If you’ve ever had to deal with a severe case of acid reflux, you’ve probably heard that the most common symptom is heartburn. While there are several ways that you can get over heartburn, it isn’t always the easiest. Here are six signs that you’ve got a serious problem with your stomach acid reflux.
If your acid reflux is getting severe, and you’re experiencing intense abdominal pain, it’s time to seek medical attention. Your doctor will either prescribe medication for your reflux or recommend an OTC (over the counter) treatment that is safe for your particular situation. The most common OTC medication for acid reflux is antacids. These medications help reduce the amount of acid in your stomach but are not as strong as stronger drugs like Tagamet and Pepcid.
When taking antacids, it’s important to be aware of how strong they actually are. Some of the most commonly prescribed medications for acid reflux have the potential to cause life-threatening problems if taken for long periods of time. If you’re taking antacids regularly, they may cause stomach bleeding or ulcers. In addition, they have been known to damage the esophagus, which could even lead to surgery if your doctor finds that you’ve taken too many antacids for a prolonged period of time.
If your acid reflux isn’t too bad yet, it’s a good idea to take an OTC product that has an antacid in it, but also something to help relieve the pain. Antacids work by stimulating the stomach’s production of acid, which helps to reduce pain and pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter. These types of medications are available in different strengths and can help you avoid taking too much antacid.
Another common acid reflux symptom is coughing. This is usually a direct result of stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. Sometimes, when the liquid backs up into the esophagus, it can cause ulcers. If you experience severe heartburn, this could cause you to cough blood, even when you’re not having any symptoms of heartburn.
If you don’t feel a lot of pain when taking OTC medications for acid reflux, you may want to visit your doctor for a thorough checkup. He or she will perform a physical examination and order tests to determine whether or not your stomach is producing the acid needed to clear up your heartburn. He or she may recommend a prescription drug that can control stomach acid production.
Sometimes the best solution for acid reflux isn’t a medication at all. Your doctor may prescribe one of several treatments to help cure the problem naturally. One of the more common remedies involves changing your diet.
The most common way to treat acid reflux is through changes in your diet. You may want to make some changes to your diet so that you’re not eating certain foods. Eating a low-fat diet and cutting back on caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods, and spicy foods, as well as other foods that can irritate your stomach.
Changing your diet is one of the best ways to treat acid reflux because you are able to remove the problem food. There are foods that are hard on your stomach that you want to avoid. In some cases, doctors recommend that you try to avoid eating certain foods for a few days and may have you try a more natural cure for acid reflux using foods that are naturally healthy.
Symptoms of acid reflux can get worse over time, so it’s important that you keep track of what you’re eating. Also, if you’re experiencing symptoms of heartburn, make sure to drink lots of fluids and eat plenty of calcium-rich foods such as leafy greens and citrus fruits. as well as milk. Other natural treatments for acid reflux problems include drinking hot liquids and eating foods that are full of calcium. Eating calcium-rich foods like broccoli and carrots is good for relieving symptoms of heartburn.
Keep in mind that there’s no single treatment for acid reflux problems. It’s important that you try to treat each symptom individually to prevent long term damage to your esophagus and the lining of the stomach.
