Acid Reflux/ GERD - #19649
Why do i feel like I'm short of breath after eating? I usually eat chicken, pork lean meat and fish. I usually stand up or walk around after eating but I always feel short of breath. Sometimes, the food that the doctor tell me that is a trigger for acid reflux does not affect me but the food that is good for my acid reflux sometimes a trigger and give me a slight shortness in breath/ heaviness in chest. I already stopped taking PPIs because it has no effect on me. I am just taking alkaline water (ph9). What else can I do to prevent shortness of breath after eating? I can't inhale more deeply anymore. My chest hurts when I inhale deeply. Only half a deep breath is all I can do when breathing through nose and I'm having a hard time doing diapraghm breathing. I've already had a chest xray and the results are all good.
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Doctors’ responses
We called this condition as ajirna. In this condition there is reduce digestion ,we call it as reduce agni. So whatever you are going to eat which is heavy specially non-veg ,it’s very difficult for your body to digest it and hence you are getting all the symptoms. So you must focus on eating boiled moong/ moong dal, rice(which are >1 yr old), warm water for 7 days and avoid everything .Stick to this diet and you will find improvement in a day or two.
Take one meal a day Take Lemon juice Beetroot carrot awla dhaniya mix juice Jeera Ajwain after food Haritaki powder night
Hi Galdys,
I’m sorry to hear about your breathing difficulties.
1. How long have you been experiencing this shortness of breath after eating, and does it occur after every meal or only certain types of food? 2. Have you noticed any specific patterns with the foods that cause the shortness of breath? Are there any particular times or situations when it worsens (e.g., stress, certain times of day)? 3. Are you experiencing any other symptoms like heartburn, bloating, or nausea, which might indicate digestive issues or an underlying condition?
That must be really frustrating to deal with, sorry to hear you’re going through that. So, considering what you’ve mentioned, it seems you might be experiencing aggravated symptoms due to what could be an imbalance in your doshas, particularly Pitta, and possibly Vata. In Ayurveda, Pitta governs digestion and metabolism, and when it gets disturbed, can lead to symptoms like acid reflux and discomfort after eating.
First things first, let’s look at the diet. While you’re avoiding known triggers, sometimes even seemingly safe foods can cause problems if your Agni or digestive fire is imbalanced. Lean meats and fish can sometimes be heavy, so managing portion size and cooking method (grilling lightly, avoiding too much oil) may help. Maybe try eating smaller, frequent meals instead of big ones.
Now, alkaline water is good for neutralizing acid but too much can dilute your digestive enzymes—something else to consider. Instead, try sipping room temperature water throughout the day.
For immediate relief, you might want to start with Triphala. It’s a classical Ayurvedic remedy that can support digestion and ensure proper elimination. Take ¼ tsp of Triphala powder in warm water before going to bed.
When it comes to lifestyle, taking a gentle walk post-meal is good, but avoid vigorous activity right after eating. Opt for sitting in Vajrasana for a few minutes; this yoga pose aids digestions. As for breathing difficulties, since chest X-ray is normal, it could be anxiety-related or simply pressure from indigestion. Practice Nadi Shodhana, alternate nostril breathing, to calm the mind and improve oxygen intake.
Keep a food diary to maybe catch other hidden culprits. If symptoms persist, do consider consulting an Ayurvedic practitioner locally who can do a deep dive or even revisit your PPI decision with your regular doc. Hope things improve!

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