March 10, 2011
Foods for Reflux
Acid reflux is a condition that can be very painful and irritating. A backup of stomach acid in the esophagus is harmful, causing inflammation, heartburn, regurgitation and difficulty swallowing. If gastric acids continuously enter the esophagus, acid reflux disease may be the result. Heartburn, nausea, stomach pain, and regurgitation are all harmful symptoms of acid reflux. Diet is an important method for controlling acid reflux and its symptoms. In order to curtail your diet to treat and prevent acid reflux, you must understand which foods are suitable for you to eat, and in what amount.
Balance
The body needs a balance of acidic forming and alkaline forming foods to maintain proper nutrition and health. This goes beyond getting the perfect amount of vegetables and grain. Eating foods for reflux requires a serious consciousness of what foods are good for the body’s pH balance. The pH balance of the body is controlled through the regulation of hydrogen in the body. A large amount of hydrogen within your bodily fluids raises the chances of developing severe acid reflux. Acidic foods increase hydrogen bonds while alkaline abundant foods remove or neutralize hydrogen ions.
Common Misnomers
Acid forming foods are not necessarily foods that taste acidic. Foods that on the tongue may be alkaline and acidic, may have the opposite effect once the nutrients are extracted and supplanted in the bloodstream. A diet that is heavy in either type of food is unhealthy. Eating in moderation is the best bet. A balance of pH will allow the body to efficiently absorb nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are needed for superior health. Although citrus foods like lemons and oranges taste acidic, if eaten in moderation, they do not increase the level of acid in the blood or instigate reflux.
Action
Taking a serious look at your diet is probably the safest way to control acid reflux. Eating a large amount of vegetables is great for increasing alkalinity. Eggplant, broccoli, lettuce, onions, pumpkins and collard greens are just a few of the vegetables with high alkalinity. Oatmeal, white flour, corn, lentils and chick peas are acid forming foods. In general, eating lean meats, limiting fats and oils, and minimizing alcohol, are all great methods of reducing the symptoms of acid reflux disease. People who initiate a rounded diet plan can keep the symptoms of acid reflux at bay. Avoiding garlic and onions is wise, although their effects vary from person to person.
Future Risk
If reflux becomes a consistent problem, this can lead to more serious, life-threatening conditions. Minerals cannot be properly absorbed into the bloodstream if the acidity is too high. It is imperative that you recognize how diet relates to your struggle with reflux and use the natural tools to combat the problem. A diet that is high in fat can trigger heartburn, the leading symptom of advance acid reflux disease and Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
These are just a few of the foods that will help to guide your diet plan. For more information on foods for acid reflux, visit refluxremedy.com today.
Filed under Acid Reflux by admin
March 8, 2011
Symptoms for GERD
If you constantly have a burning sensation in your chest, hiccup or belch frequently, particularly after a heavy, fatty meal, you may be experiencing heartburn, an ordinary symptom of GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, is a condition that stems from frequent acid reflux caused when the lower esophageal sphincter operates outside of the ordinary. Instead of tightening to restrict the influx of stomach acid and food that once passed through the esophagus, the loose sphincter or muscular ring allows acid to enter up the esophagus and cause inflammation. When the acid makes contact with the esophagus, a burning feeling begins, and is commonly referred to as heartburn.
Main Symptoms
Heartburn, sometimes referred to as acid indigestion, is primarily felt behind the breast bone but may spread to other nearby areas including the throat and neck. This pain is usually paired with belching. Heartburn is widespread and affects about 40% of the population. Although heartburn alone does not reflect that GERD is present, people that suffer from heartburn several times per week probably have GERD or acid reflux disease.
Gastric acid regurgitation is often associated with heartburn and is a chief symptom of GERD. Regurgitation can be uncomfortable because the acidic content of the stomach has the ability to burn and irritate the esophagus. When this occurs, the esophagus may become inflamed and limit the access of food to the stomach and create pain with swallowing.
Less Obvious Symptoms
Some symptoms of GERD are less-common and may go accidentally unnoticed as a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Chest pain, abdominal discomfort and nausea are among the symptoms that are often misinterpreted as symptoms for other medical conditions and diseases such as a heart attack. The simultaneous onset of these symptoms may be signs of Dyspepsia, where a general stomach ache occurs. Other symptoms for GERD are not typical at all but can serve as a warning sign. These atypical symptoms include but are not limited to asthma, sinusitis, a persistent cough, laryngitis and dentine hypersensitivity.
Defensive Treatment
Regulating the symptoms of GERD can be done through diet and habit. Eating meals that are less acidic a few hours before bed is a great way to reduce heartburn. Refraining from alcohol, fattening meals and chocolate can limit the frequency and intensity of heartburn and GERD. Over the counter medications like ibuprofen found in Advil and other pain relievers can exacerbate the symptoms of GERD. Drinking large amounts of water can neutralize the acidity of the stomach’s natural juices. Preventing GERD may be easier than treating it.
If you are not incorporated in your daily lifestyle and gastroesophageal reflux disease goes untreated, this may lead to gastritis and other complications of the esophagus. This can eventually cause difficulty with breathing and swallowing, essential everyday functions.
The Reflux Remedy Report contains more information on the symptoms for GERD and can assist you in determining your risk level. Go go to refluxremedy.com to view additional tips and methods of treating these symptoms.
