Can Exercise Help My Acid Reflux?
Exercise and acid reflux
Acid reflux refers to the backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus. When this happens, you may taste sour liquid in the back of your mouth. This backwash can irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause heartburn.
If you experience acid reflux infrequently, you likely won’t need to make any drastic lifestyle changes to relieve your symptoms. Taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications may be enough to soothe any discomfort.
If your symptoms are interfering with your daily life, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). You may need to make several lifestyle changes, as well as medication, to ease your symptoms. This may mean changing your workout routine.
Depending on your workout regimen, exercise can either help or hurt your acid reflux. It all depends on the type of exercise that you’re doing and how you take care of your body before and after your workout.
What can exercise do for acid reflux?ProsDoctors generally recommend weight loss as a first line of defense.Exercise can help you lose extra body weight that may be making your symptoms worse.
Maintaining a healthy weight is a good way to reduce or relieve acid reflux symptoms. If you’re carrying extra body weight, it can push against your stomach and affect your lower esophageal sphincter. This can make the symptoms of acid reflux worse.
According to a 2013 study, weight loss is often the first line of defense against acid reflux. You should exercise and also follow an acid reflux-friendly diet.
A healthy diet and exercise can relieve your symptoms and reduce the likelihood of any GERD-related complications. This approach can improve your overall health and increase your quality of life.
Risks and warnings
Cons
THERE’S MORE: Acid Reflux and Exercise: What Works?
CHEF SHARON’S INPUT:
It seems to me that the first line of defense against heartburn is weight reduction. I’m starting there then I’ll work the other variables.
However, if I get thinner and still get heartburn, I’m not going to gain weight again just because I think it wasn’t the weight that caused it.
I figure the weight reduction acts in unison with other variables that will eventually lead to either no heartburn or a significant reduction in heartburn.
FAT-FREE CHEF™ 