Do you suffer from GERD or acid reflux? Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when the contents of your stomach back up into the esophagus, where they shouldn’t be. It comes with many symptoms, like burning pain in the chest (heartburn), difficulty swallowing, regurgitation, and a metallic taste in your mouth. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, GERD typically happens when the sphincter in your lower esophagus relaxes or weakens, allowing stomach acid to come where it shouldn’t.
Exercise can make your symptoms worse or better, depending on the type of exercise. Surgical Consultants of Northern Virginia notes that specific exercises like crunches or high-impact exercises can trigger acid reflux. It advises avoiding trigger exercises like sprinting, weightlifting, and gymnastics. Instead, it says, try low-impact exercises like walking, yoga, and swimming.
You can also try different tactics to improve your GERD symptoms while you do high-impact workouts, like avoiding eating within a few hours of your routine. Surgical Consultants also suggests eating healthy before exercising and drinking water to stay hydrated and improve digestion. It also recommends taking your medication before working out.