Acid Reflux After Working Out

Among the very common conditions that may occur at some point in our lives is acid reflux. Some call this heartburn, when actually; heartburn is the symptom experienced when the reflux of stomach acids occurs. It is explained via the weakening of the LES or the lower esophageal sphincter. This is a valve connecting the stomach and esophagus, which opens and closes naturally as food enters the stomach. At any event that this part malfunctions, gastric acids along with some of the stomach’s content will leak back up to the esophagus, causing an extreme burning sensation, spreading throughout the frontal chest, neck and throat. This condition is often experienced by people practicing unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles.  

Causes and symptoms of Acid Reflux

Causes of acid reflux can be traced from a lot of different factors such as the food we intake. Foods that can trigger acid reflux include those rich in caffeine, cholesterol and have high levels of acidity. These foods stimulate an increase of natural gastric acids in the stomach which then leads to reflux.

Drinking too much alcohol and excessive smoking are also among the causes of this condition. Once the acids reach the track, it creates a very uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest that may radiate towards the throat. Acid reflux is not life-threatening but it can lead to more serious cases if not properly treated.

Heartburn and Working Out

It is true that working out and doing physical activities can help maintain a fit and healthy body. However, some of us don’t know that working out often times have negative side effects like developing symptoms of acid reflux. This is not very common since exercising is part of the ways to prevent unhealthy symptoms. To avoid this, here are some of the tips that might be able to help.

It is not advisable to exercise after eating. If necessary, you should only exercise two hours after a meal. Too much pressure on a full stomach can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter and will definitely lead to acid reflux.   

• Choose the right kind of foods to eat before exercising. Avoid foods that increase the risk of acid reflux. These are foods that stimulate the gastric acids in the stomach such as sour fruits, citrus juices and foods like chocolates, caffeinated drinks, high in cholesterol and spicy. It is most recommended to eat foods that are low in fat and protein but rich in carbohydrates before doing hard physical activities.
• Water is very effective to aid digestion. Drinking lots of water will help keep the body hydrated and cleanses the body from toxins.
• Chest pains during work outs or at any time should not be taken lightly. You might mistake a heart attack as heartburn since both symptoms are hard to distinguish from one another. If you are experiencing severe chest pains, get help immediately.
• If you often experience recurring episodes of acid reflux or heartburn when you exercise, you must make sure that you take antacids before working out. However, severe symptoms of heartburn can also be signs of GERD of gastro esophageal reflux disease. In this case, you might want to get a higher prescription from your doctor.
• Observe your own routines during exercise and try to notice which of those activities trigger acid reflux. Pointing out the cause can definitely help you alleviate the symptoms. Avoid any activity that increases pressure on the stomach such as bouncing. Try to lighten your work out and see if the symptoms are relieved.
• It will not help to stop exercising especially when your body is already used to it. Exercising regularly helps stimulates blood flow, develops our muscles and reduces the chance of getting sick. It is still much better to keep on doing activities that will do greater good to our bodies.

Acid reflux can be controlled given the proper treatment and by giving effort in maintaining a good health. One must not depend on medicines for relief. We must always go back to the old saying that tells us prevention is better than cure, and it always will be. Try to seek help, ask your doctor about why you are experiencing heartburn when you work out so the cause will be identified.

To sum it all up, keeping a healthier body through exercise is best even with unwanted side effects. If you follow the tips mentioned above, one way or another you will be able to get rid of acid reflux and still experience the pleasure of exercise.