Stay in Motion to Avoid GERD

Posted: Feb 24 in Lifestyle & Behavior by Staff

Many of us with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), more commonly referred to as acid reflux or sometimes simply chronic heartburn, are looking for a magical solution that will make the pain and burning go away. For many heartburn sufferers, normal daily activity makes symptoms worse and more intense activity such as regular exercise is simply out of the question.
While studies show that certain exercises that strain the abdominal muscles or cause constant jarring, in turn increase the chances and occurrences or gastroesophageal reflux disease, there are other exercises that will not.
For patients whose weight is contributory to the symptoms of heartburn, weight loss from exercise and proper dieting can reduce the symptoms and occurrences of heartburn. Specialist recommend following certain rules to limit these symptoms and benefit from healthy exercise.
First, when engaging in exercise, try it on an empty stomach. Avoid exercising after a meal when the stomach is full and stomach acid is breaking down the meal. Exercising on an empty stomach takes advantage of less acid in the stomach to reflux into the esophagus.
Adjust your diet to include less fats and more fiber. This will reduce the occurrence of heartburn symptoms. While tailoring your diet to reduce symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease it is also important to stay away from sports drinks which have been known to exacerbate heartburn symptoms. There is nothing better for the body than good old fashioned water.
Take the medicine that has been prescribed by your doctor or specialist. If you find that your medicine is less effective in controlling heartburn symptoms, speak to your physician to see if there might be something else you might benefit from.
Finally, keep in mind the exercises that trigger your heartburn symptoms and avoid those triggers. If you find that all the exercise you know make your symptoms worse, consult a personal trainer or specialist that can recommend more exercises for you.