How to Overcome Stomach Acid in the Morning
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a burning feeling in the chest due to stomach acid rising into the esophagus. Symptoms of acid reflux disease appear at least twice a week.
Acid reflux disease can be experienced by adults or children. Symptoms of this stomach disease are often suspected of being a heart attack or coronary heart disease, because the symptoms are almost similar to chest pain.
Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back (or refluxes) into the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat and stomach.
Some people do not realize that they are in that phase, because it is helped by saliva. Saliva contains electrolytes and enzymes that are important and beneficial for the body, helping to lubricate the digestive system.
If a person experiences acid reflux in the morning, it is due to a lack of lubricant in the digestive tract. This can cause acid to rise up into the esophagus due to a lack of saliva.
Ways to Reduce Symptoms of Acid Reflux in the Morning
- Drink lemon water when you wake up
Drinking lemon water is very important to help rehydrate the body when you wake up. That’s because a dry throat can make acid reflux worse. Lemon water helps inflammation naturally and activates the digestive system after sleep. Drinking lemon water helps reduce reflux symptoms. - Dinner with smaller portions
Being careful in managing dinner portions is also useful in reducing the rise of stomach acid in the morning. Not only that, dinner time is also considered. Dinner time can be done three hours before bedtime, it can give the stomach time to digest the food. - Elevate your head while sleeping
Studies show that sleeping with your head slightly elevated is effective at reducing stomach acid in the morning. Especially for those who have quite severe symptoms. When you sleep with your head elevated, it prevents stomach acid from rising into the esophagus.
Stomach Acid Disease Treatment and Prevention
GERD can be overcome by changing everyday behaviors, such as losing weight, not lying down immediately after eating, avoiding certain foods, including acidic fruit, and quitting smoking. Some herbal plants, such as ginger, are also claimed to be useful for treating stomach acid disease.
Doctors can also give drugs to treat stomach acid disease and relieve ulcers due to stomach acid. If this method has not been able to overcome stomach acid disease, surgery can be done.
Stomach acid disease can be prevented by not lying down immediately after eating, avoiding the consumption of spicy and sour foods, and implementing a regular eating schedule. In addition, this disease can also be prevented by stopping drinking caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, and alcoholic beverages.