Make Yourself Comfortable
Sometimes it really pays to let loose.
You may have thought it was only food that triggered your heartburn symptoms.
But there's another culprit as well.
Without realizing it, you may be putting too much physical pressure on your
midsection. And that pressure may aggravate your condition.
The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a valve between the esophagus and the
stomach that normally opens to let food in and closes to prevent stomach
contents and acid from rising up. However, when there is too much pressure on
your LES, it can open up, allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus.
And that can give you a nasty case of heartburn. Here are a few common causes.
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Certain exercises
Doing strenuous exercises like sit-ups, lifting weights, or even touching
your toes can exert enough pressure to force painful acid into your
esophagus. Luckily, exercises like swimming and moderate walking can give
you the benefits of exercise without the pressure.
-
Tight clothing
Pressure from control-top pantyhose and tight-fitting, constrictive
clothes can trigger an attack. But you can relieve the pressure simply by
wearing looser, more comfortable clothing.
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Just being in bed
Even lying flat on your back can put enough pressure on your LES to cause
acid to rise into your esophagus and ruin your night's rest. If you find
this happening to you, try elevating the head of your bed. Sleeping on
your left side is helpful, too.
Once you become aware of those things that put pressure on your LES, you'll
know how to help relieve them. And when the pressure's relieved, you may be
able to relieve heartburn too.
See how acid reflux occurs. Watch this video to see for yourself what's happening when you have heartburn symptoms.
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