Fortunately, there are effective ways to not only prevent GERD symptoms, but also techniques for minimizing acid reflux episode duration.  Use the following methods to shorten the span of your GERD symptoms:

• Lose Weight – not only can being overweight increase the frequency of the acid reflux, but it can also make symptoms worse due to the added pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter.  Therefore, you should aim to lose any excess weight to remove this pressure and for added benefits as well.  To lose weight, eat smaller portions, fewer fatty foods, and exercise more.  Each of these activities are very effective efforts for reducing GERD symptoms on their own, as well as being great for losing weight…which also reduces GERD symptoms.

• Exercise – if you feel acid reflux symptoms coming on, it’s time to start walking.  Exercising – even something as simple as walking – can help to eliminate many of the discomforts that you feel when you are experiencing acid reflux symptoms. Furthermore, it accelerates weight loss and is great for your cardiovascular system – also beneficial to keeping your acid reflux under control.

• Remain Calm – it’s natural to start feeling stressed if you start to sense the discomfort associated with many GERD symptoms.  If you start to experience symptoms, take a breath and calm yourself down.  You may find that doing yoga or other stress-reducing activities will help and many people find this to be very effective for their symptoms.

• Use Gravity – when you feel acid reflux symptoms, remain upright.  This means that you should not lie down after you’ve had a meal.  Wait at least two to three hours before reclining.  By keeping upright, you stop your stomach from changing pressures that might cause stomach acid backflow. Indeed, this can be tricky if you are feeling symptoms at night.  To overcome this problem, use extra pillows so that you’re sleeping with your head much more elevated than usual.  You want to be sleeping in as upright a position as you can manage.

• Loosen Clothing – If you are wearing tight, restrictive clothing, it’s time to loosen up.  By undoing a belt, removing tight-fitting panty hose, or releasing any other kinds of tight waistbands, you will remove a great deal of pressure from your stomach.  It may very well have been this pressure on the stomach that was causing the contents to be sent back up to the esophagus.  If you do have to wear tighter clothing, make sure that you have more loose-fitting clothes with you just in case you need them.

Remember that prevention is just as important as what you do at the time that you are experiencing symptoms.  The more you can do overall to help yourself, the shorter your acid reflux duration will be.

Acid reflux tends to occur when the LES valve is functioning abnormally and allowing stomach acids, pancreatic digestive juices, bile salts, and even food to rise up into the esophagus. Such abnormal functioning can include a lower-than-normal pressure in the valve, or it may open at inappropriate times for some reason.

If you have a condition called a hiatal hernia, your sphincter may have displaced into your chest, causing it to function abnormally. When acid reflux occurs and the aforementioned substances rise up to the level of the esophageal lining; severe irritation and discomfort usually follows.

There are many different kinds of triggers that can set off these irritations and symptoms. If you experience acid reflux, you should be aware of the various common GERD triggers so that you know what to do to prevent is recurrence. Such triggers can include the following, which cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and therefore contribute to the worsening of its symptoms:

• Lifestyle – many different lifestyle choices can cause you to experience heartburn, so take note of the GERD unfriendly activities in your life to allow yourself the opportunity to correct them and ease your symptoms. These unfriendly activities may include drinking alcohol, smoking, being overweight or obese, and slouching or maintaining poor posture. Living a high-stress lifestyle is also among the most common contributors to aggravating acid reflux symptoms.

• Diet – many foods are known to lead to acid reflux symptoms. Foods to avoid include high-acid foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes, spicy foods, fried and fatty foods, chocolate, caffeinated beverages, sulfuric foods such as garlic and onions, and mint flavorings.

• Eating Habits – beyond the food you’re eating, your eating habits can also encourage or discourage heartburn. GERD eating habit triggers include eating large infrequent meals instead of several smaller meals, sudden dietary change, and eating before lying down or sleeping instead of waiting two or three hours.

