Friday, April 22, 2011

Various Techniques of Acid Reflux Treatment

Understanding of acid reflux and its causes is very important in treating acid reflux. A condition where the esophagus, the tube in which connects the stomach and the mouth, is damaged because of the vomiting of contents in the stomach is called acid reflux. It is essential that you first think of the healing of the esophagus with regards acid reflux treatment.

In the same way with other health condition, there is no certain cause for acid reflux. Problems and symptoms that are connected with acid reflux and heartburn have a high risk of developing if the LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) is weak. It is one probable reason because if it is weak, it fails to maintain the pressure barrier between esophagus and stomach. Other contributing factors are stress, smoking and eating large meals.

Granting that there is no complete cure for acid reflux, acid reflux treatment exists to help you manage your symptoms. In this article, some of the treatment will be tackled.

Natural remedies are one way of having acid reflux treatment. The practice of natural remedies includes those wives tales that you have heard somewhere and searched in the internet. Natural remedies can really be efficient though not all patients can benefit from them since it does not work to all patients. One good natural remedy that is said to work for almost all patients is ginger.

Over the counter remedies is also considered in acid reflux treatment. However, this does not work for every person who suffers from acid reflux and heartburn too. Also, you will find it hard to choose which is best since each brand or type will vary with each other. One will be better than the other. H2 and Antacids are the most common of this kind of treatment.

In addition to the treatments mentioned, it is vital that you pay a visit to your doctor and hear what he might say about handling your acid reflux before you take any treatment. Not all treatment will work well for you. A prescribed treatment will be given to you by your doctor when you are diagnosed though a special prescribed treatment if you are a younger patient. For prescribed remedies, Proton Pump Inhibitors is the very known.

However, no matter what treatment you do with your acid reflux without having changed your lifestyle, it would be worthless. It’s always advised by doctors, whether you are taking medications or not. Lifestyle change for acid reflux patients are as simple as getting rid of acidic or fatty foods, smoking and drinking alcoholic and carbonated beverages and other stuffs that might trigger symptoms.

If nothing of the above acid reflux treatment works for you, having a surgery is the best option for you. If you have tried all other treatments, there are a couple of key sorts that you will almost certainly endurein which is integrated with Fundoplication and Endoscopies that stiffen the esophagus and the valve is construct that leaking of acid is prevented.

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Monday, October 11, 2010

Acid Reflux Diet - Your Comprehensive Guide

Acid reflux is a typical dilemma as you age, happen to be obese or taking unhealthy foods. In some occasions, acid reflux can be triggered by a stomach infection or with the stomachs lining being injured. This results to feeling of bloating and unnecessary increase in acid levels traveling back into the throat. Acid reflux diet is needed to alleviate manifestations of heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux. It is essential to recall if pain continues that you consult a certified health professional as some cases could direct to cancer. The natural therapies for acid reflux are alternatives to medications and surgery because they are affordable and have no side effects.

It is used traditionally for over a long period of time, particularly in remote and rural areas. They have been found efficient and capable of preventing the rise of stomach acids to the esophagus, causal to acid reflux or heartburn. In fact, acid reflux diet is subjected of extensive medical studies because their efficiency continues to baffle doctors and scientists. You must know more about these common traditional herbs and how they provide relief and remedy without needing for acid reflux drugs or surgery. There are numerous natural remedies proven to be successful in treating the condition.

Apple cider vinegar is one particular theory pertaining to the acid sensitivity of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). As a person grows older, the ability to produce stomach acid can be impaired. This will result to alterations of body functions including the weakening of the muscular valves of the LES. Hence, LES becomes inefficient in preventing leakages of stomach contents to the esophagus. Apple cider vinegar can increase the supplement of acid in the stomach to hasten the digestion processes before regurgitated food can leak out of the digestive system. Adding this ingredient into your acid reflux diet is essential.

Licorice in medical studies is confirmed to have flavonoids in the roots. In some cases, reflux may result from an over secretion of stomach acids and the sufferer will need medication to inhibit the over production of acids. Hence, as opposed to the effects of acid cider vinegar, the flavonoids in licorice can prevent the over secretion of acids. Bladder wrack based on clinical studies is another herbal plant that contains magnesium carbonate and alginic acid. Magnesium carbonate is medically used as an antacid but the effectiveness of alginic acid in preventing stomach acid is yet to be explored. When you are planning for an acid reflux diet, you can mix these herbs into your food.

