What Is Acid Reflux Or Gerd?

By Kathryn Whittaker

Acid Reflux is a disease commonly known as GERD, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. This is described by the condition in which the stomach’s liquid content refluxes in the esophagus. This liquid can cause damage and inflammation in the lining of your esophagus. The liquid that is refluxed contains pepsin and acid which is produced by the stomach. Pepsin is the enzyme which starts the digestion of the proteins found in our stomach. The regurgitated liquid can also contain bile that backs-up from the duodenum which attaches the small intestines to the stomach. The most damaging ingredient in acid reflux is acid.

Acid Reflux is known as a chronic condition and takes a lifetime to deal with. A chronic condition is achieved when there is injury to the lining of the esophagus. If treatment is applied it must be continuous or the problems will return and so will GERD.

Our body has ways to protect itself from the destructive effects of acid reflux. Reflux usually occurs when a person is in a supine or laying down position because the refluxed liquid can freely flow back to the stomach.

If awake, a person swallows repeatedly whether there is reflux or not. When a person swallows, reflux liquid flows back into the stomach. The salivary glands produce saliva containing bicarbonate, and every time the person swallows, the saliva containing bicarbonate travels down to the esophagus. The bicarbonate acts as the neutralizer in the small amount of acid which is left in the esophagus.

In fact, the reflux of the stomach’s liquid contents into the esophagus occurs in most standard individuals. One study has found that reflux occurs as regularly in normal individuals as in patients who are diagnosed with GERD. In patients with GERD however, the refluxed liquid contains more acid, and the acid remains in the esophagus for longer periods of time.

Certain conditions make a person vulnerable to acid reflux. A person who has GERD can also have elevated hormone levels. If you feel you are suffering from GERD it is advisable to seek medical advice from your doctor.

About the Author: Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health Matters. To find out how you can get more information please visit this Acid Reflux related site.

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Acid Reflux Symptoms – How To Identify and Cure Acid Reflux

The following are some of the symptoms of acid reflux. If you or a family member wants to eliminate the agony and discomfort caused by acid reflux or heartburn and live a pain FREE life forever, then The Acid Reflux Diet can provide you the knowledge to accomplish this.

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A) Burping (belching), a noisy stomach, or passing of gas - Burping (belching), a noisy stomach, or passing of gas from the lower bowel can be embarrassing events, but they are rarely caused by a medical problem. More often, gas is the result of the foods that you eat. (If you’re reading this, then I am 100% sure you understand this is often painful and is always embarrassing when done in public.)

B) Swallowing difficulty - Difficulty when swallowing is the sensation that food is stuck in the throat or upper chest. This may be felt high in the neck or lower down, behind the breastbone (sternum). Swallowing is a complex act that involves the mouth, throat area, and esophagus (tube that transports food to the stomach). Many nerves and muscles affect the correct function of these parts. Part of the act of swallowing is under conscious (voluntary) control. However, much of swallowing is involuntary. Problems at any point, from chewing food and moving it into the back of the mouth, to moving the food into the stomach can result in difficulty swallowing. Frequently, symptoms of chest pain, food stuck in the throat, heaviness or pressure in the neck or upper chest, are the result of swallowing difficulties. (I never had much of a problem with swallowing. My problem was swallowing too much and swallowing the wrong types of foods.)

C) Swallowing pain or burning - A strong feeling of burning, squeezing pain while swallowing (felt high in the neck or lower down, behind the breastbone) may be a symptom of a serious disorder. Swallowing is a complex act that involves the mouth, throat area, and esophagus (the tube that transports food to the stomach). Problems at any point, from the mouth to the esophagus, can result in burning or intense pain with swallowing. This may be accompanied by chest pain, the feeling that food is stuck in the throat, or heaviness or pressure in the neck or upper chest. (Same as the above.)

D) Nausea, Vomiting and Regurgitation - Another common symptom of acid reflux is regurgitation or the sensation of acid backing up into your throat or mouth. Regurgitation can produce a sour or bitter taste, and you may experience a “wet burp” or even vomit some contents of your stomach. (This affected me so bad that I ended up stopping waiting for my stomach to regurgitate and did it myself to eliminate the pain faster. At one time, I could literally stick my left hand half way down my stomach to cause myself to vomit and ease the pain quickly.)

E) Recurring Abdominal Pain – Sharp pain in the upper abdominal. (This is another symptom that I had real problems with. It could feel like somebody stuck a knife in my stomach right out of no where and cause me to lurch over at a 45 degree angle. It was really embarrassing when other people were around and they would ask, “If everything was alright?” Of course, I would lie and say “I was fine.” But, come to think about it now, why would anybody even ask me if I was in pain in the first place? Would a normal person just be walking by all of sudden be forced to bend over in excruciating pain?)

F) Heartburn - Heartburn is the primary symptom of GERD. It is a burning sensation that radiates up from the stomach to the chest and throat. Heartburn is most likely to occur in connection with the following activities: After a heavy meal, bending over, lifting or lying down, particularly on the back. (Why even bother going here, we all have experienced this too much to mention. Don’t worry; it will soon be in the past.)

G) Dyspepsia - Many people with acid reflux disease also have a syndrome called dyspepsia. Dyspepsia is a general term for stomach discomfort. Symptoms of dyspepsia include; burping, nausea after eating, stomach fullness or bloating and upper abdominal pain and discomfort. (Same as the above.)

