FIX IT LIKE THIS
If you are suffering from a persistent postnasal drip or cough that antibiotics don’t seem to be clearing, ask your doctor about silent reflux. This condition can be eased by small changes to your lifestyle. And bonus, these tips also help for heartburn:
AVOID CERTAIN FOODS, DRINKS AND LARGE MEALS Peppermint, tomatoes, citrus, vinegar, chocolate, fatty and spicy foods, mustard, fruit juices, hot drinks, coffee and alcoholic drinks. Also, avoid large meals if they bring on symptoms: eat small meals, more often. And make sure you get your eight glasses of water a day – heartburn can also be a sign of dehydration. Choose still water though, as sparkling water and carbonated drinks can make the problem worse. Make a point of including fibre-rich foods in your diet, as these help with all digestive issues, so stock up on oats, wholegrains and vegetables.
STOP SMOKING If you need another reason to kick the habit while pregnant, here it is: the chemicals from cigarettes relax the sphincter muscle and make acid reflux more likely.
STAND TALL Lying down or bending forward a lot during the day encourages reflux. Sitting hunched may put extra pressure on the stomach. Also avoid tight clothing as any extra pressure on the stomach can make things worse.
GO TO BED HUNGRY Try to avoid eating for at least three hours before bedtime, and don’t drink in the last two hours before bedtime. Raising the head of the bed by 10cm to 15cm will help gravity to keep acid from refluxing. If lifestyle changes aren’t helping, consider taking an over-thecounter antacid. If it is very severe, a medicine that prevents your stomach from making acid can be prescribed, but check with your doctor first.
EXERCISE BEFORE YOU EAT Jogging and lifting weights can increase the pressure in your abdomen. So exercise before you eat, while your stomach is empty. Also, yoga poses or Pilates moves that include forward bends or inversions are best practised on an empty stomach.
CHEW GUM Chewing gum can relieve some of the symptoms, as you produce more saliva that help neutralise the acid in the throat. Just choose a flavour that doesn’t contain peppermint. ●