Do you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn? Have you been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia? You’re not alone. More than 60 million American adults experience acid reflux and heartburn at least once a month and about 25 million adults suffer daily from heartburn and severe acid reflux. If you are one of those unlucky sufferers you know how painful these conditions can be when you are experiencing symptoms.
Living with acid reflux and heartburn can greatly reduce your quality
of life by affecting your daily activities, your sleep and what you eat.
And, if it's not controlled, acid reflux may lead to serious complications. Before attempting to control your symptoms it’s important to know what causes the pain.
Heartburn is caused when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. When the acid touches the lining of the esophagus it causes a burning sensation in the chest or throat. Some people never experience the burning sensation but may experience a dry cough, asthma symptoms or trouble swallowing.
Many people are able to control their symptoms through behavior modification and over-the-counter medication. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse recommends the following lifestyle changes for heartburn relief:
- Avoid eating citrus fruits, chocolate, fried and fatty food, onions and garlic, spicy food, tomato-based foods, mint flavored food or drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
- If you smoke, stop.
- Lose weight if needed.
- Eat small, frequent meals.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes.
- Avoid lying down for 3 hours after a meal.
- Raise the head of your bed 6 to 8 inches by securing wood blocks under the bedposts. Just using extra pillows will
not help.
An Easy Rest Adjustable Bed makes managing heartburn symptoms easier and safer. A simple touch of a button quietly and effortlessly raises your upper body to a comfortable height which may help alleviate the sudden awakening and rush of pain associated with a bout of acid reflux or heartburn during the night. When you sleep on an Easy Rest Adjustable Bed you won’t have to worry that you’ll get injured or that your bed will damage your floor or furniture if it falls off the blocks.