Innocent Habits That Secretly Trigger Acid Reflux

Lisette Marie

53. The Unseen Squeeze of a Shoulder Bag

Close-up of a chic white handbag in a contemporary indoor environment. Photo Credit: Pexels @PNW Production

While tight clothing is a known culprit, the way you carry your everyday bag can also be a hidden trigger. A heavy shoulder bag or purse that you wear on one side can cause your posture to shift, creating an uneven pressure on your abdomen. This constant, subtle squeeze can compress your stomach and force acid up into your esophagus. This is especially true if the bag's strap rests directly over your stomach or ribcage. To avoid this, try to carry a lighter bag or switch sides frequently to prevent a consistent, reflux-inducing squeeze.

54. Excessive Laughing or Crying

Three women enjoy a sunny day lying on a blanket in the park, laughing and relaxing. Photo Credit: Pexels @KoolShooters

The forceful, repetitive motion of excessive laughing or crying can also trigger a reflux episode. Both actions create a powerful, jarring pressure on your abdominal muscles and stomach. This sudden internal pressure can easily push stomach acid up into your esophagus. This creates a vicious cycle where the reflux then causes a sensation that makes you want to laugh or cry more. Being mindful of these powerful emotions and their physical effects can help you mitigate the discomfort.

BACK

(27 of 33)

<div class="ads ads-1 collapse-container group-display-adsense unit-2024-desktop-rail-336x600-long zone-slideshow-desktop-rail-bottom">
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6736552601239305"
     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:inline-block;width:300px;height:600px"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-6736552601239305"
     data-ad-slot="7087745678"></ins>
<script>
     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<script>
  addBlurHandler('sdr-bottom', function (el, zone) {
    if (cf_utm_source === 'bing') {
        uetqApi('outbound_click', {
            'event_category': 'PPC',
            'event_label': 'Adsense',
            'event_value': '1'
        });
        console.log('Fired bing.');
    }
	
	if (cf_utm_source === 'google') {
		gtag('event', 'conversion', {
			'send_to': 'AW-17008664059/yUYKCMCtl7kaEPu7rq4_',
			'value': 0.0,
			'currency': 'USD'
		});
    	console.log('Fired Google Conversion.');
	}
	
    console.log('Fired pixel.');
});
</script>
</div>

OpenAI Playground 2025-05-13 at 10.55.45.png

<div class="ads ads-1 collapse-container group-display-adsense unit-2024-desktop-rail-336x280-sticky zone-slideshow-desktop-rail-sticky">
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6736552601239305"
     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:inline-block;width:300px;height:280px"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-6736552601239305"
     data-ad-slot="9869999824"></ins>
<script>
     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<script>
  addBlurHandler('sdr-sticky', function (el, zone) {
    if (cf_utm_source === 'bing') {
        uetqApi('outbound_click', {
            'event_category': 'PPC',
            'event_label': 'Adsense',
            'event_value': '1'
        });
        console.log('Fired bing.');
    }
	
	if (cf_utm_source === 'google') {
	  gtag('event', 'conversion', {
		'send_to': 'AW-17008664059/yUYKCMCtl7kaEPu7rq4_',
		'value': 0.0,
		'currency': 'USD'
	  });
	  console.log('Fired Google Conversion.');
  	}

console.log('Fired pixel.');
});
</script>
</div>

53. The Unseen Squeeze of a Shoulder Bag

54. Excessive Laughing or Crying

MORE FROM HealthPrep