Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is an uncomfortable and frustrating condition to manage any time of year, but warmer weather may bring some additional opportunities for reflux flare-ups. Now that it’s spring, let’s discuss why this is and how you can manage it.
Warm Weather GERD Triggers
Spring and summertime mean cold drinks, outdoor eating and lounging in the sun, all of which can affect your digestive system and GERD. Here are some of the main culprits.
Heat
Being outside when it’s hot may have more effects on your digestive health than you realize. When your body is overheated, it prioritizes cooling down, much to the detriment of other bodily functions, such as digestion. As your body works to cool off, digestion may be slowed, which causes food to remain in your stomach longer, growing more and more acidic and allowing acid to escape into your esophagus more easily.
Diet
You probably already know that fatty foods, fried foods, alcohol and caffeine can all exacerbate GERD, but avoiding them gets tricky during barbecue season! Fatty meats and alcoholic beverages are common at cookouts, and drinks like lemonade, beer, wine, iced tea and iced coffee are all popular when you need something to help you cool down. It’s a dream summer meal, but a nightmare for GERD.
Dehydration
Staying hydrated can help with GERD symptoms immensely, as it dilutes stomach acid, stimulates digestion, helps rinse the throat of acid and increases saliva production, which can in turn neutralize stomach acid. But as mentioned above, your body might divert resources when it’s overheating, including your water supply. You might also be drinking less water in warm weather and opting instead for lemonade, carbonated beverages or iced tea, which, as described in the previous paragraph, can further exacerbate GERD.
High Intensity Outdoor Activity
Warm weather means golf, frisbee, going swimming, playing sports and other high-energy activities. Exercise is great for your overall health, but make sure you work up to it; otherwise, it can put extra pressure on your digestive system and lead to more frequent or severe GERD flare-ups.
How to Avoid GERD Symptoms Amidst Warm Weather Triggers
GERD affects approximately 20% of U.S. adults, and if you’re one of them, you don’t want heartburn or other symptoms to affect how you enjoy the warm weather. Here are some tips on how to prevent reflux flare-ups, with the triggers listed above in mind.
Stay Hydrated
Prioritize drinking water even more than usual. Cut back on carbonated beverages, caffeinated beverages, citrusy drinks and alcohol, and opt instead for a glass of ice water. Staying hydrated will help maintain your body temperature and aid in digestion. This is especially important if you’re engaging in any kind of physical activity. Bring a water bottle!
Avoiding Seasonal Trigger Foods
GERD doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the cookout entirely; just try to make some GERD-friendly switches so you can still enjoy the taste. For example, opt for lean protein, like chicken or fish, instead of burgers and hot dogs. Prioritize non-citrus fruits like watermelon or bananas. If you like your food with a little kick, consider foods with ginger instead of spicy foods; these may be different in profile, but ginger still has that zing and can soothe an upset stomach.
Don’t Stay Out Too Late
Late nights out can mean late-night eating. Lying down after eating can trigger GERD, so as lovely as it is to picnic at sunset, eating that close to bedtime could spell trouble. Stop eating at least three hours before you plan on going to bed, and avoid temptation to eat late by calling it a night early.
See a Professional
When GERD symptoms are not managed properly, they can lead to more serious health complications, such as esophagitis, chronic cough, tooth decay, lung conditions and damage to the esophagus lining. Prevent these conditions by seeking help for your GERD from a specialist. Call Palmetto ENT & Allergy today to learn more about how we can help relieve your symptoms.