the symptoms. So, smoking weakens the sphincter, which is the muscular valve that protects the oesophagus from these acids. Several studies have found that smoking cessation can reduce the symptoms of acid reflux.