• Medications – sometimes the drugs you’re taking for other conditions can aggravate your acid reflux symptoms. Drugs known for encouraging heartburn are theophylline (Tedral, Marax, Hydrophed, Bronchial, and Quibron), calcium channel blockers, antihistamines, and nitrates.

• Health Conditions – these can include many different kinds of medical, health, and body conditions, such as pregnancy, rapid weight gain, diabetes, the release of certain hormones, a hiatal hernia, or even over-exercising.

How do you know if your child might need acid reflux treatments?  Look for the following symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Pain in the abdomen just above the area of the belly button
• Intolerant to pressure in the stomach area
• Throat or esophageal burning sensations
• Eating small amounts even when having mentioned hunger
• Extreme food pickiness or refusing to eat food altogether
• Choking or gagging
• Bad breath
• Weight loss or poor weight gain
• A continually runny nose
• Regular sore throats
• A nagging dry cough
• Coughing throughout the night
• Struggle to sleep, frequent waking, or poor overall sleep
• Respiratory issues such as wheezing, asthma, bronchitis, and others
• Sinus infections
• Regular ear congestion or ear infections
• A hoarse or deeper voice
• Excessive drooling or salivation

In order to diagnose GERD in your child and then be able to suggest acid reflux remedies, a physical examination will be required.  This may also include one or several tests that will allow him or her to verify the GERD diagnosis and to determine the severity of the condition.  It may also help the doctor to discover what is causing the acid reflux in your child.

Tests your child may need to undergo may include the following:

• Lab tests – these can include different types of blood and urine tests that can allow the doctor to rule out different reasons that any poor weight gain, vomiting, or other symptoms.

• Esophageal pH monitoring – this is a test that allows the doctor to measure the amount of acid that is present in the area of your child’s esophagus.

• Upper Endoscopy – this test involves the insertion of a tube with a light and a camera lens on the end into your child’s mouth, esophagus, and stomach.  It allows the doctor to see if there is any inflammation of the esophagus (also known as esophagitis) or narrowing of the esophagus (also known as stricture).

Though the most common relief acid reflux therapies include taking antacids, acid suppressers, and acid blockers, there are also natural remedies that can be safely practiced at home.  These can include incorporating the following foods in your child’s diet such as:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Peas
• Green beans
• Extra lean ground beef
• Skinless chicken breasts
• Egg substitute
• Egg whites
• Fish
• Fat free dairy products
• Multigrain breads
• Bran or oatmeal cereals
• Graham crackers
• Corn bread
• Pretzels
• Brown or white rice
• Rice cakes
• Baked potato chips
• Still Mineral water
• Jelly beans
• Red licorice

And avoiding foods high in fat, sodas, deep fried or sugary foods.

However, before starting your child on a relief acid reflux diet, make sure to check with your child’s doctor.  He or she will be able to provide you with more suggestions and will likely advise you that your child should not eat within 2 to 3 hours of a nap or bedtime.

If you suspect you may be suffering from symptoms heartburn may have triggered – whether they are common or unusual – it is important that you speak to your doctor for a formal diagnosis. This is to rule out any other underlying condition and to prevent any serious or long-term consequences that may result from the disorder.

GERD can cause you to suffer from reactions that can range from quite mild – almost unnoticeable – to ones that are actually life threatening.  Keep in mind, the more dramatic symptoms heartburn causes are typically those that have developed over time, so if you do feel a bit of discomfort you shouldn’t panic. However, make a doctor’s appointment anyway to ensure you know the degree and type of GERD you are suffering from and what your options are.

Aside from typical symptoms heartburn presents, you may also want to watch for these less common symptoms, which can include:

Pain – though pain is one of the more common symptoms heartburn has to offer, there are forms of pain that are considered to be quite unusual.  For example, the typical pain felt from GERD includes a burning sensation in the mid to upper chest region, or a burning sensation in the esophagus or lower throat area.  However, more rare are pains that migrate to the shoulder blade or overall shoulder area.

