Best Health News

Advertisers



Recent comments

Who's online

There are currently 0 users and 9 guests online.
Home

What is Acid Reflux Disease?

Quality (60)
Helpful (58)
Acid reflux disease, also celebrated as Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common ailment, affecting between 5%-7% of the population. In order to understand what GERD is it is important to be known with how the esophagus works. A long muscular tube, the esophagus carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. The normal adult esophagus is around cardinal to thirteen inches long and approximately an half an inch in diameter. GERD is caused by the backflow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus, usually because the lower esophageal sphincter does not close properly. When this happens over a long-life period of time, the lining of this tract becomes eroded, causing discomfort and pain. Symptoms of the disease are fairly straightforward and are very analogous to the symptoms of heartburn. GERD often include a frequent burning sensation, word-perfect behind the breastbone, which sometimes worsens when lying down for extended periods of time. While most cases of heartburn turn out to be non-life threatening, it is important that you visit your doctor at the onset of symptoms. Unfortunately, the symptoms of some indigestion and GERD can also imitate those of heart disease, so it is very consequential that you seek medical attention to make sure that you get the correct diagnosis. There are a number of medical tests which your doctor can perform which will confirm the diagnosis of GERD. After your doctor or healthcare professional has taken your medical history, he or she will most likely conduct an test using an Endoscope, a long flexible imaging instrument. This will allow the doctor to visibly exam your esophagus. If you are diagnosed with Acid Reflux disease, there are a number of treatment options available to you, much as making changes to your diet, reducing stress, and attractive over the counter antacids. Serious cases of GERD may require a prescription drug to reduce the acid being produced by your stomach, but lifestyle changes are often sufficient to control symptoms successfully.
Technorati Tags: Health acid reflux disease adult ailment backflow breastbone burning sensation cardinal esophageal reflux disease gastro esophageal reflux gastro esophageal reflux disease gerd life period lower esophageal sphincter lying down muscular tube symptoms of heartburn word perfect Array
Submitted by root on Fri, 2007-06-01 03:08.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Filtered words will be replaced with the filtered version of the word.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • You can use Textile markup to format text.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img>
More information about formatting options

Similar entries

  • An Introduction to Acid Reflux Disease
    Acid reflux disease, also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, afflicts millions of people. Many suffer from an occasional bout with heartburn, but acid reflux disease, as a diagnosis, should only be made if the heartburn causes impediments to your lifestyle due to severe, chronic discomfort finished prolonged periods of time. Usually, if you suffer from heartburn 2 or more times per week for at least 12 weeks, there’s a good chance that your diagnosis would be GERD. Unfortunately, no one knows exactly what causes unpleasant reflux disease, but there is an ample amount of information available at your doctor’s office and on the Internet.
  • Alternative Therapies for Acid Reflux Disease
    Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disease which affects approximately 5-7% of the population. It occurs when unpleasant from the stomach backs up into the esophagus, a long, thin, athletic tube, which connects the mouth and the stomach. This often causes a constant painful sensation behind the breastbone, which is commonly known as heartburn. long or persistent heartburn should be evaluated by a doctor, as heartburn can imitate the symptoms of heart disease. Once you have been properly diagnosed as having Acid Reflux Disease, there are a variety of treatment options available to you. galore doctors recommend finished the counter medications, developed to reduce stomach acid, much as antacids or prokinetic agents. Some patients who are unable to control their symptoms with non-prescription medication may either choose prescription antacids or surgery, or opt for a combination of the two.
  • Infants and Acid Reflux
    Infant acid reflux is quite common. People of complete ages, especially infants because they consume only liquids or soft foods, suffer from mild heartburn or acidic regurgitation on occasion. As in adult cases, infants experience unpleasant reflux when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is relaxed. The LES acts as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. It opens up to allow food into the stomach and then closes in order to protect the esophagus and other organs from acidic reflux. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine if an infant has developed a chronic form of heartburn called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
  • Acid Reflux Disease
    What is unpleasant reflux disease? Acid reflux disease can and often is mistaken for heartburn. But the heartburn symptoms of acid reflux disease usually occur 2 or much days a week for at least 3 months and can damage your esophagus. At the top of your stomach is a muscle titled the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which normally opens and closes allowing food to enter. It also prevents the acid in your stomach from backing up into your esophagus. The trouble begins when the LES opens at improper times, allowing unpleasant from the stomach to get into the esophagus, where it doesn't belong. Acid reflux disease can also lead to much serious medical conditions that may require hospitalization. unpleasant reflux in the throat can cause sore throat. If acid reaches the mouth, it can dissolve the enamel of the teeth. Millions of people have the disease and suffer from its most common symptom - frequent and continual heartburn. unpleasant reflux disease can be treated and controlled.
  • A Look at the Different Acid Reflux Symptoms
    Acid reflux symptoms vary in degrees of discomfort, from person to person, and within diametric age groups. The most common and persistent symptom is a burning sensation centered in the middle of the chest and/or throat, brought on by stomach acid that churns up onto the lining of the esophagus. This is due to the relaxing of the esophageal sphincter (valve), which remains open when it should be closed. Acid reflux also leads to cardinal of the most unpleasant symptoms celebrated as regurgitation of acid into the mouth, often repayable to overeating, or bending down aft a meal. People who suffer from acid reflux disease, also titled gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, exhibit symptoms that are chronic, persistent, and have a enervating effect on their daily lifestyle. Though heartburn is the most common of the acid reflux disease symptoms, opposite signs may also manifest themselves. These symptoms include wheezing, coarseness in the throat, breathing problems, acid regurgitation, a bitter taste in the mouth, humorous coughing, interrupted sleep, tightness in the throat, and halitosis (bad breath).
  • A Look at Acid Reflux Treatment
    Heartburn is a by-product of digestion, specifically affecting the esophagus and the stomach. The esophagus is a tube that delivers food into the stomach, and it has a valve that opens and closes to allow food in and to keep it falling during digestion. This valve can become lax or get overwhelmed by too much food or too much acid. This condition causes stomach acids to reflux or spill back up finished the valve onto the esophagus, fanning flames of discomfort within the central of the chest. Is there an acid reflux cure? Yes and no. Yes, because it can be treated effectively and relieved, but also no, because researchers have yet to find a root cause and it can always come back. Acid reflux treatment regimens include medications, lifestyle changes, and stress management. Depending on severity, acid reflux can be curbed with as little as only a hardly a behavioral modifications much as quitting smoky and eating healthier to powerful unpleasant reflux medication treatments under a physician’s supervision.
  • Healing Heartburn Holistically
    Dr. Rita Louise

