There are several causes of acid reflux. One cause of GERD is eating foods that irritate your digestion system. Spicy foods are known to give a person indigestion and heartburn. It is important to know what foods cause you to have heartburn. Other causes of acid reflux can be damage that has occurred to the lining of the esophagus, poor diet drinking a lot of carbonated beverages. All three of these factors can contribute to GERD.

There are several acid reflux symptoms to pay attention to. One symptom of GERD is a burning sensation between the chest and the throat. This is a type of burning that is in the esophagus. The burning sensation that people feel is also known as heartburn. Other heartburn symptoms include indigestion, gas, burping and trouble eating. The level of heartburn depends on how many of these symptoms an individual experiences. There are several ways in which an individual can prevent GERD from occurring. One way an individual can prevent heartburn from occurring is by following a GERD diet. An individual on a special acid reflux diet should eat smaller more frequent meals. A full stomach puts added pressure on the esophagus. This can cause heartburn.

Also, on an acid reflux diet an individual should limit the amount of acid stimulating beverages and food that are consumed. It is better to eat lesser amounts or totally avoid foods that cause heartburn. Another tip in preventing heartburn is to not eat within three hours before going to bed. An individual's stomach has a harder time digesting the food when lying down. This is another cause of GERD.

If you do have GERD when in bed it is important to elevate your head a few inches with the help of a pillow. This elevation allows gravity to lessen the pressure on your stomach which decreases your chances of experiencing heartburn.

Other tips for preventing acid reflux are wearing loose fitting clothing, maintain a healthy weight, do not drink alcohol, do not smoke and relax as much as possible. Stress is often a big contributor to GERD. When an individual is stressed out that individual may experience severe heart burn and indigestion.

If an individual follows these suggestions heartburn should quickly become a medical problem of the past. Remember that the most important tip is to follow an acid reflux diet. This is the most effective measure in preventing GERD from occurring.