Vomiting – among the more unpleasant symptoms heartburn presents is varying degrees of vomiting.  This can include wet or sour burps, wet hiccups, or food coming up a bit within an hour of eating. Less common versions of this potential symptom of GERD include feelings of nausea during or soon after eating or sometimes projectile vomiting.  Though not common, there have been cases where this has occurred and should be checked if you experience these symptoms and suspect GERD. 

Respiratory – the respiratory system is easily impacted by GERD and therefore frequently presents with symptoms caused by heartburn.  These commonly include a runny nose, bad breath, recurrent sore throat, sinus infections, upper respiratory infections, wheezing, bronchitis, asthma, a nagging dry cough, coughing at night, frequent throat clearing, labored or noisy breathing, a hoarse or deepened voice, or nodules on the vocal cords.  More rarely however, GERD can develop into sleep apnea, aspiration (inhalation of stomach acids into the lungs), pneumonia, and laryngospasm (a brief spasm of the vocal cords that temporarily interrupts breathing, usually lasting up to 30 seconds).
 
Due to so many different kinds of symptoms – and a range of uncommon symptoms that can easily be mistaken for other illnesses, diseases, and conditions – acid reflux may not be the obvious choice as a diagnosis.  Only a doctor can help you know for certain if your symptoms heartburn may be causing are indeed a result of GERD.  When in doubt, it is always best to seek the advice of a medical professional.  This is especially true in the case of children, who may need different remedy options than adults.

The majority of GERD sufferers do not actually have esophagitis, making non erosive reflux the most common form of acid reflux.  It would be a mistake, however, to assume that because erosion does not occur that NERD is a milder form of the disease.  NERD sufferers are twice as likely to experience problems in swallowing.  In fact, NERD sufferers are more likely to suffer from complications and symptoms away from the esophagus itself, and they are less likely to benefit from fundoplication surgery.

A 1999 study, by Lind T., Hayelund, T, Lundell L et al, showed that only 56 percent of NERD patients reported the complete elimination of all symptoms after undergoing fundoplication surgery, compared to 90 percent of erosive reflux patients. 

There are several potential causes of non erosive reflux disease, including lifestyle, diet, and hiatal hernia.  This means that many people are able to make lifestyle and diet changes in order to manage their NERD symptoms.  However, there are some cases where surgery, medication, or other actions will be required. 

Non erosive reflux treatments are made up primarily of preventative actions.  Common non-medicinal and non-surgical NERD treatments include:

• Eat several smaller meals instead of fewer larger meals.  This stops your stomach from becoming too full, which can encourage acid to rise as it is closer to the esophagus due to simply being full of food.

• Don’t eat too close to any time that you will be lying down.  Make sure there are two to three hours between eating and lying down.

• Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter antacids

• Avoid certain acid-increasing foods such as fatty foods, citrus fruits, alcohol, caffeine, and anything else to which you commonly react.

• Try to achieve a healthy body weight by increasing, losing, or maintaining your weight, as your body requires. 

• Don’t wear clothing that is tight-fitting through the abdomen. This can increase pressure on the stomach and encourage reflux.

• Give up smoking as smoking can impact on the ability of your LES to function correctly.

• Use an extra pillow or two at night so that you sleep with your head raised higher to stop acid from flowing upward.

• Try not to bend over from the waist.  Instead, bend at the knees and keep you back upright.

• Avoid straining too hard when you are having a bowel movement.  The pressure can push acid upward.

Drug and surgical non erosive reflux disorder treatments include:

• Medication that neutralizes acidity in the stomach, decreases stomach acid production, or strengthens lower esophageal muscles. 

• Fundoplication surgery, which wraps the lower esophageal sphincter with part of the upper stomach so that the sphincter will be stronger. 

Of course, you can only treat non erosive reflux disorder when you know how to recognize it.  Make sure to speak to your doctor so that you know whether or not your symptoms are NERD related.

The following are examples of common natural remedies for acid reflux.  However, keep in mind that not all natural treatments will benefit everyone who suffers from reflux, because every condition is specific to the individual.  In other words, what works for one person, will not always work for another. 