Barley grass is one more natural treatment as it is made up of amino acids and chlorophyll, successfully used as anti-inflammatory substances. Preferably, young barley grass are steamed and taken as tea to give gastric relief. Additionally, mastic gum is an evergreen shrub, which has hydrochloric acid highly efficient in eradicating helicobacter pylori, a bacterial strain that results to reflux disorder. Cabbage juice has glutamine content, famous as an all time favorite to be an element of an acid reflux diet for rural individuals to give natural treatment for acid reflux. Slippery elm is also desirable to be part of the regimen since it has calming characteristics which can efficiently relieve the mucous membranes of the esophagus.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

What are Good Foods to Eat with Acid Reflux? - Your Basics Guide

Common digestive problem that people experience are heartburn or acid reflux. Moreover with individuals having unhealthy diet regimen. Many people have named the condition as "heartburn" to emphasize how the stomach produces the gastric acid that backflows to the esophagus. The problem is felt after eating or consuming too much food that aids its occurrence.

Eat small frequent meals than having three full meals for a day is suggested to people who go through acid reflux. Before going to bed, eating a meal or taking a snack few of hours before sleeping would remedy the condition. This allows food to be digested and be absorbed from the stomach. The end result then is the lowering of acid levels in the stomach that lessens the chances of the reflux and heartburn. Thus, what are good foods to eat with acid reflux?

Diets consist of all of the basic food groups can lower or totally eliminate acid reflux. What are good foods to eat with acid reflux are grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, meats and beans except those food groups that are highly discouraged. Turning away from alcohol beverages, caffeinated drinks, peppermint, chocolate and foods that are high in fat content are solutions to prevent acid reflux from happening.

Grains that are low fat are appropriate to eat. These are multi-grain, corn, rice or white bread, bran, rice and oatmeal cereals, rice cakes, unseasoned pretzels and graham crackers. Tomatoes and vegetables that are made into a cream sauce or fried onions and potatoes contain high level of fats. Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, fennel, green beans and peas are safe to eat. Apples, bananas, berries, melons and peaches are approved and tested to be helpful except for citric fruits like grapefruits, oranges and pineapples which can add up to acid reflux attacks.

When dealing with what are good foods to eat with acid reflux considers the milk and dairy products as it is wise to choose those that are skim, low fat or fat free. Feta or goat cheese and cheeses made from soy, rice or vegetables are foods that don’t trigger the problem. Avoid products that are chocolate and whole milk, including dishes that are made of such ingredients. Extra lean varieties of meat or meat substitutes are allowed. Change bacon, cold cuts, sausage, fried meats, seasoned meats and marbled sirloin with low-fat meat like fish, skinless chicken breast, turkey or steak.

It is indispensable to be careful of toppings, condiments, sauces and dressings as well, as they can be sources of unhealthy calories. Oil that is used when cooking particularly coming from animals and vegetables must be exchange with palm oil. When dealing with desserts, limit oneself from chocolate, oils and fats. It is healthier to eat low fat yogurt, sorbet and other low or fat free sweets and snacks similar to cookies, baked chips, pudding, and jelly beans. Bear in mind what are good foods to eat with acid reflux are limited. Being hydrated with water is another method of eliminating the condition. Foods with high fiber content are also imperative and should be eaten routinely as specific roles within the body's general digestive purpose and are influential in passing out stools easily.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux Reviewed

Though often not so serious, the symptoms of acid reflux can be painful and uncomfortable. Acid reflux or GERD occurs when the tube used to take in the food from the throat to the stomach could not handle the acid. The stomach digests the food we eat with the help of the acid it produces and stores. The walls around the stomach are supposed to be strong enough to produce and store the acid without causing any damage.

One of the very first and most common symptoms of acid reflux is heartburn, which occurs when the acid produced by the stomach to digest the food we eat flows back to the esophagus. This is normal though as it can be experienced by everyone once in a while; however, if the symptoms of acid reflux occur more frequently and can't be relieved by medications, you may be positive of acid reflux. The symptoms of acid reflux may be relieved and prevented by making some changes in your diet but if this still doesn’t work, you should seek immediate medical attention.

The symptoms of acid reflux are experienced when the lower oeasophageal sphinter fails to block or stop the acid from flowing back from the stomach to the esophagus. When this occurs, the chest experiences burning sensation and pain. This condition is called heartburn.

