What Is Acid Reflux And How To Deal With It

Most people experience heartburn from time to time. Common symptoms include a burning feeling in the chest and an acidic taste in the mouth. Many people can take an antacid tablet and get quick relief. Unfortunately, other people get heartburn more frequently - often multiple times per week.

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is the technical term for heartburn that occurs regularly. It is otherwise known as acid reflux. On its own, acid reflux is not inherently bad, but if you have it frequently over a long period of time, it can wear down the lining of your esophagus.

Why does Acid Reflux Occur?

When you swallow food, the food travels from your mouth, through your esophagus and into your stomach below. In the stomach, foods will be broken down by digestive acids so that nutrients can be absorved into the body from the intestine, and waste can be eliminated. There is a circular ring that is known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) at the base of the esophagus.

The LES is responsible for closing the opening between the esophagus and the stomach once the food passes through. When the LES doesn’t close properly, food particles and digestive juices can back up into the esophagus. Since the esophageal lining is not designed to withstand the harsh acids, burning and discomfort can result. Frequent bouts result in acid reflux, and often require treatment to protect this delicate lining.

How is Acid Reflux Treated?

The most common way to treat heartburn is with an antacid that will work quickly and effectively. However, acid reflux may require a different type of medication that will either treat the heartburn for a longer period of time or prevent it from occurring in the first place. For longer-lasting relief, many people use H-2-receptor blockers like Tagamet and Pepcid.

These medications actually reduce the amount of acid that is produced in the stomach to provide longer relief. Another option is a proton pump inhibitor like Prilosec. These medicines will block the production of acid, giving the lining of the esophagus time to heal.

Acid reflux can be a discomforting condition that may cause damage to your esophagus over time. If you think you might be suffering from acid reflux symptoms, call to your physician immediately about the best options for your treatment.

Types of Surgery for Acid Reflux

No matter how careful a person is with their lifestyle, they may still be suffering from acid reflux. It may be so severe that they aren’t able to get a good night of sleep. It can also come on during the day preventing a person from being able to complete ordinary tasks. As a result they may eat as little as possible to get through their day. That can result in malnourishment and even more health concerns.

Sometimes surgery is the only choice left to explore in order to combat acid reflux once and for all. Medical professionals won’t recommend it unless they have tried everything else without success. That is because there are risks involved with any type of surgery. They don’t want to place a patient under the knife unless it is the only alternative left for them to explore.

The two main types of surgery for acid reflux are fundoplication and radiofrequency. Fundoplication surgery for acid reflux has been around for a very long time. This procedure involves taking the upper part of the stomach and then sewing it to the bottom portion of the esophagus. A tunnel is made so that a portion of the esophagus can pass through to the stomach muscle.

As a result of the Fundoplication surgery a person will stop suffering from acid reflux. At the same time the valve from the esophagus to the stomach will get stronger. As a result the body is able to take care of the acid it produces naturally without it moving from the stomach to the esophagus.

Depending on how severe the acid reflux is, the way in which the incision is made will vary. Generally an incision is made in the abdomen and a tube is placed into it. This process takes a couple of hours to complete. The patient will be able to make a full recovery within a week.

For the more severe cases an incision has to be made in the chest area. Due to the risk of an infection most patients have to remain in the hospital for a week or two after it is done for observation. This procedure has to be done when the esophagus is inflamed due to the swelling.

Radiofrequency surgery is newer but many medical professionals are offering it. That is because this form of surgery for acid reflux is less invasive. In fact, patients can be released to go home the same day they have it rather than spending several days in the hospital. This process involves creating thermal lesions at the bottom of the esophagus and the top of the stomach.

As a result there is less acid able to move from the stomach to the esophagus. This type of surgery also helps to strengthen a weak esophagus. This is accomplished by making the muscles in there thicker than before. As a result there is less pressure against the esophagus to open up.

Since there is less of a risk with this form of acid reflux surgery, it is starting to be used for those that may be getting benefits from prescription medications. There can be side effects of those medications though that the patient doesn’t want to deal with on a regular basis. If they have to take medications for other types of medical concerns it can render them less effective as well. Therefore acid reflux surgery may be a good idea to allow them relieve and to ensure they can get the results from medications for their other health concerns.

Individuals that have undergone surgery for acid reflux have to be committed to eating a well balanced diet afterwards. This includes limiting fatty foods, chocolate, and citrus fruits. The results from such surgery will vary as well. Some individuals never suffer from acid reflux again while others do on occasion. However, those that do continue to suffer from it find that they symptoms aren’t nearly as severe as they once were.

Tags: surgery for acid reflux, radiofrequency surgery, fundoplication surgery, esophagus

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Pregnant Women and Acid Reflux Issues to Be aware of.

Pregnant Women and Acid Reflux Issues to Be aware of.

Many women tend to experience heartburn symptoms when they are still carrying their babies, and this happens for several reasons.