    Everyone at whatsoever point in time has experienced whatsoever form of heartburn. Often, what we notice is a bitter, sour or acid taste in our mouths. At times, we may feel as if partially digested foods or liquids are moving from our stomach back towards our mouth. Sometimes we may also experience chest pain that increases when we lay down. Each of these is an indication of heartburn.

    Before we move on, however it is important to note that heartburn is only an indicator of a potentially larger digestive disorder called unpleasant reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Acid reflux is neither a grave disorder nor life threatening. This is especially true for those who single experience it occasionally. There are nonetheless millions of Americans that encounter the discomfort associated with acid reflux monthly, weekly and for some daily.

    But what causes acid reflux? Well, when we eat, food moves from the mouth finished the esophagus and into the stomach for further digestion. At the end of the esophagus there is a circular band of muscles that relax and allow food and liquids to pass into the stomach. It past tightens and prevents foods and stomach juices from moving back up into the esophagus. If, however, food or digestive juices escape the stomach and travel back up the esophagus, disagreeable the esophageal lining, this is when many people experience heartburn.

    For some, acid reflux is due to a mechanical disorder where the sphincter muscle at the end of the esophagus becomes wan or doesn’t intimate correctly. This can cause them to experience acid reflux when lying falling as well as when standing up. In addition to mechanical issues that can cause the sphincter muscle to relax, alcohol, smoking, prescription medications and certain foods much as chocolate, onions, spicy foods and mints can also lessen the interesting power of this muscle.

    Other reasons people experience acid reflux includes eating large meals. A large meal increases the pressure on the stomach. This pressure can cause stomach contents to literally be pushed out of the stomach and back into the esophagus. In addition, lying down far after a life-sized meal increases your chances of experiencing acid reflux because digestive juices can more easily move in the immoral direction. Pregnancy and obesity can also increase abdominal pressure and increase your risk of experiencing acid reflux as well. Other digestive disorders such as a peptic ulcer or insufficient digestive enzymes in the stomach can also cause stomach unpleasant to build up and back up into your esophagus.

    In addition to heartburn, individuals with acid reflux can experience difficulty swallowing, a continual sore throat or feeling a lump in the throat, coughing or wheezing. In more strict cases, the separate may regurgitate blood or notice that their stool is black, which can indicate that it contains partially digestible blood.

    Recommendations for Wellness

    Eat a number of smaller, much frequent meals instead of one or two large meals daily.

    Avoid lying down far after eating. Give your body a couple of hours to digest the food you’ve retributory eaten.

    If you experience unpleasant reflux at night, elevate your head or the head of your bed 4-6 inches.

    If you are overweight, begin a diet and exercise program to help you shed a few pounds.

    Take a good look at what you are eating. If you are consuming chocolate, alcohol, fried or greasy foods, foods flavored with peppermint or spearmints or acid-forming beverages such as certain juices, coffee, tea and effervescent beverages, they may be contributing to your acid reflux and should be avoided.

    If you are attractive prescription medications or suffer from a peptic ulcer, discuss your concerns with to your doctor to help you rule them down as the genuine cause of your acid reflux.

    Reduce your stress level. Sing, dance, meditate, practice wakeless breathing or do yoga to help your body relax. This will help to reduce the pressure on your stomach.

    Carminatives such as chamomile, fennel, ginger, peppermint and sage can work to sooth stomach muscles, increase the secretions of digestive juices as well as promote bile flow.

    Similarly, digestive bitters improve digestion finished enhanced secretion of digestive juices

    Soothing herbs much as aloe vera, marshmallow and smooth elm have traditionally been use to combat the irritation often associated with heartburn.

    If you feel as if the foods you are intense are not being digested properly, try taking digestive enzymes before each meal to help break down foods in the stomach and improve digestion. Food enzymes come in many forms. There are broad spectrum food enzymes that can help to digest proteins, carbohydrates and fats. There are also technical enzymes that help digest specific types of foods much as fats, proteins and milk.

    About The Author

  • Air swallowing not the cause of GERD
    NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD) swallow air and belch more frequently than those without GERD, a new study confirms, but the air swallowing does not appear to cause or worsen the condition.