According to research, about 20% of Americans have gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is the most common cause of acid reflux. Many factors can affect the frequency and severity of symptoms. Acid reflux from alcohol is one of the most common.
Why Do I Get Bad Acid Reflux From Alcohol?
Your stomach contains hydrochloric acid that helps break down what you eat and neutralize microorganisms ingested with food and drink, preventing them from causing infections and other health problems. Your stomach lining stops stomach acid from damaging your stomach, but when that acid escapes the stomach, unpleasant symptoms may occur.
What Is Acid Reflux?
A long tube, called the esophagus, carries food and drink from your mouth to your stomach. The esophageal sphincter is a valve that opens and closes to allow food and drink to pass into the stomach and then prevent it from passing back into the esophagus.
When functioning normally, the esophageal sphincter also prevents stomach acid from flowing into the esophagus. However, sometimes the esophageal sphincter doesn’t close all the way or opens when it shouldn’t, allowing the contents of the stomach to flow into the esophagus, resulting in acid reflux.
Some amount of reflux is normal and most people don’t notice it. Excessive acid reflux from alcohol can cause a variety of symptoms:
- Heartburn
- Burping
- Regurgitation
- Sore throat
- Hoarseness
Symptoms may be occasional or chronic. People who experience acid reflux symptoms more than twice per week may have GERD.
How Does Alcohol Cause Acid Reflux?
When you drink alcohol, it relaxes the muscles that open and close the esophageal sphincter. As a result, the sphincter may not close all the way or may open when it shouldn’t, allowing the contents of your stomach to flow into your esophagus. Additionally, when you drink alcohol, you may be more likely to engage in behaviors such as overeating, smoking, or eating fried fatty foods that also trigger or worsen acid reflux.
What Alcohol Triggers GERD?
All types of alcohol can trigger GERD when you drink excessively. However, when consumed in moderation, some types of alcohol are less likely to trigger GERD than others. Several factors affect how likely different types of alcohol are to cause GERD.
Acidity
Acidic foods and beverages, such as tomatoes and citrus fruits, are common acid reflux triggers. Drinks such as white wines, citrus cocktails, ciders, and cocktails that contain tomato juice or coffee may be more likely to cause acid reflux from alcohol.
Other ingredients to avoid include:
- Chocolate
- Peppermint
- Chili powder
- Tajin
Consider switching to spirits with low acidity, such as tequila or gin.
Ethanol Content
Spirits that have a high ethanol content, such as gin, whiskey, and cognac, do not tend to stimulate stomach acid secretion. Choosing these drinks over low ethanol content beverages may reduce your acid reflux symptoms.
Caffeine and Carbonation
Carbonated beverages, such as seltzers and soda, and caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea, can also cause heartburn. Because of this, hard seltzers and cocktails that contain carbonated or caffeinated beverages may trigger acid reflux.
Does Drinking Water Help Acid Reflux?
Dehydration can make acid reflux worse. Because alcohol is a diuretic, drinking alcohol can lead to dehydration.
Drinking water may improve your acid reflux from alcohol consumption by preventing dehydration. Alternating between drinking alcohol and drinking water can also prevent overconsumption of alcohol, which may help you avoid acid reflux.
How Can I Avoid Acid Reflux?
For some people, physiological issues, such as weak esophageal muscles or hiatal hernias, may make completely avoiding acid reflux difficult. However, many people can reduce the occurrence of acid reflux through lifestyle changes.
Drink in Moderation
Drinking excessively increases your risk of developing acid reflux symptoms. It also worsens contributing factors, such as dehydration and overeating.
Don’t Sleep on a Full Stomach
When you are sitting or standing, gravity helps keep the contents of your stomach in your stomach. When you lie down, it is easier for your stomach contents to flow into the esophagus.
The more fluid your stomach contains when you lie down, the more likely reflux is to occur. Wait three to four hours after your last meal to lie down so that your stomach has time to empty.
Change Your Eating Habits
Eat slowly and avoid overeating. If you have problems with GERD, eating smaller meals may reduce symptoms. Avoid fatty, spicy, and acidic foods and drinks. Limit your consumption of caffeine and carbonated beverages.
Stop Smoking
Smoking can make heartburn worse. Stopping smoking may reduce your risk of experiencing acid reflux from alcohol use.
Lose Weight and Avoid Tight Clothes
Excess weight and clothing that is too tight increases abdominal pressure, which is a risk factor for acid reflux. If you are overweight, losing weight may also improve your acid reflux.
Sleep on Your Left Side
Sleeping on your back or your right side submerges your esophageal sphincter. Sleeping on your left side keeps the valve above your stomach contents.
How Can I Relieve Acid Reflux From Alcohol?
Heartburn should resolve on its own when your stomach finishes emptying. However, depending on when you last ate and how much, it can take several hours for this to happen.
Over-the-counter medications, such as antacids and proton pump inhibitors, can relieve occasional reflux symptoms. If you are experiencing frequent heartburn, you may need prescription medications.
Patients whose acid reflux symptoms don’t respond to medication and lifestyle changes may benefit from surgery to prevent reflux or fix common causes of reflux, such as hiatal hernias. Additionally, people who have complications caused by chronic reflux, such as esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus, may need surgery.
Where Can You Get Treatment for Acid Reflux From Alcohol?
Arizona Premier Surgery offers state-of-the-art anti-reflux surgery for patients with GERD. Our minimally invasive techniques can repair and strengthen the esophagus and provide relief from acid reflux symptoms.
If your acid reflux from alcohol or other triggers is not responding to medication and lifestyle changes, surgery may be appropriate for you. Visit us online to learn more about the services we offer.
Sources:
https://arizonapremiersurgery.com/procedure/anti-reflux-gerd-surgery-scottsdale-az/
https://hartfordhospital.org/about-hh/news-center/news-detail?articleid=49441&publicId=395
https://www.ceenta.com/news-blog/picking-the-right-alcohol-for-acid-reflux
https://www.tums.com/about-heartburn/causes/heartburn-from-alcohol/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9617-heartburn-overview