![]() If you have acid reflux more than twice a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Regardless of the cause of your acid reflux, lying down - whether it’s at night or during the day - is bound to worsen symptoms and prolong the time it will take your body to digest your food completely. The occasional episode of acid reflux may also just be the result of a little more acid production than usual - perhaps brought on by a particularly large meal or your sensitivity to certain foods.Īnd if you lie down before all your food is digested, you run the risk of having some of that excess acid leak through the sphincter. Smoking can contribute to the problem in a few ways, including increasing stomach acid production and weakening the sphincter. HerniaĪ hiatal hernia can also lead to acid reflux because it causes the stomach and lower esophageal sphincter to move above the muscular diaphragm, which usually helps keep stomach acid from moving upward. Pregnancy sometimes triggers acid reflux or GERD as the growing fetus puts pressure on the organs around it, including the stomach and esophagus. It’s not always clear why it occurs, though it’s sometimes due to changes in the position of your internal organs. Up to 45 percent of people experience heartburn during pregnancy. If the sphincter becomes weak, or if it relaxes abnormally, stomach acid can move up through the sphincter and irritate the lining of the esophagus. The sphincter closes and stomach acid starts to break down whatever you just consumed. Normally, when you eat or drink something, the band of muscle at the bottom of your esophagus - called the lower esophageal sphincter - relaxes and allows food and liquid to flow into your stomach. Try taking a leisurely walk after dinner to help accelerate digestion and reduce the risk of stomach acid seeping up into your esophagus. Avoid clothes that fit too tightly around your waist.
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