Filed under Acid Reflux, Gerd Symptoms by admin
March 3, 2011
Symptoms of Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is a disease that is caused by an irregularly functioning lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES serves as a gateway for foods that have been chewed and swallowed into the stomach. Ideally, the LES closes after food passes through to the stomach. If the LES malfunctions and does not close completely or at all, this allows stomach acids to enter into the esophagus, causing acid reflux. Acid reflux affects many people and can be caused by several things. If you experience acid reflux symptoms more than twice in one week, you may have contracted acid reflux disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Signs and Symptoms
- Heartburn is the leading symptom of acid reflux and is also referred to as acid indigestion. If you feel a burning sensation in the chest, abdomen or throat, this could be a sign of heartburn. Heartburn can trigger chest pain as well.
- Dysphagia is characterized as a symptom of acid reflux. It creates the feeling of food being trapped in the throat or neck. Trouble swallowing is a signature effect of dysphagia and prevents people from enjoying meals normally.
- Bloating causes the abdomen to feel uncomfortably full. Painful bloating is associated with chest pains and hiccups. Stomach bloating that is a result of acid reflux will not subside until the food has been completely digested.
- Nausea involuntarily prompts you to vomit or burp. A sign of acid reflux, nausea makes you feel discomfort in the stomach, and throat. This feeling can cause stress, especially when driving or walking.
- Regurgitating food is a dangerous symptom of acid reflux. Food that has passed through the esophagus and is now imbued with stomach acid has the opportunity to damage the esophagus when refluxed. Food and acid that has been regurgitated causes a burning sensation.
- Chest Pain can be severe and uncomfortable. Chest pain can cause difficulty breathing. Be careful not to assume that chest pain is related to acid reflux and not a heart attack.
- Excessive Burping is an effect of acid reflux. Belching and burping usually brings up the wet gastric acid from the stomach. Burping up acid can cause bad breath.
Causes and Treatment
Acid reflux may be caused by other health conditions. Hiatal hernias, pregnancy, obesity and diabetes can ignite symptoms. People that have respiratory diseases are more likely to be affected by acid reflux.
Eating heavy meals right before you go to sleep, lying down after a meal and not lifting heavy objects are preventative measures. Lifestyle modification can go a long way in treating acid reflux. Preventative measures can be taken to reduce your chances of suffering from the symptoms of acid reflux and can ward off GERD. Adjusting your diet and habits are also beneficial. Diets that are low in fat are excellent for decreasing the frequency of symptoms.
For more information on the symptoms of acid reflux and possible treatment options, visit refluxremedy.com today and find out more.
Filed under Acid Reflux, Acid Reflux Symptoms by admin
February 28, 2011
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder
It is unnatural for stomach contents to rise into the esophagus but unfortunately, this happens to many people. This occurrence is called acid reflux, when stomach acids are permitted to enter the esophagus and move upward. When acid reflux occurs repeatedly, this could be a sign that you have gastroesophageal reflux disorder.
Gastroesophageal reflux disorder is what develops when the lower esophageal sphincter is relaxed and does not close consistently or tightly. The LES acts as a passageway for foods that have been eaten, allowing entrance into the stomach. Although the LES musts open to allow foods to pass to the stomach, a properly functioning LES should close immediately after the food goes to the stomach, and prevent stomach acids from being displaced. Stomach acid is corrosive but is suitable for the lining walls of that organ. In order to breakdown and digest food, the gastric acid in your stomach must be highly acidic. When gastric acid moves into the esophagus it ends up corroding the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation.
Many factors can cause you to suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disorder. If you have a haital hernia this could make you more susceptible to GERD. A hiatal hernia occurs when the top portion of the stomach and the LES muscle shift above the diaphragm, the muscle that divides the chest and stomach. The diaphragm normally aids the LES in it’s function to separate stomach acid from the esophagus. Hiatal hernias allow gastric acids to go from the stomach to the esophagus easily.
If you are pregnant this may affect your chances of having GERD. Pregnant women should be concerned about GERD because of their increased risk. As the baby develops in the womb, the body must make room. This means that vital organs begin to shift and are compressed. If the stomach shifts or compresses too much, this could force stomach acids to move past the LES and into the esophagus.
Obesity and diabetes also contribute to GERD. If you have a lot of extra weight, especially near the abdomen, this can put excessive pressure on the stomach and diaphragm. If the stomach endures pressure, this makes it easier for stomach acids to escape into the esophagus and cause damage. Diabetes affects the way that foods are digested and could encourage acid reflux. Close attention should be paid to your diet and exercise habits, as they can contribute to obesity and diabetes.
Smoking is a lifestyle contributor to GERD. Each time you smoke, the LES becomes weaker and has to work harder to remain closed. A weakened or relaxed LES will allow stomach acid to seep into the esophagus. The more you smoke, the higher your risk is of developing GERD.
Symptoms of GERD in adults include heartburn, chest pain, chronic cough, regurgitation and difficulty swallowing. Children however may not have heartburn but will likely have a persistent cough and respiratory problems. Avoiding certain foods, smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating smaller lean meals well before lying down for bed are simple ways to manage GERD.
To learn more about gastroesophageal reflux disorder, visit refluxremedy.com today.
Filed under Acid Reflux, Gastroesophageal Reflux by admin