Thursday, April 28, 2011

Managing Heartburn and Acid Reflux

We are all used to doing our resolutions every New Year. In fact, we love doing our list. But how many can really stick to our resolutions, to being committed to achieving each goal, to seeing it through ‘til the next New Year sets in? And when it comes to resolutions, nothing can be more challenging than those concerning our health. Have you ever promised yourself to eat healthy, never have more than just two glasses of your favorite wine? Health resolutions are really just that: Promises that are meant to be broken.
Heartburn and acid reflux are conditions that affect at least 15 million Americans. And the number isn’t going down; in fact, at least, there are at least 1 million Americans added to this statistics every year. And the growing profits of companies that manufacture antacids or H2 blockers only prove that heartburn and acid reflux aren’t something that can be managed and controlled by those who suffer from them. If you are just tired of reaching for your antacids every time heartburn and acid reflux kick in, we have here a list of affirmations to help you manage your condition — one step at a time.
I will visit my doctor. In order to manage acid reflux and heartburn, you need an able and competent ally: Your doctor. You need to learn about what is good for you: From what food to eat to what sleeping position is best for acid reflux sufferers. Drinking antacids is not a solution; in fact, it is impractical to spend hundred of dollars on antacids when you can do something to not trigger what you have been drinking about. If you are serious about truly managing your heartburn and acid reflux, tell your doctor your plans and goals. He will be more likely to not hand you a prescription, but of a list of lifestyle changes that will definitely stop acid reflux in its tracks.
I will prepare my own meals. Unless you have thousands of dollars to spend on carefully created heartburn-free meals, you know that when it comes to managing acid reflux and heartburn, the more home cooked meals you bring to work, the better for you and your tummy. Aside from being assured that no hint of onion, tomato, and citrus will land in your meal, brown bagging is really a practical measure that you can’t afford to miss these days.
I will maintain a food diary. If you weren’t used to having one, then, caring for your tummy is, indeed, the perfect opportunity for you to learn how to maintain a diary. But don’t worry about a kilometric entry; when it comes to food diary, all you need to jot down are the things that you have savored. Too tedious for a not-so detail-oriented person like you? You may want to make a meal or food planner every week so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to write those mid-day snacks. With an 8-5 meal planner, you can be sure that you have everything you need to know and write down about what you have had any day.

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