While the instances of a gastric ulcer causing diarrhea are few and far between, they do occur in a few individuals, most notably those suffering from Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or ZES. ZES is in fact one of the least common causes of ulcers, although one of the key symptoms is diarrhea. If diarrhea symptoms do appear, there may be a tumor in the pancreas and the duodenum. These tumors are known as gastrinomas, and they cause the production of excessive gastric levels. It is important to note that such tumors are often cancerous, so patients who notice that their gastric ulcer is causing diarrhea should seek diagnosis and treatment immediately. As part of the treatment, your doctor may prescribe anti acid medications in order to prevent the ulcers from recurring.

It is estimated that only 1 person in a million gets ZES each year. The figure is even lower in the category of ulcer sufferers, with only 0.1% to 1% ulcer patients being diagnosed with the condition. ZES generally occurs in people 45 to 50 years old, with men being more prone to the condition than women.

The diagnosis and treatment of ZES begins with the examination of patients suffering from gastric ulcer causing diarrhea. Once H. pylori and a history of NSAID use (both common causes of gastric ulcer related diarrhea) have been ruled out, the doctor will then look into the possibility that it is indeed ZES that the patient is suffering from. In almost all cases, the diarrhea occurs long before the characteristic ulcer symptoms appear. The ulcers related to the condition typically occur in the second, third, or fourth section of the duodenum or the jejunum.

Patients suffering from ZES are also a lot more likely to develop Gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD, and the effects of this condition may be more severe than in patients that do not have ZES. GERD itself may cause a number of complications aside from ulcers, including a narrowing of the esophagus.

Since the ulcers that result from the condition can be stubborn and hard to treat, treatment options for ZES tend to be quite involved. In most cases, the patient will have to undergo surgery so the tumors can be successfully removed. At the same time, the patient may also be injected with an intravenous proton pump inhibitor that will help reduce the production of gastric acids. This is a far better treatment option than what was available in the past, when the removal of the stomach was the only alternative.

Another option you may want to consider is the one presented by Refluxremedy.Com. The site offers a safe and effective alternative treatment to gastric ulcer causing diarrhea that will ease your symptoms quickly. And since the method relies on all natural means, you will be able to avoid the side effects and medication interactions that may occur even with over-the-counter medications. For this reason alone, Refluxremedy.Com is worth considering over traditional ulcer treatment methods.

12,000 Americans die each year from esophageal cancer, and its primary warning symptom is acid reflux. Acid reflux is a ?warning symptoms? of possible Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Keep in mind that acid reflux is a symptom and not a disease. Unfortunately because most people put of treating the root cause properly it winds up doing harm to the esophagus.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when the esophagus gets irritated and inflamed from acid reflux splashing up from the stomach.

The stomach produces hydrochloric acid after a meal to aid in the digestion of food. The stomach is naturally protected from this caustic digestive acid. The outer lining of cells in your stomach creates massive amounts of mucus.

However the cells lining the esophagus (throat) do not make this protective mucus coating, leaving it vulnerable to up surges of acid rebound.

Acid reflux, or rebound, is more commonly referred to as heartburn simply because the base of your esophagus is located behind your heart.

If you?ve ever experienced a bad case of acid indigestion, you?ve felt this burning sensation behind your heart at the bottom of your esophagus.

When the ?warning symptoms? are ignored, the stomach acid rebounds higher and higher up the esophagus chemically scalding the delicate cells along your throat, inside your mouth and even up into your sinus tissues.

You may wonder how it can surge up the esophagus and the truth is it shouldn?t ever do that because there is a ?safety valve that?s supposed to prevent acid reflux from erupting all the up the throat.

This seal or safety valve in the base of your esophagus is called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). It?s designed to open when you swallow food or drink, allowing food stuff to enter your gut. After the food leaves the esophagus it?s supposed to close, sealing off and guarding your throat, mouth and sinus tissue, as well as keeping your food down where it belongs.

The problem is after proper treatment of your acid reflux is delayed for a long time, the corrosive stomach acid that has been pushed up against it and eventually weakens the muscle response of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

Once the acid has had an opportunity to weaken the esophagus?s safety valve (LES), digestive juices and acids then begin leaking into the vulnerable esophageal tube area.

Eventually this develops into Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), which erodes and mutates the cells of your throat often leading to throat cancer and sometimes death.

Approximately 30% of adults in the US experience this Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) on a monthly basis and about 10% of adults in the US go through this weekly. Shockingly, these days even children and infants develop Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), thanks to lack of common sense when it comes to dietary habits in America.

Fatty fried foods, alcohol, cigarettes, certain pharmaceuticals, lack of exercise and poor posture even play a role.

I found plenty of natural alternatives millions of people are discovering that help reverse Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), simply because acid reflux is primarily a nutritional deficiency, not a drug shortage.

OTC drugs have been found to actually make acid reflux worse, so my advice is if something you took didn?t work, keep trying new things, like eating an apple for instance, that works well for millions of people-in-the-know.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

Attention all spicy food lovers! If you are like many people you love Mexican food, Chinese, and basically all if any, spicy and greasy foods because after all, ?they are simply delish ?. Even diet fanatics will dip into their secret cravings every now and then for some good old fashion burger and fries. So, what do you do when you when get that heartburn that won’t go away? Reach for your antacids, milk of magnesia, Tums, Maalox, Amphojel, Alternagel, Mylanta, Rolaids or Pepto- Bismol? These are just a few antacids that are intended to temporarily relieve heartburn, neutralize stomach acid, acid indigestion and upset stomach.

