Acid reflux can be very uncomfortable (stock image) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Acid reflux can be extremely uncomfortable and result in a number of unpleasant symptoms, including heartburn and indigestion. While there are a number of over-the-counter remedies available, sometimes it simply won’t go away. But now one doctor has revealed a simple method to tackle the issue.
Dr Ahmed, who boasts nearly half a million followers on TikTok, where he refers to himself as « healthcare Gordon Ramsay », uploaded a video on the social media platform detailing the straightforward solution, reports the Mirror. Initiating his video, he said: « I hear so many of you tell me that you’ve done everything that you can think of – you’ve chewed gum, you lay on your side, hell, you’re even on medication from your GP, but you still have really bad acid reflux.
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« And that’s because, here’s the thing, none of you give a s***. No seriously, it’s because you’re constipated. »
He continued: « You don’t even need to have a lot of constipation, just [a] moderate amount of constipation will lead to [an] increase in acid reflux and resistance to treatment. It’s literally simple physics – if you’ve got poop all the way in your abdomen and you keep putting things in, it’s not gonna end up well.
« It has only one way to go, and that is up top. Physics. Constipation also increases intra-abdominal pressure, which just worsens things when you try to lie down and make things come up and bad stuff. »
Referring to gut health specialist Dr Karan Rajan, he stated that the solution is quite straightforward. « Sort your fibre out, » he advised. « That’s it.
« Thirty grams of fibre a day keeps, well, Doctor Karen Rajan away, and also will help with your constipation and your acid reflux.
« So there you go. That’s the secret remedy for acid reflux. »
What is acid reflux?
According to the NHS, acid reflux occurs when stomach acid ascends towards the throat. The primary symptoms are heartburn – a burning sensation in the centre of your chest – and an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth.
It may also result in a persistent cough or hiccups, a raspy voice, bad breath, and bloating or nausea. Symptoms typically worsen after eating, when lying down, and when bending over.
Potential causes include:
- Some foods and drinks, including coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate, and fatty or spicy food
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Pregnancy
- Stress and anxiety
- An increase in some types of hormones, such as progesterone and oestrogen
- Some medicines, including anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen
- A hiatus hernia – when part of the stomach moves into the chest
- A stomach ulcer
- A bacterial infection in the stomach
It can be stopped or reduced by:
- Eating smaller, more frequent meals
- Losing weight if you’re overweight
- Finding ways to relax
- Avoiding food and drink which trigger the symptoms
- Not eating three or four hours of going to bed
- Avoiding clothes that are tight around the waste
- Not smoking
- Not drinking too much alcohol
- Raising the head of your bed by around 10 to 20cm using wood, bricks, or books.
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