Lifestyle change
Lifestyle change is usually the first step to treating acid reflux naturally, because this form of treatment is designed to stop an acid reflux sufferer from subjecting their body to the many factors that can trigger symptoms by weakening the LES.  Lifestyle changes will vary depending on the individual but generally involve:

• Eliminating foods and beverages that trigger reflux (I.E. spicy and fatty foods, citrus and tomato products, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, etc.)
• Eating smaller meals more frequently and not gulping food. Chew food thoroughly to start the digestion process.
• Not eating 2-3 hours prior to bed and sleeping with head and shoulders elevated about 3-6 inches
• Losing excess pounds if you are overweight or obese
• Stop smoking and avoid smoky environments where you can breathe in a lot of second hand smoke
• Wear non-constricting clothing (I.E. avoid corsets, belts, tight pants, etc.)
• Reduce stress levels as this can lead to behavior that encourages acid reflux.

Water
Believe it or not, but water is actually one of the simplest ways to treat and prevent acid reflux naturally.  Drinking plenty of water a day (I.E. eight, 8 oz. glasses of water per day), helps to improve digestion and flushes residue acid out of the esophagus.

Herbal and food remedies
There are many different herbs, fruits, and other foods that are recommended for soothing and preventing heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms including:

• Ginger
• Chamomile
• Dandelion root
• Slippery Elm
• Lemon balm
• Active Manuka honey
• Apple cider vinegar
• Ripe papaya fruit
• Bananas

Natural food remedies are typically ingested raw before, during or after meals.  Herbs can be eaten in natural form, taken as capsules, or in the form of tea before, during or after meals.

Alternative treatment
Common alternative treatments used to remedy acid reflux naturally include:

• Acupuncture – A technique based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that involves inserting very fine needles into specific points of the skin to stimulate the body and encourage it to control symptoms, reduce pain, and heal.
• Acupressure – Follows the same principles as acupuncture accept that fingers, thumbs or knuckles are used instead of needles to apply pressure to specific points to stimulate healing.
• Homeopathy – An alternative treatment based on the Law of Similars. The belief that natural substances prepared in a specific way, and used in small doses, restores health in the ailing individual, that would otherwise cause a healthy person to become ill. 

Regardless of which natural acid reflux treatment you chose, remember that it is imperative you follow all directions and recommended doses carefully, as well as learn if there are any side effects or drug interactions you should be aware of. 

You need to understand that while natural non-drug remedies may be very beneficial in treating your acid reflux/GERD symptoms, not every natural remedy will benefit all acid reflux sufferers.  The main reason is because not everyone with acid reflux experiences this digestive problem for the same reasons.   For instance, while digestive enzymes such as ripe papaya fruit may help treat acid reflux symptoms that result from too little acid production; it may make symptoms worse in a person who produces too much acid.

For people prone to acid reflux/GERD because of a peptic ulcer, hiatal hernia, Barrett’s esophagus, gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying), or another condition, such as diabetes, or asthma, natural treatment may not be enough, and is often combined with other methods of treatment such as medication and possible surgery.

Discovering what natural remedies will work for you will likely be a process of elimination, so don’t become discouraged.  Furthermore, you will find it is easier to discover what remedies are best for treating your acid reflux naturally, by learning what the specific root cause is that triggers your acid reflux symptoms.  Therefore, you should have your condition properly diagnosed by a health care professional, as well as seek treatment advice from your doctor. 

What is LPR?  Laryngopharyngeal reflux is similar to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in that it occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) weakens and opens, allowing acid to reflux into the esophagus.  However, the main difference is that the primary symptom of GERD is heartburn, while the primary symptoms of LPR typically occur in the throat.

Most people are aware that acid reflux usually occurs when the LES, the lower sphincter in the esophagus located between the esophagus and stomach, malfunctions.  However, what is not as commonly known is the esophagus actually has another sphincter called the upper esophageal sphincter (UES).  The UES is located where the esophagus meets the throat.  When both the LES and UES fail, silent acid reflux is the result.  

