Acid Reflux caused by this wrong exercise

Doctors often recommend physical activity for acid reflux, since obesity is a major cause.

But some studies show that exercise can also make reflux worse.

A review in the World Journal of Gastroenterology looked at 231 studies to clarify the issue.

While the full review included many gastrointestinal disorders, here we’ll focus on what it found about acid reflux and the related conditions in the stomach and esophagus.

Reflux can be triggered by several factors: stomach ulcers, slow food digestion, stress, and a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

The LES is a valve that normally stays shut to keep food and acid from flowing back up into the esophagus.

So what did the research say about exercise and reflux?

1. Moderate-intensity activities like brisk walking, cycling, swimming, and yoga reduce acid reflux risk, especially in people who are overweight.

2. These same activities also promote weight loss, quicker food movement, and stress relief. All helpful in managing reflux.

3. In overweight people, moderate exercise lowers pressure inside the abdomen and helps the LES stay shut.

4. Strenuous workouts like high-impact cardio, weightlifting, HIIT, or running can worsen reflux, especially if they involve bending or abdominal strain.

5. That’s because intense workouts increase abdominal pressure, which can force acid through a relaxed LES into the esophagus.

6. Working out right after eating or in hot environments also makes reflux more likely by bloating the stomach and increasing acid.

If you have acid reflux, the takeaway is simple: stick with moderate, low-impact movement like brisk walking, gentle yoga, or swimming. And try to exercise on an empty or near-empty stomach.

When exercising fails, others succeed…

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