Other symptoms of acid reflux include:

1. Burning Sensation or Pain in the Chest - this burning sensation or pain is first felt at the sternum or from behind the breastbone and may radiate up to the throat. This condition is usually experienced shortly after eating. It can last for as short as a few minutes or as long as several hours.

2. Sour or bitter taste in the mouth – a person will have a sour or bitter taste in the mouth when the stomach contents are pushed back to the esophagus and to the back of the throat.

3. Trouble with Swallowing - also known as dysphagia, trouble with swallowing is a condition that occurs when there is no normal passage of food from the mouth through the esophagus tube to the stomach. This condition is accompanied by a feeling of choking, burning after eating, chest pressure, or a feeling that the food could not move from the throat. It is one of the most common symptoms of acid reflux but it could also be a symptom of other medical conditions such as esophagitis and esophageal cancer; thus, constant trouble with swallowing requires immediate medical attention.

4. Coughing – research shows that GERD accounted for almost 40% of cases of chronic cough in patients who do not smoke. Coughing occurs when the stomach acid refluxes into the esophagus and is inhaled.

5. Wheezing and other asthma-related symptoms – these are also some of the most common symptoms of acid reflux as study sows that around 60% of asthmatic people have also been diagnosed to have acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can cause asthma-related symptoms when the stomach acid backs up into the esophagus and is inhaled into the lungs and airways, thereby, making breathing more difficult and causing the patient to cough and wheeze.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Acid Reflux Symptoms - Knowing More about GERD

Acid reflux is a condition that occurs when the tube used to transport the food to the stomach from the throat is too weak and is not able to handle the acid, thereby producing some acid reflux symptoms. The food taken in is digested with the acid it produces and stores. The walls of the stomach should be strong enough for it to be capable of storing the acid without causing any damage. However, when the acid flows from the stomach into the esophagus, acid reflux occurs with different symptoms. Read on and learn about some of the acid refux symptoms.

Acid Refux Symptoms:

1. Heartburn - this is the main symptom of acid reflux or GERD. Heartburn is a burning sensation that runs up to the chest and the throat from the stomach. According to a certain study, almost 3 quarters of patients frequently experiencing acid reflux symptoms experience heartburn at night. This condition most likely occurs in connection with some activities such as:
  • After eating a heavy meal;·
  • Lifting;· Bending over;·
  • Lying down on the back

2. Dyspepsia – dyspepsia is said to be experienced by 50% of the patients diagnosed with acid reflux. Dyspepsia is related to the following:
  • Pain and discomfort particularly in the upper part of the abdomen;
  • Nausea after eating;
  • Feeling of fullness


It should be noted that dyspepsia may also be experienced by those not diagnosed with GERD.

3. Regurgitation – this condition is described as the feeling of acid backed up in the throat. It is sometimes called "wet burp" when the acid is pushed to the mouth. If the acid is forced back to the mouth, it causes the feeling of throwing up..


Not So Common Acid Reflux Symptoms:

There are some acid reflux patients who do not experience the primary acid reflux symptoms. Rather, they experience not so common acid reflux symptoms such as:

1. Burning Sensation in the Chest – chest pain is characterized by the feeling that your food could not move from behind your breastbone. While this can be a symptom of acid reflux, chest pain can also signal other medical conditions such as angina and heart attack.

2. Acid Reflux Symptoms experienced in the throat – some of these are:
  • Acid laryngitis - this condition is characterized by dry cough, hoarseness, feeling of lump in the throat, and the need to clear the throat repeatedly
  • Dysphagia (trouble swallowing) - in some cases, acid reflux may cause the patient to choke or have difficulty in swallowing the food, thereby causing severe chest pain.
  • Persistent hiccups· Chronic sore throat

3. Coughing and Respiratory Problems – Patients with acid reflux may also experience coughing and wheezing. As a matter of fact, around 40% of the cases of coughing in patients who do not smoke are attributed to acid reflux.

4. Chronic Nausea and Vomiting – if you have experienced nausea for more than a week or even for months, then you may have acid reflux symptoms. Under some circumstances, patients with acid reflux may vomit at least once a day. However, it is important to consult with your doctor to be properly diagnosed and rule out other possible conditions such as ulcers, stomach cancer, pancreatic or gallbladder disorders.