An increase in hormones during pregnancy, is one of the most common factors. This increases the ability of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to be closed, because it softens the ligaments function. As LES relaxes, the tendency is for the gastric acids and ingested foods to reflux back up into the esophagus area and throat.

Another reason they experience heartburn during pregnancy is from the changes occurring within her body as the baby begins to develop and grow, increasing pressure on her stomach. Therefore, the stomach contents are forced right into the LES, and then to the esophagus.

Fortunately, there are several ways pregnant women can help to elevate some of the painful discomforts from acid reflux. The following is some good advice, although this may not remove the heartburn totally.

1. Refrain from foods already known to be causes of heartburn. Examples of this are chocolates, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, mustard, tomatoes and tomato based products, fatty foods, fried foods, and highly seasoned dishes. You may also want to consult your physician on what food and beverage items you should or should not be ingesting.

2. Avoid beverages with caffeine in them, such as; coffee, tea and soda. Too much of these will cause the LES to relax and let the acid to return into the esophagus.

3. Stay away from alcohol beverages. Alcohol is similar to caffeine, in respect to how it effects the LES, both will trigger the onset of heartburn.

4. Do not eat large meals. It is suggested that taking numerous small meals throughout the day will be better.

5. Avoid rush when eating your meals. Make sure to chew your food well and take your time when eating, as this will also help cut back on the amount of heartburn you experience.

6. Get plenty of rest a after you eat each meal and do not get involved in any activity that will interfere with your body digestive system.

7. Drink plenty of water through out the day and in fact, women that are pregnant need to not only drink at least eight to ten glasses a day, they should drink them throughout the day. Because if this is the stomach will expand and the LES will be under more pressure causing it to open when it shouldn’t. Therefore, you should keep in mind to only drink water and other fluids between meals.

8. How you sleep is important too, you should arrange your pillows so you sleep around 6 - 10 inches high. You should try to elevate both your head and shoulder areas when sleeping. By doing this, gravity will work to help keep your stomach acids down in the right place, and not up in your esophagus area. Try to consult physicians to gain additional knowledge on how to relieve night time heartburn.

9. Don’t wear tight fitting clothes. If you wear clothes that are too tight around the stomach area, than that can trigger heartburn as well.

10. When bending, do it at the knees, not at the waist. You do not want to put too much pressure on your stomach.

11. Don’t slouch; rather sit erect in a relaxing chair.

12. Maintain a sensible amount of weight, too much weight and fatness will give more stress in your stomach. As a result, this will force stomach contents throughout the LES and to the esophagus. You should always follow your doctors advice on the recommended eating guidelines.

13. Avoid all types of cigarette smoke. Medically speaking the causes of cigarette smoke are very harmful to pregnant women and is one of the known causes for heartburn too. As you follow these tips, you will have a much healthier experience during your pregnancy.

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Acid Reflux and Obesity

Are you an acid reflux sufferer, and also overweight at the same time? If you want to get rid of both maladies, you need to perform certain workouts regularly, and when you do that, you automatically lose weight as a direct side effect! In this article I will tell you about a few workouts which would help you get rid of both of these diseases, quickly and easily!

Believe it or not, there are not one but many reasons why you should workout regularly. To give you an idea, if you feel weak and fatigued all the time, it means that your metabolic rate is low. Exercises can boost your metabolic rate and increase your energy levels that way! If you exercise daily, you will not only feel energetic but also happier!

In this day and age, who doesn’t suffer from stress? From children to adults, everyone has their individual share of stress to battle with. Fortunately, exercises can combat stress and relieve you of depression, since they release special hormones into your body called endorphins which are known to boost a person’s mood!

Exercises also help with quick digestion, as well as relieve one from the pain which acid reflux patients generally suffer from! In other words, if you workout regularly, you don’t need to take the help of pain killers!

But not all exercises are fit for acid reflux suffers. If you suffer from acid reflux, you should choose your exercises carefully. For example, the best exercises for you would be those which don’t require you to bend backwards or recline. Two examples of such exercises are walking and running, but make sure to keep your body upright at all times! If you bend or bow, it could trigger your acid reflux symptoms!

Also, you should choose smooth roads for walking or running as opposed to rough and uneven paths, as they could make your situation worse. Another good workout is the bicep curls; you should do it either by sitting or standing straight!

There are some exercises which you should never do, such as weight lifting. Why? Weight lifting requires you to lie on your back, and this can increase the risk of acid reflux!

It is also important that you maintain proper eating habits. For one, you should never eat at a time when you would be heading out for workouts; working out immediately after eating can prove to be dangerous for acid reflux suffers! For another, you should try to eat healthy foods all the time. Prepare your meal in such a way that it is rich in carbs and low on fat and protein!

Remember that not all workouts will suit you, so if you find that certain exercises are triggering the acid reflux symptoms in you, just discontinue them and find alternatives. If you still cannot find a suitable workout then you might want to take over-the-counter antacids before you start exercising, or else, consult your doctor!