What is the difference between LPR and GERD?  As was previously mentioned, LPR results when stomach acid makes it past both of your sphincters and pools in your throat, or reaches your mouth or the back of your nose.  GERD is when acid makes it past the LES and remains in the chest and does not pass through the UES.

The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn, which occurs after a person has experienced repeat episodes of reflux, and the acid has burned away the protective lining that coats the esophagus.    Although some LPR sufferers experience heartburn, this isn’t a common symptom, because the refluxed digestive juices do not remain in the esophagus long enough to cause damage.  This is often why LPR is referred to as silent acid reflux, because most people don’t associate the symptoms they experience from laryngopharyngeal reflux with acid reflux.

What are the symptoms of LPR?  Symptoms almost always occur in the throat and are usually felt because, unlike the esophagus, there is no protective lining in the throat.

Common symptoms that may be experienced include:
• Chronic cough
• Asthma-like symptoms
• Regurgitation
• Sour or bitter flavor in the mouth
• Frequent need to clear the throat
• Consistent mucous in the throat
• Burning sensation or pain in the throat
• Sore throat
• Hoarseness and possible loss of voice
• Difficulty swallowing
• Post-nasal drip
• Pain in the ear and/or consistent ear infections
• Nausea
• Heartburn

A silent acid reflux sufferer may experience some or all of these symptoms.

What should I do if I think I have LPR?  If you think you may be suffering from laryngopharyngeal reflux, you should visit your doctor for an examination and diagnoses.   Your general practitioner (GP) may send you to an otorhinolaryngologist (a medical professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating ear, nose and throat disorders, also known as an ENT specialist).

You can expect to have different tests done, such as a fiberoptic endoscopy, a special test that is designed to visualize the full length of your throat, and is often used to diagnose LPR.  Other tests you may experience for further diagnosis include barium swallow or dual pH probe studies.  It is imperative that you have LPR diagnosed and treated, because it can cause just as serious damage as untreated GERD. 

How is LPR treated?  Silent acid reflux is primarily treated with the same methods as GERD.  The reason is because the goal is to reduce acid to treat symptoms and prevent acid reflux from occurring.  Thus, treatment typically involves lifestyle changes (I.E. eliminating foods and beverages that trigger acid reflux, quitting smoking, losing excess weight, not eating before bed, etc.), and may include antacid medication or surgery depending on the severity of LPR and the frequency of acid reflux attacks.

Remember that you should always consult your doctor first before starting any method of treatment.  Do not self-diagnose silent acid reflux, because the symptoms you are experiencing may be related to another condition altogether.  Always seek a professional diagnosis.

Why does acid reflux and choking occur?  When acid reflux occurs during sleep, the body’s natural defenses against reflux are deactivated.  For instance, you no longer have the ability to swallow saliva, which neutralizes acid, and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes, so it no longer blocks stomach acid from flowing into the esophagus.  The deactivation of natural defenses can not only lead to heartburn, but can also allow stomach acid to creep up the esophagus and pool in the throat, enabling it to flow up into the mouth and nose.  When this happens, the acid can be aspirated (sucked in when breathing), causing it to dribble into the lungs and windpipe, resulting in choking, and possible damage to the lungs.

There are a few factors that can cause acid reflux and choking at nighttime in adults.  The following is a breakdown of what these major factors are, followed by what can be done to treat the problem:

• Sleeping supine – If you are sleeping in a supine position (laying flat on your back), stomach acid can freely flow into the esophagus and remain there for an extended period of time.  This can cause heartburn, and can also lead to the acid rising further up the esophagus into the throat.  

Prevention Tip – Sleep with your head and shoulders elevated, about 3-6 inches above the mattress.  Use pillows to prop yourself up.  The idea is to place your body on a slight incline so that acid cannot reach your upper esophagus.  Sleeping on your left side may also prove beneficial as studies have found sleeping on your right side can make the problem worse. 

•  Sleeping in constricting clothing – Tight clothing that gathers at your waist places pressure on your stomach, and can force acid up and into your esophagus.

