acid reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux (or more commonly known as “acid reflux” or “heartburn”) occurs when food and stomach acid reverses from the stomach back into the esophagus. Usually the Lower Esophageal Sphincter acts as a valve and keeps food on its way down after you swallow. Reflux in infants is common because a baby’s LES is still weak, as the necessary muscles haven’t strengthened yet. Symptoms of acid reflux for adults include a burning sensation in the chest and throat or a bitter, puke-like flavor in the mouth. Some people with frequent symptoms of acid reflux may produce an over-abundance of stomach acid that spills over out of the stomach.

Some heartburn remedies simply involve a change in habits. One cause of this malady is over-eating, which makes it a big problem around holidays. “The holiday season is clearly one of the worst times of the year for patients with GERD,” says William Chey, M.D., a University of Michigan gastroenterologist. “The large amounts of food we eat during the holidays, and the types of food served during the holidays – especially fatty and caffeinated foods – can be a recipe for disaster for chronic heartburn sufferers.” When we eat large amounts of food, the stomach stretches and the Lower Esophageal Sphincter naturally relaxes. Instead of three big meals or one big meal, try eating smaller meals continuously throughout the day to keep acid production normalized.

If you’re a chronic sufferer, there are some basic foods you should avoid as much as possible. Fatty, greasy food can be a big problem, since the stomach needs to produce more acid to break down these substances. You know where that excess acid winds up — coming back up the esophagus! Less obvious culprits are caffeine in drinks, ice cream and chocolate, which may also exacerbate heartburn acid reflux. Red wine is a frequent cause of heartburn too, as are spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, spearmint and pepper.

The time of day and post-eating rituals have a significant impact on heartburn and acid reflux. Dr. William Chey adds, “Gravity actually serves as an important barrier for acid reflux during the day. So when you lie down at night after eating a meal, you no longer have that gravity barrier to prevent acid reflux.” It’s recommended that you try to remain relatively upright for two or three hours after eating. People who try lifting and bending immediately after eating a big meal typically have trouble with too. Avoid tight clothing that may worsen symptoms. Smoking also causes the esophagus valve to relax.

The good news is that people with GERD symptoms can find quick, over-the-counter relief. For the occasional sufferer, Tums, Alkaseltzer and Maalox can all neutralize stomach acid quickly and effectively. Likewise, Histamine 2-Receptor Antagonists like Pepcid or Zantac can be effective, longer-lasting medications that fight acid reflux. However, those with chronic heartburn will want something stronger like Prilosec or Nexium Proton Pump Inhibitors that suppress acid production. Reglan speeds up the digestion process and a drug like the over-the-counter Gaviscon neutralizes acid and creates a foam barrier to prevent acid from seeping back up again.

Now that you know the triggers and treatments for acid reflux, you won’t have to dread that extra drumstick this holiday season. Just remember not to lay down or lift things right after eating. Keep antacids on hand for emergencies and avoid that extra spicy treat.

For chronic heartburn to be confirmed a substantial change must have occured, if the person’s diet or other aspects of their lifestyle have not changed, it could be a sign of other medical problems. It is important to be aware of the circumstances as anybody using self-treatment to combat chronic heartburn may be disguising the symptoms of these more serious problems

Usually, heartburn is caused by the contents in the stomach being forced back into the esophagus, causing the acid in the stomach to irritate its sensitive lining. There are many causes of this such as:
-  gastrointestinal reflux,
– a hiatal hernia
– or a blockage in the stomach.
When a patient suffers from chronic heartburn it is necessary to check with a doctor to rule out any of these major problems.

Usually, when a person suffers from heartburn, it is quite normal if there has been a dietary change causing inconsistency or they eat or drink something that is high in acidic content, thus causing the digestive system to work overtime producing excessive acid. In these cases and over the counter medication will usually work quelling the burning sensation, which will disappear once the substance has been processed. However, if the heart burn continues for several days at a time over a week or two, it is likely that chronic heartburn may be diagnosed and treated with prescription medications.

Quenching The Fire In The Belly

For sufferers of chronic heartburn, they are also at risk for developing ulcers in the oesophagus as well as in the stomach. Quite often it is the result of the stomach being tricked into thinking more acid is needed to help with the digestive process that exacerbates the situation. Many believe falsely that drinking milk as a diluting substance can calm an acid stomach when in reality milk may actually promote the stomach’s acid pumps to produce more owing to the added content in the stomach.

Anybody suffering from chronic heartburn will need to change their lifestyle to help eliminate the problem. This usually requires a change of diet (ie. staying away from rich fatty foods that require a lot of digestion and sticking to more fresh fruit and vegetables that are much easier to digest). If it is determined the heartburn is being caused by prescription medication, the doctor may alter the dosage of the medication or change to another type if one is available. The patient may also be prescribed anti-acid medication  until the offending medication is accepted by the patients body and the side effects disappear.

Acid indigestion, as it is often called, can be an extremely uncomfortable feeling. Unfortunately, It can also induce similar symptoms to a heart attack and therefore should never be ignored. When you are suffering from chronic heartburn, getting help from a doctor or other medical professional is important to prevent any additional damage to the oesophagus or to learn if it is hiding another, potentially more dangerous, condition.

As with most other bodily functions, it is important to act swiftly to determine what the problem is, what causes the problem and what needs to be done to cure the problem before it gets worse, but more importantly why suffer at all when with a little thought and preventative action this discomfort can be completely avoided and other complications associated with it will never arise..