The backward flow of the abdominal contents into the esophagus, which elicits that burning chest pain and irritating sensation, is referred to as gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) or simply acid reflux. There are various reasons as to why acid reflux occurs; it can be due to the type of diet that you follow; the lifestyle that you lead, obesity or being overweight and so on so forth. GERD can affect anyone, men and women alike; however, recent studies have found out that women, especially those who are pregnant are more likely to experience acid reflux. What will be discussed in this article are the typical symptoms of acid reflux in pregnant women and at the same time how to properly manage them.
Acid reflux is extremely common in pregnant women. It is estimated that about 20% of women will experience indigestion and acid reflux, especially during the second to third trimesters of pregnancy. The increase of hormonal levels that takes place within the body of a pregnant woman is being thought of as one of the most common causes of GERD or acid reflux. Another possible cause is the heightened stomach pressure brought about by the developing embryo inside the expectant mother’s womb. Here is a short list of the most common acid reflux symptoms in women;
- Sore throat
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Dry cough
- Nausea
- Regurgitation
- Vomiting
In order to better manage these symptoms, there are a few easy steps that you can follow and here are some of them;
- Acid reflux usually gets aggravated while lying down or sleeping. The reason for this is due to the reclining position that easily allows the stomach contents to flow back up or regurgitate. Lying down with your upper body elevated a bit can help prevent this occurrence.
- Another great natural acid reflux cure is for you to modify your daily diet. Eat plenty of non-acidic fruits and vegetables, especially those which are rich in fiber.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking (which are actually unhealthy vices that a pregnant woman should not be doing in the first place).