Prevention Tip - Wear loose fitting clothing/pajamas to bed and avoid pants, shorts, or underwear with tight elastic waistbands.  While sleeping you don’t want to cause any unnecessary aggravation that increases the risk of reflux or makes it worse.

• Eating before bed – Many people make the mistake of eating or drinking directly before bed.  Lying down too soon after eating slows down the digestion process, and sleeping on a full stomach dramatically increases the risk of heartburn, as well as acid reflux and choking.

Prevention Tip – Eliminate foods that trigger acid reflux symptoms (I.E. fatty and spicy foods, alcohol, etc.) from your regular diet, and avoid eating or drinking 2-3 hours before going to bed.  If you are thirsty, only drink water slowly in small amounts.

How can I prevent acid reflux and choking in my child?  Unfortunately, infants are also prone to acid reflux and the symptom of choking.  The main reason for this is because the LES is not fully developed in many infants younger than 18 months.  Signs of acid reflux in your infant include:

• Frequent spitting up combined with poor sleeping
• Extreme fussiness
• Frequent back or neck arching or stretching
• Refusal of food
• Slow weight gain
• Chronic sinus or ear infections

If your child has any of these symptoms you need to have him/her properly diagnosed by their pediatrician.  Acid reflux is very complicated to diagnose in children, and only your child’s pediatrician can make this diagnosis and determine what treatment is best for your child.  Never diagnose your child on your own.

Nevertheless should your infant have acid reflux and choking, the following are ways you can help prevent your little one from suffering:
• Modify the diet.  This may mean giving your child:
• Smaller and frequent meals
• Thickened formula with rice cereal
• No foods that trigger acid reflux such as citrus foods, tomato products, carbonated beverages, spicy foods, chocolate, etc.

• Hold the child in an upright position during feeding
• Keep the child in an upright position for a minimum of an half an hour after eating
• Lay the child so they are on an incline so their head and shoulders are slightly elevated.  This can be done using a wedge pillow.
• Your doctor may also prescribe medications.

Finally, anyone who is suffering from nighttime acid reflux and choking, or other symptoms, should speak to their doctor and obtain the necessary treatment to prevent symptoms from occurring, so that damage of the esophagus and/or lungs can be avoided. 

ACV is vinegar made from crushed and aged apples known as cider or apple must.   When unfiltered, ACV has a brownish-yellow color.  Unfiltered cider vinegar, also known as organic apple cider vinegar, contains what is known as the “mother of vinegar” or simply the “mother”.  The mother looks like stringy floating globs in the liquid, and is where all of the healing properties of ACV reside. 

ACV contains minerals, as well as trace elements including magnesium, chlorine phosphorous, sulfur, sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, copper, fluorine and silicon.  Due of all of its beneficial ingredients, ACV is a natural fighter of bacteria, which often makes it a beneficial vinegar acid reflux treatment choice.

How can apple cider vinegar benefit acid reflux sufferers?  You may be confused as to how a type of vinegar could be beneficial for treating acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn.  After all, doesn’t vinegar have a high acid content?  Wouldn’t cider vinegar just exacerbate the problem?  Surprisingly, for most acid reflux sufferers, ACV helps to relieve the burning sensation and nausea caused by reflux without adding to it.

Why?  The reason is because many people with digestive problems like acid reflux, experience problems not because they have too much acid, but because they have too little.  Apple cider vinegar mimics the acid level of the stomach, which aids in the proper digestion of food, and can help aid the stomach in digesting. 

Therefore, in some cases, vinegar acid reflux remedies for heartburn work more effectively than antacids, because although antacids will cure heartburn, they are designed to diminish acid within the system.  Thus, antacids will not treat the actual cause if acid reflux is the result of too little stomach acid, and instead can make reflux more frequent.

How should you take apple cider vinegar?  Apple cider vinegar is available in many forms including liquid, tablet and capsule.  However, when using ACV as a natural treatment, the only form you should obtain is the organic liquid that contains the “mother” enzyme. 

