How do you know if you have acid reflux, or just a simple case of heart burn? The best way to really find out may actually be to visit your doctor, and if you find than you don't have acid reflux take it from me you are fortunate.
However having normal heart burn, and taking anti acids all the time is not good either, but when you have acid reflux your in a completely different ball park.
Now in my particular situation I do have acid reflux, and if I could only turn back the clock I may just change things a bit.
First I believe their may have been some circumstances that contributed to the cause of my acid reflux.
Let me explain.
Several years ago my job required for me to work the afternoon evening hours, and after work I would arrive at home about 9pm ready to eat.
Well guess what I did? Of course I ate, and not long after eating at that time of the night I was ready to lay down for the night, while not realizing how bad it was for me to do that...
I did.
I believe this was the beginning of all my troubles.
By continuing to follow the same routine of eating, and laying down after eating each night for several years I believe it developed into problems for my stomach.
Many people eat, and lay down afterwards day after day, and I guess they believe nothing will happen to them.
Perhaps in my situation at the time I felt the same.
However I do know in my case going to sleep immediately after eating for all those years on a continuous basis was not good.
I probably began to develop acid reflux sometime during those years.
What is usually typical when eating the wrong foods, or drinking the wrong drinks when you actually have acid reflux is that your stomach will become very upset.
A few foods to stay away from, and are common not eat for people who have acid reflux are Chocolate, Tomatoes, Ketchup, and Citrus Fruits.
But it's important to remember not everyone is the same, so some foods and drinks can differ from person to person, and there can be many more foods, and drinks as well as some alcohol that you may need to avoid in order to not have the very uncomfortable stomach symptoms from the reflux.
So once you have the reflux you must control it.
Not only by what you eat and drink, but in other ways as well.
For example, when you lay down even several hours after you eat you may still experience that discomfort in your stomach, so when you do lay down you may have to elevate your head, and your upper body much higher than the rest of your body in order to sleep comfortably at night without any stomach discomfort.
So remembering what you must not eat or drink will make a difference in how you will feel, and to not lay down immediately after eating are both very important.
Again if you have stomach symptoms that persist, or if you just believe you may actually have acid reflux I suggest you go to a doctor for a check up.
Than to determine what treatment you may need if any, and of course to confirm that you actually have acid reflux (and not just normal heart burn).
Your doctor will discuss more about the conditions, the foods, and drinks you must avoid, as well as any medications you may need to take, plus possible exams, or even tests that you may need to have.
Remember you don't want to allow yourself to develop acid reflux! You don't want to let any problems to persist, and get worst without any treatment.
Also be certain to check the ingredients on packages before you purchase them, so by knowing just what to look for, and preventing any problems in advance will help you significantly.
Additionally be certain to always avoid these foods, and drinks at all costs.
And finally to aways remember not to lay down after eating which may still be as important as ever for you to feel better each day! So if you remember to follow these simple steps each and every day like I do you too may continue to feel free of stomach discomfort each, and every day.
By controlling your acid reflux for life you will feel much better, and life will be much easier for you to cope with each and every passing day!