How to Calm the Raging Inferno of Acid Reflux
More than 60 million people suffer with acid reflux disease
every week of their life. Acid reflux is a very unpleasant and
annoying condition. It is not considered to be a severe
condition such as acid reflux, unless it occurs over twice a
week over a time span of several months. If acid reflux disease
goes untreated for a prolonged period of time, it can cause
permanent damage to the esophagus.
Acid reflux disease is caused by acid from the stomach washing
back up into the esophagus repeatedly. This happens when the
lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak and relaxed. The main
cause of the relaxed esophageal sphincter muscle is high fat
foods which have been shown in studies to temporarily weaken the
esophageal sphincter muscle.
The most common symptoms of acid reflux disease are a burning
sensations in the chest, a sour acidic taste in your mouth, sore
throat, and bad breath. Usually laying down right after eating
will make symptoms worsen. Many people suffering from acid
reflux have found relief in positioning their bed in an upright
position. They usually do this by putting 4 to 6 inch blocks
under the 2 bedposts at the head of the bed.
The answer to most people who suffer with acid reflux disease is
to reach for an antacid. These are o.k. for short term use, but
reducing the acid in the stomach is not the answer. In recent
research, results indicated that reducing the acid in the
stomach can cause several other diseases. So, what can you do?
When you have acid reflux you absolutely have to have relief-
and the quicker the better.
To start with, you can use these tips to help wean yourself off
of the antacids for good. Lifestyle changes can go a long way in
helping keep the flames at bay. Things such as quitting smoking,
drinking, and reducing stress will set you on the right road.
Then, making changes in your diet is the best thing you can do
to keep acid down in the stomach where it belongs.
The first thing to do is start eating foods that are high in
fiber. Then make sure that you eat smaller meals so you wont
overfill the stomach, causing sloshing of the fluids in the
stomach up into the esophagus.
Eat more complex carbohydrate foods and lay off of the fried
fatty foods. Last of all, but not least it will help you
tremendously if you can start an exercising program.
The most common foods that are known for causing acid reflux are
fried foods, caffeine, and alcohol. Smoking also causes the
esophageal muscle to relax causing a problem for acid reflux
sufferers.
There are even some medications that can cause problems for some
patients with acid reflux disease.
Be sure to consult with your physician concerning interactions
of medications he has prescribed. A physician administering an
acid reflux treatment usually prescribes various drugs as a
first line of defense.
The stomach is designed to be very acidic with a pH of 3.0 or
less. When your stomach has the proper pH, it digests your food
so that it is broken down into vitamins, minerals, and amino
acids that are absorbed. When the acid is reduced greatly in the
stomach by antacids, it leaves too little acid for the functions
in which it was designed for. Vitamins and minerals are severely
depleted in cases where the patient continues over long periods
of time to consume antacids.
Herbal supplements have rapidly gained popularity over the past
decade because they are safe and affordable solutions for
chronic health problems. Herbal supplements are a natural and
effective solution for revitalizing your health. There are
several herbs that are well known for alleviating heartburn. One
of my favorites is a very refreshing drink- ginger tea. As
always, consult your physician before taking any treatment of
any kind.