When taking ACV, you will first want to shake it well before you ingest it to disperse the mother throughout the liquid.  To start, try taking one tablespoon of cider vinegar before each meal.  You will likely find the taste of the ACV to be quite potent.  It is an acquired taste, and you should grow more accustomed to the flavor after the first few vinegar acid reflux treatments.

Nevertheless, should you find it too repellant, there are a few other ways you can take ACV such as:
• Mix a tablespoon in a fat free salad dressing or light mayonnaise and eat it with your meal
• Sprinkle a tablespoon on salad or vegetables
• Mix a tablespoon in an 8 oz. glass of water and add a bit of honey to sweeten the drink.
• Make a tea out of ACV by adding a tablespoon of the cider vinegar to hot water and slowly sipping it.

Although it is best to ingest apple cider vinegar prior to each meal, you can also take a tablespoon when your stomach is upset or heartburn acts up.

After taking apple cider vinegar for a few days, many acid reflux sufferers find that their symptoms improve, and continue to improve with treatment in the months that follow.  However, in addition, you should be aware that ACV has a few mild side effects including stomach upset.  Furthermore, ACV may worsen heartburn in some individuals.  It is also known to thin the blood and should be avoided by anyone taking blood thinning medications such as anti-coagulants.

Always remember that you should speak to your doctor first before starting any treatment, including vinegar acid reflux treatment, and keep in mind that natural treatment should not replace any medication or treatment advice that has been prescribed by your doctor without prior consultation.

First of all, you may be wondering why heartburn occurs at night.  There are many reasons why acid reflux is more likely to occur while you sleep, such as:
• Relaxed lower esophageal sphincter (LES) – when you sleep all of the muscles in your body naturally relax, which can encourage acid to leak into your esophagus.
• Absence of swallowing – During sleep, the swallowing reflex is inhibited.  Swallowing allows saliva to neutralize any digestive fluids that may be in the esophagus lining.
• Laying flat – laying flat in your bed enables stomach acid to easily flow into the esophagus and remain in the esophagus for a longer period of time, which can lead to heartburn.

To stop nighttime heartburn flare ups from causing damage to your esophagus, and interrupting your sleep, here’s what you can do for acid reflux relief:

1. Eat 3 hours before bedtime and eliminate foods from your diet that trigger acid reflux.   Avoid foods and beverages that are known to trigger acid reflux (I.E. high fat foods, citrus fruits, caffeinated beverages, alcohol, etc.) Do not indulge in late night snacking and make sure the last meal you eat is one of a moderate portion.  If you must have a large meal, eat a more substantial serving of food at lunchtime.   Furthermore, limit your liquid intake to water before bed.

2. Sleep on an incline.  Prop your head and shoulders up with a few pillows or a wedge pillow so that you are not lying flat on your back.  The slight slope you create with your body helps to prevent acid from traveling further up your esophagus and remaining there to initiate heartburn.

3. Sleep on your left side.  Some studies have found that sleeping on the left side can aid acid reflux nighttime prevention, as this position appears to help remove stomach acid from the esophagus.  On the other hand, sleeping on the right side has shown to make heartburn worse.

4. Sleep in loose fitting pajamas or clothes. Clothing that is constricting around your torso, especially your abdomen or waist, such as tight elastic pants, places pressure on the stomach which can force digestive contents and fluids against the LES and up into the esophagus.

5. Take an antacid before going to bed.  Although your first “what to do for acid reflux” instinct shouldn’t be to take medications, if your nighttime heartburn is exceptionally bothersome, taking an antacid or two before bed will work to quickly neutralize acid and treat your symptoms or prevent an episode from occurring.  If longer relief is necessary, an H2 blocker may be more effective.

Finally, if you are finding that the above techniques are not helping in alleviating heartburn, what to do for acid reflux at this point, is visit your health care provider for a proper diagnosis and a new treatment plan.  You may find that you are suffering from a more serious condition such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a peptic ulcer, or a hiatal hernia.