Remember that exercises can not only help you get rid of acidity and the other related symptoms, but also keep your weight at the normal level!

Acid Reflux and Pregnancy

A woman’s body goes though a variety of changes during a pregnancy. While this is a very exciting time, there are issues, including acid reflux, that can make it difficult to like all aspects of it. There’s an old wive’s tale that states a pregnant woman with acid reflux will have a child with a full head of hair. However, the truth of it is that acid reflux is the result of changes in the body due to additional hormones.

These hormones can result in a woman creating more acid in her stomach. Since it isn’t uncommon for pregnant women to eat more than before, they’ll continue to produce even more of it. The combination of this can result in some of the acid moving up into the esophagus. Up to 80% of all pregnant women have to deal with acid reflux each day of their pregnancy. This can make it tough for them to focus on their daily routine or to get enough sleep at night.

As the pregnancy progresses there’s more pressure on the stomach area. This too can result in more acid moving into the esophagus. That is why most women find that they suffer from acid reflux during the final trimester of their pregnancy. Since what the woman consumes affects her baby, there are limits on what should be in her diet. Most types of prescription medicines for acid reflux won’t be a good idea.

It is allowable to take antacids to treat mild cases of acid reflux during pregnancy. Extensive research has shown that they don’t harm the baby. Pregnant women do need to be careful though as antacids contain huge amounts of sodium. This can result in fluids being retained which leads to swelling in the legs and ankles.

Each woman wants her baby to be as healthy as possible and that is understandable. That is why natural ways to alleviate acid reflux during the pregnancy are important. While consuming plenty of fresh fruits seems a good idea, it can lead to an increase in risk of acid reflux. Avoid those that contain big amounts of acid. They include oranges, lemons, and grapefruit.

It is best to eat six small meals everyday so that you aren’t hungry. Your body will be able to digest these smaller meals easier than large ones. Consume huge amounts of water during the day too so that you stay hydrated. Liquids definitely help the body to be able to digest foods easier. Avoid eating in the last hours before you go to bed at night, or you might end up suffering throughout the night with acid reflux.

Elevate your head and shoulders when you rest as well. This will help to keep the acid from going into the esophagus at night, or when you rest during the day. There are special pillows for this, or you can just stack two of them. You can also have someone elevate the head of your bed with boards or bricks for you. Adding several inches will definitely make a significant difference.

Try to lie on your left side as this will help to get the acid reduced in your stomach. When you lie on your right side or your back it is going to increase. It may not always be comfortable during a pregnancy to lie on your left side, but do your very best to get into that routine. It will certainly help you to avoid suffering.

Following such guidelines will help you prevent acid reflux during pregnancy. This is a great time for a mother to be so keep those negative aspects of it away. Getting enough rest is important too because soon you will have a baby up all night. If you continue to suffer from acid reflux on a regular basis during your pregnancy, make sure you share this with your health professional.

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Source: Grapefruit

Stop Acid Reflux With Home Remedies

When I first learned that I had acid reflux I knew that I didn’t want to take medication for the rest of my life. I wanted a natural remedy for acid reflux. I’ve never been a person who enjoys popping pills if I don’t need to. I’m going to share with you a few of the natural remedies that I’ve tried and had some success with.

Apple Cider Vinegar

I first learned about vinegar for acid reflux from a medical expert. The doctor told me the human stomach needs acid. The reason my acid reflux was a problem for me was because my stomach wasn’t producing enough acid. The solution was to take a teaspoon of vinegar to help my stomach out with the production of acid. It worked extremely well!

Eating Celery

This was another remedy that I experimented with. What I tried was eating a piece of celery before, during, or after each meal. Like othesr I found that it really helped my stomach calm down. It has a real soothing effect. This is well worth trying if nothing else seems to work.

Milk

Try drinking a glass of milk before each meal. This will only work if you don’t have problems with dairy. I fatigued this one out myself. I always found that milk helped me with spicy foods so I tried it on my acid reflux. This worked well for me.

Yogurt

As long as you don’t have a problem with dairy you should find yogurt to be very soothing. Yogurt can be very good for the stomach and can help your stomach digest foods more efficiently. A little yogurt after each meal can go a long ways.

Vegetable Diet

Vegetables and fruits can help reduce acid reflux a great deal. What’s important is to find out witch ones don’t bother your stomach. Some people will find citric to bother their stomach. There are also some people who may find that the citric fruits will offer relief from acid reflux. Some people will find that some citric fruits can actually help your stomach produce the amounts of acid that it really does need.

Stay Away From Red Meat

I’ve found that many red meats will bother my acid reflux. This probably has to do with all the fat and grease that can be found in it. Keep red meat to a minimum, make sure it is lean if you do eat it, and cook it in the right ways to reduce the amount of grease.

All of these natural remedies should help you stop acid reflux. Go a head and give a few a try!

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Source: Acid Reflux