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What is Acid Reflux ? Part 3

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Acid Reflux

What can I do to help with symptoms?

*Smoking. The chemicals from cigarettes relax the sphincter muscle and make acid reflux more likely. Symptoms may ease if you are a smoker and stop smoking.

*Some foods and drinks may make reflux worse in some people. It is thought that some foods may relax the sphincter and allow more acid to reflux. It is difficult to be certain how much foods contribute. Let common sense be your guide. If it seems that a food is causing symptoms, then try avoiding it for a while to see if symptoms improve. Foods and drinks that have been suspected of making symptoms worse in some people include: peppermint, tomatoes, chocolate, spicy foods, hot drinks, coffee, and alcoholic drinks. Also, avoiding large volume meals may help.

*Some drugs may make symptoms worse. They may irritate the oesophagus, or relax the sphincter muscle and make acid reflux more likely. The most common culprits are anti-inflammatory painkillers (such as ibuprofen or aspirin). Others include: diazepam, theophylline, nitrates, and calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine. But this is not an exhaustive list. Tell a doctor if you suspect that a drug is causing the symptoms, or making symptoms worse.

Acid reflux

Acid reflux

*Weight. If you are overweight it puts extra pressure on the stomach and encourages acid reflux. Losing some weight may ease the symptoms.


*Posture. Lying down or bending forward a lot during the day encourages reflux. Sitting hunched or wearing tight belts may put extra pressure on the stomach which may make any reflux worse.

*Bedtime. If symptoms recur most nights, the following may help:

*Go to bed with an empty, dry stomach. To do this, don’t eat in the last three hours before bedtime, and don’t drink in the last two hours before bedtime.

*If you are able, try raising the head of the bed by 10-20 cms (for example, with books or bricks under the bed’s legs). This helps gravity to keep acid from refluxing into the oesophagus. If you do this do not use additional pillows, because this may increase abdominal pressure.

Peppermint oil treats irritable bowel syndrome

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Peppermint oil is the most effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, doctors said last night.

The oil, which can be bought cheaply and without prescription, is better than muscle-relaxants or fibre for easing the condition which afflicts up to one in five Britons, research suggests.

The results were so convincing that scientists recommended that national and international treatment guidelines be updated to reflect the benefits.

The research by doctors at McMaster University in Canada and published in the British Medical Journal, took results from dozens of studies over the past 60 years into the treatment of the syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome

They found that 40 per cent of sufferers experienced a significant improvement after using peppermint oil as opposed to 20 per cent after taking drugs.

Bran was not found to improve symptoms.


British guidelines, issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, advise dietary changes such as eating more fruit and vegetables.

But Professor Roger Jones, an irritable bowel syndrome expert from King’s College, London, said that to update the NICE guidelines might be a ‘ little premature’.