Key Points at a Glance
- Reflux isn't really dangerous—or at least not right away—but it is extremely unpleasant.
- This is when stomach acid flows up the esophagus, for example, after drinking alcohol or eating too much.
- A classic symptom of reflux is a burning pain in the chest area.
- This can cause a number of symptoms, such as a coughing sensation, the urge to clear your throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and more. So what can you do about reflux?
The name “reflux” very aptly describes the cause of the symptoms. Translated, the term simply means “backflow,” and it is precisely this backflow that occurs when, after a very large meal, excess stomach acid is produced and flows back up into the esophagus. Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to reflux. Reflux feels like heartburn. But how can you get rid of the symptoms?
How Reflux Develops
Of course, excessive alcohol consumption and fatty foods are only the outward symptoms of reflux. Completely different processes take place within our bodies. For example, certain stomach enzymes—known as pepsins—break down the food residues in our stomachs. Up to this point, this is a completely normal part of digestion. But they only become truly influential once they become active.
And this is how it happens: In conjunction with stomach acid, they rise as gas up the esophagus. This often extends as far as the larynx, and not infrequently even into the pharynx. There, they infiltrate the mucous membranes and wait until acid is produced—for example, by eating foods that are too fatty. The pepsins then become active and begin to break down the mucous membranes in the larynx and pharynx. This irritates not only these regions but also, for example, the airways or the vocal cords.
Here's What You Can Do About Reflux
If the symptoms are severe and don’t improve quickly, the only solution is to see a specialist. If the pain doesn’t subside, the amount of stomach acid rising into the esophagus won’t decrease, and that can eventually lead to a serious problem—because over time, the cells in the mucous membranes may become damaged. To prevent this, even small changes in your daily routine are often enough.
If you have reflux, the first thing you should do is pay attention to your diet—what you eat, how much you eat—and also cut back on alcohol consumption. If you’re older, simply reducing the amount of food you eat could make a significant difference. How much you eat, how often, and when can be crucial factors in the progression of reflux disease.
Specific Dietary Changes to Prevent Reflux
In practical terms, this means you shouldn’t eat anything in the three hours before you go to bed. Try to avoid coffee and carbonated drinks during the day, and you should also largely cut out fatty foods and sugar from your diet. Over the first few weeks, see if this helps you—if your symptoms improve, you may have hit the nail on the head with these measures.
One final tip: Reflux sometimes only becomes noticeable when you’re lying down, because acid can rise more easily into the esophagus then. You can alleviate this by trying to raise the upper part of your bed slightly (not just the head of the bed). If your upper body is at an angle overall, this helps prevent acid from rising, and your reflux symptoms may not occur at all or may be significantly reduced.
