Four things beyond food that lead to acidity

It’s possible that you feel the heartburn and the uncomfortable feeling of acidity when you eat a heavy and hearty meal. Most people associate acidity with the foods they eat, and think of it as something that is triggered when we eat oily and fried foods.

But did you know that there are reasons other than food that could cause a similar health problem?

Acidity happens when the acid from the stomach rises up and enters the oesophagus. It causes the burning sensation in the chest and throat. Here are four of the most common reasons, other than food, that lead to acidity.

Being on medication

Some medicines cause acidity as a side effect. If you are on any medicines for other health problems, it is possible that the acidity is a result of the medications you are on. Various medicines such as those used for high blood pressure, hormone therapy, asthma, insomnia, anti-depressants, pain killers, arthritis and such trigger acidity.

What you can do: Speak to your doctor if you experience acidity while on medication.

Weight problems

While the exact reason for this is still not clear, being overweight or obese also triggers acidity issues. It is believed that the extra weight puts more pressure on the abdomen, which relaxes the sphincter muscle. This is the muscle that is present between the stomach and the oesophagus. As a result, the stomach acid pours back into the oesophagus and triggers or worsens acidity.

What you can do: Include some form of exercise that you like in your daily routine.

Over exercising

You may think that a great way to lose that weight and also reduce the risk of acidity is to exercise, but if you plan to really over-exercise, think again. Some form of physical exercise on a regular basis is good for your overall health, but over-exercising can also lead to acidity. This is because, when you exercise more than you are required to, it puts extra pressure on the abdomen and increases the risk of acidity.

What you can do: Stick to an exercise schedule of an hour a day, without going overboard.

Pressure on the abdomen

If you wear clothes that are very tight around the waist or lie down flat on your stomach or on your back soon after a meal, it exerts added pressure on the abdomen..

What you can do: Wear clothes that are comfortable around the waist area. When you want to lie down, keep a gap of at least an hour after a meal, and keep your head elevated to reduce the risk.

Once you understand these causes and start working on reducing your risk of acidity, the symptoms should slowly subside. Take an antacid for instant help, especially in the gel or tablet form that are fast acting and easy to use while traveling. However, speak to your doctor if you still experience acidity.

Blog originally published on the Digitalist Magazine.