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Treatments for Gerd – 5 Ways to Reduce Symptoms of Gerd

For people who suffer with GERD, the painful symptoms can leave you restless at night trying to find relief.  If you have been fighting the heartburn symptoms by day or night, there are several treatments for GERD options available.  Listed are 5 treatments for GERD.  It is always best to start with the least invasive, because relief may be a few simple steps away.

1) Change The Way You Sleep

Simple lifestyle changes may offer relief.  Most GERD occurs at night, because when lying down the force of gravity does not help in pulling the reflux acid down.  The simplest way to do this is to elevate the body when sleeping.  There are two ways to accomplish this.  Simply elevating the head will not help, so you will need more than an extra pillow.   You can raise the head of the bed on blocks, or sleep with a wedge.  You may also experience relief when lying on the left side instead of the right.

2) Vary Your Eating Habits

Simple solutions are sometimes the best.  By varying your eating habits, you could see a reduction in your symptoms associated with GERD. Simply eating smaller meals may help alleviate symptoms, since the stomach will not be as distended.  Certain foods have a propensity to cause problems.  Some of these include chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, and caffeine.  Other things that may make it worse are spicy and acidic foods.

Some believe that chewing gum may neutralize acid before it gets to the stomach.  While not completely agreed upon on how effective gum chewing is, it is worthy of a try to chew some after a meal.

3) Use Antacids

Antacids continue to be a primary course for treatments for GERD.  While the effects of antacids are not long lived, they work by neutralizing stomach acids.  Once neutralized, there are no acids to reflux.  The most effective way to take antacids is about one hour after a meal, or shortly before symptoms begin.

Depending on whether the antacids are aluminum containing or magnesium containing, there is a chance that the taker will experience constipation or diarrhea.  This can be helped by alternating the types of antacids.

4) Take Over The Counter Medicines

Medicine has come out with new treatments for GERD as well.  Histamine antagonists such as Tagamet work by stimulating acid production in the stomach.  The histamines will bind to the receptors forcing the cells to produce acids.  This method works best 30 minutes before meals because, at this point, the H2 antagonist will be at peak production.

Proton Pump Inhibitors are a new type of drug designed for acid related diseases.  Prilosec, the most well known brand, uses this by blocking the secretion of acids into the stomach.  This also works at protecting the esophagus from acids, allowing inflamed areas to heal. Both of these treatments for GERD started as prescription only, but are now available over the counter.   

5) Surgery

For more extreme cases, when GERD cannot be helped with over the counter treatments for GERD, the patient may have to consider surgery.  Surgery works by widening the esophagus.  This is done through laparoscopy surgery through the abdomen, and the results are very good at treating symptoms in up to 80% of patients.   Endoscopic treatment is a second option that can be performed without hospitalization.  The long-term results are still not well known.

For those suffering from GERD, there is no reason to live with the pain and discomfort.  Starting with minor changes, and working to more aggressive treatments for GERD, there is relief in sight.  Work with your doctor to find the treatment right for you.

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Acid Reflux: Symptoms and Natural Remedies

How would a person know if he or she has acid reflux? How does acid reflux feel like? It is a burning sensation that affects the upper abdomen after a heavy meal when a person is already relaxing. Later, the pain goes up to the breastbone and to the chest. From this discomfort, it can lead to the inflammation of the esophagus, indigestion, hoarseness and many other symptoms.

Acid reflux disease is the condition that gives uneasiness to many adults including infants by causing sudden pains and burning in the chest. Its most common symptom is called heartburn. The condition is characterized by refluxing or backing up of the stomach acid into the esophagus. While heartburn can normally take place sometimes, it cannot be always rated as acid reflux disease. But if heartburn occurs twice to thrice a week, it is more probably a symptom of acid reflux.

In many cases, the symptoms of acid reflux disease occur after a fatty meal, when drinking liquor or beverages which contains caffeine, when lying down right after meal and worse when smoking. And because of these unpleasant sensations brought about by acid reflux, it can severely affect your health and your lifestyle. A number of people who suffered from this disease also suffered in the quality of lifestyle. Who would be enjoying life if there were a constant reminder of pain? The symptoms are so obvious that you do not need a doctor to diagnose it.

For this particular disease, there could be a variety of treatments that you can choose from.  Symptoms which occur less than five times in a month can easily be treated by over the counter medicines. The doctor can give you pieces of advice on the kind of medicine appropriate for you. However, if your body does not work well with the prescribed medicines, it would be best to shift to a new one or seek for another option. Medicines formulated from natural herbs have less or no side effects.

For cases of acute acid reflux, surgical treatment may already be recommended to you. The standard treatment that has been preferred for a long time is called nissen fundoplication. In this surgical procedure, the stomach is wrapped to reinforce the sphincter and thereby preventing the stomach acid from refluxing.

In any manner, the effective way of finding relief from acid reflux symptoms is the natural way. Some simple steps that can work together with your medications will effectively cast away your suffering from this disease.  A modified lifestyle will help you make things better. Things to be changed include your dietary habits, refraining from smoking and minimizing the alcohol intake. Salty foods have been found out to aggravate acid reflux disease as much as the fatty foods. Taking extra table salts in your meal can expose you to graver risks.

Obesity doesn’t only harm the heart but can worsen acid reflux disease as well. The excess fat in the abdomen amplifies the pressure in it causing the stomach acid to rise up to the gullet. So diet must be intensively watched out so as to avoid the symptoms and the discomfort they caused.

Natural cure of this disease also includes exercise. Proper stretching can help reduce the pressure on your stomach and subsequently helping you fight the symptoms of acid reflux disease.

If you can follow the preventive measures against acid reflux disease, then you are on your way to beating acid reflux without turning to medications.

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