They are also recommended to relieve the pain of ulcers and some contain an ingredient called Simethicone that helps eliminate excess gas. These are some ?up sides? to antacids but take into caution the ?down sides?. Most of these antacids contain ingredients such as magnesium that causes diarrhea or aluminum for that feeling of constipation.

If Antacids work for you, great! But keep in mind that they are made for temporary relief and are not intended for long term use. On a serious note, if you are using antacids for heart burn you should take as directed by your doctor, according to the manufacturer’s directions. If you are using the tablets, chew them before swallowing for faster relief against heartburn that won’t go away.

Serious side effects can occur with an overdose or overuse of antacids which usually occurs because of long term use and a build up of tolerance to the medication. Side effects include constipation, diarrhea, changes in the color of bowl movements, and stomach cramps.

Where do you turn when antacids no longer do the trick and you are taking more than the recommended amount? You can always go to your good old doctor and tell him/her that you are taking too many antacids and suffering from constipation that is killing you more quickly than the acid reflux.

He will then do either two things depending on how severe your symptoms have become at this point, Prescription drugs, or H2 antagonists ?over the counter strength. More than likely he will try you take OTC antagonists first which is nothing but acid blockers for heart burn. These drugs relieve heartburn, acid indigestion, and sour stomach, with many different options that are available over the counter as well as prescription strength. Examples of H2 antagonists that are available over the counter include:

? Axid AR

? Pepcid AC

? Tagamet HB

? Zantac 75

The FDA has approved the proton pump inhibitors prevacid, Prilosec, and Zegerid for over-the-counter use to treat heartburn that won’t go away or occurs in more than two episodes per week, for 14 days. This drug also come in prescription strength and is intended to be taken in accordance to the directions provided by your doctor. You should consult with your doctor if your symptoms persists or get worst over a two week period.

Another word for acid reflux or heartburn is gastritis. Ultimately when over-the-counter (OTC) gimmicks like antacids and risky pharmaceutical drugs fail miserably, it?s never too late to embrace a more holistic approach.

I won?t claim that chemically treating gastritis is absolutely unnecessary, only because once you prescribe to the barbaric ways of Westernized medicine; you?re going to most likely end up having more extreme gastritis treatments like surgery.

I?m also not going to say that Western medicine?s gastritis treatments are absolutely necessary either.

Truth is it?s ever too late to consider the proven benefits of integrative and Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM). Yet as you already know, the sooner you catch on and start using natural remedies, the sooner you will experience a total healing of your gastritis.

It goes unsaid that correct treatment of gastritis depends on the root cause.

According to the Mayo clinic, a sudden onset and short duration of gastritis caused from taking Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen or alcohol can be relieved by stopping use of those substances.

That should be a warning to you that prolonged of this class of drugs (NSAIDs) may lead to chronic gastritis.

In other words, you should know one of Ibuprofen?s many adverse side effects is gastritis. Other brand names of ibuprofen are Advil, Motrin, Nuprin and even Pediacare Fever.

7 Other brands of drugs that belong to the NSAID class are:

1. Aspirin (Bayer)

2. Naproxen (Aleve)

3. Indomethacin (Indocin)

4. Nabumetone (Relafen)

5. Celecoxib (Celebrex)

6. Flurbiprofen (Ansaid)

7. Rofecoxib (Vioxx)

Check with your pharmacist to see if you?re unknowingly taking any NSAID class drugs, because there are dozens of them out there. NSAIDs reduce the flow of blood to the kidneys and impair function of the kidneys which can be a factor in your gastritis problem, gastric acid production and many other associated digestive health problems.

Fact: ?it?s estimated that 35% to 80% of people with gastritis also suffer from asthma.

People suffering from asthma are more likely to experience allergic reactions to ibuprofen and other NSAIDs. Fluid retention (edema), blood clots, heart attacks, high blood pressure and outright heart failure have also been associated with the use of NSAIDs. Plus some products like Excedrin (acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine), are a combination of drugs.

Other Westernized medical treatments for gastritis are:

• Antacids: Over-the-counter antacids (Maalox, Mylanta, others) in liquid or tablet form are a common treatment for mild gastritis. Antacids neutralize stomach acid and can lead to gut flora imbalances often leading to bacterial infections.
• Acid blockers: When antacids don’t provide enough relief, your doctor may recommend more medication, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid) or famotidine (Pepcid), that helps reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. These drugs only treat symptoms and do not cure your gastritis.
• Proton pump inhibitors: These drugs shut down your body?s natural ?acid pumps.? They chemically block the action of the acid-secreting cells of your stomach. This class of medications includes omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex) and esomeprazole (Nexium). ?Blocking natural digestive acid production can have many adverse consequences, be sure to know the risks.

When treating the symptoms of your gastritis with any drug, be absolutely sure your gastritis symptoms isn?t caused from a common gastric ?acid deficiency,? which is more common than you would first think.

Sometimes The Gastritis Treatment Is Worse Than The Disease

Doctors often end up treating people with gastritis for a bacterial infection (H.Pylori), known to be caused from antacids. The treatment for this antacid induced infection is usually antibiotics combined with proton pump inhibitor drugs.

Antibiotics kill the bad ?ulcer causing? H. Pylori bacteria as well as any healthy micro-organisms remaining in your digestive tract (probiotics).

There?s clearly a good reason to not use antacids to treat your gastritis in the first place. I?ve only pointed out ?a handful? of the consequences of mistreating gastritis with antacids and other drugs.

Do you really need me to show you more?

There are many evidence-based, scientifically proven, natural remedies that help your body heal itself from the symptoms of gastritis . . . start looking and you will find them.

Do ask your doctor to use Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) when treating gastritis, before resorting to risky experimental drugs.

Live well,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist