Everyone who suffers from GERD (acid reflux) knows that what can cause problems for them might not be a problem for someone else with the same condition. Some foods bother some while other people can eat them with no problems. Some have to stay away from alcohol while others aren’t effected by it. The same can be said about stress. Some people experience huge anxiety GERD related problems, and others seem to have no response what-so-ever to raised stress levels. When someone has a flare up of acid when confronted with stress, they have to learn to keep that stress under control.

A lot of people are under the impression that stress is a direct cause of heartburn. This hasn’t been proven but stress can aggravates acid reflux symptoms in a more round about way.

When someone is feeling stressed or anxious, they tend to do many things that can make acid reflux worse. For example eat while on the go, eat ‘convenience’ foods, drink more alcohol and smoke more.

To avoid the temptation of these actions, it is always a good idea to manage the stress rather than ignoring it and hoping it will go away. Though there are many types of good stress, most of the overwhelming stresses that people experience is not helping their acid reflux at all. In fact, it might be the leading reason why people stop eating and drinking the right things altogether.

Those under stress sometimes rely on behaviors they think will help like going out drinking. This is not true for everyone, but it is a habit for some. Not only is this bad for the liver, it is also bad for reflux. Alcohol is one of the things that those with acid reflux should avoid or have only in moderation, as it can stimulate acid production and bring on severe symptoms.

Other people like to deal with stress by eating comfort foods. These are often stodgy, fat laden dishes or sweet things, and both of these are also known to aggravate heartburn. When stress is high, both of these bad habits become common occurrences, and are both actions someone with GERD will come to regret!

A good way to tackle stress is to take up a good exercise program. This doesn’t have to mean pounding away in the gym, just talking a walk each day can be hugely beneficial in relieving stress.

Activities like yoga are good, as they incorporate breathing exercises that are great for washing away stress. Exercise will also help you sleep better at night, and getting a good amount of sleep will help reduce stress as well. Though eight hours are recommended, some people find that seven is all they need to feel rested and relaxed each morning. Aim for the amount of sleep that makes you feel great in the mornings.

There are other small things a person can do to get rid of stress like avoiding caffeine and stopping smoking. Though a lot of smokers think smoking helps manage their stress levels, the opposite is actually true. Smoking also aggravates GERD, so giving up the cigarettes is a great move.

Stick with a healthy diet and don’t be tempted to give into comfort eating. Not only will this help keep acid reflux symptoms at bay, but it will also give your body the energy it needs to help more effectively with the stressful situation.

Once anxiety GERD related symptoms start to go ease and you see improvements, giving up things will become much easier. Even better, the elimination of many of these habits will have a great impact on other aspects of life, which can live you feeling healthy and full of vitality – a great added bonus.

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