Digestive Health More Digestive Diseases 12 Easy Ways to Rid Yourself of Acid Reflux By Kenneth Brown, MD facebook twitter linkedin Kenneth Brown, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist specializing in digestive health, including irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer screening, and GERD. Learn about our editorial process Kenneth Brown, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH on May 11, 2020 linkedin Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Learn about our Medical Review Board Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH on May 11, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Reflux Causes 4 Things: During the Day 4 Things: While Eating 4 Things: After Eating With all the food-centered traditions surrounding the holiday season, people tend to experience more symptoms of acid reflux during that time of year. You can lessen or prevent heartburn symptoms if you learn some simple strategies and stick to them, no matter the time of year. Pixel Stories / Stocksy United What Causes Reflux? Reflux occurs when stomach acid or stomach content flows backward into your esophagus. People usually describe this phenomenon as heartburn. Heartburn is very common and actually may not be considered part of a disease. However, longstanding frequent heartburn and reflux can irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn is generally a treatable problem. Most of the time, people can manage their symptoms with lifestyle and diet modification. Also, over-the-counter medications can help reduce symptoms. Some people, though, need stronger treatment or even surgical procedures to overcome chronic heartburn. Although reflux is considered a treatable disease, inappropriate treatment can cause serious complications in the long-term. If you experience symptoms of acid reflux, consult with a doctor first to get an accurate diagnosis and receive effective treatment. To gear your lifestyle toward preventing reflux, use "The Rule of Fours": four key points to follow during the day, during meals, and after your meal. Four Things to Do Throughout the Day Stay active: Try to stick to an exercise routine. Although it may be tough to fit in the time for working out, it is definitely worth it. Weight loss mitigates reflux symptoms.Do not smoke: An underlying cause of reflux is weakness of the muscles in the stomach and esophagus. Nicotine can cause this weakness. Try to avoid secondhand smoke at parties and other events if possible.Do not eat late at night: This may be difficult if you're a night owl or go to social gatherings that run late, but try to avoid heavy foods after dinner and instead choose small, light snacks.Limit your alcohol intake: Whether it’s wine with dinner or a beer after work, any alcohol can worsen reflux. Four Things to Do While Eating Avoid fatty foods: Foods such as chips, dips, cheeses, and deep fried foods slow down your stomach emptying time. This allows for more acid and stomach contents to flow back up into your esophagus, causing heartburn.Hydrate with water: Substitute water for soda and avoid citrus fruits and juices like grapefruit, orange, and tomato. These types of drinks cause excess acid in your stomach.Season lightly: Spicy foods, as well as things like onions and garlic, often bother people with GERD and make heartburn worse.Use smaller plates: Eating large meals can trigger symptoms, so try eating smaller meals throughout the day. Four Things to Do After Eating Limit coffee and desserts: Chocolate and caffeine might be a favorite, but they often trigger symptoms.Slow down: Physical exertion after a meal can lead to reflux.Skip the after-dinner mint: Peppermint is another heartburn irritant.Stay awake: Eating delicious food might make you sleepy, but fight the urge to take a nap. Lying down within three hours after eating can cause acid reflux symptoms to flare up. With these small changes, you can help your heartburn even if you suffer from GERD. Just remember The Rule of Fours and you will reduce or maybe even eliminate your acid reflux. The 6 Best Antacids of 2021 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cleveland Clinic. GERD (chronic acid reflux). Updated December 6, 2019. Ness-Jensen E, Hveem K, El-serag H, Lagergren J. Lifestyle intervention in gastroesophageal reflux disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;14(2):175-82.e1-3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2015.04.176 Additional Reading Jacques AS, The week of Thanksgiving is also Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week. MDLinx. 2015.