Gastroesophageal reflux is the process whereby a small amount of the stomach contents flows back into the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux is commonly known as heartburn and is not unusual in humans. It is often brought on by the drinking of alcohol or the eating of certain foods that are fatty or spicy. Changes in posture such as lying down can also increase the occurrence.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), on the other hand, occurs when a person experiences gastroesophageal reflux on a frequent basis. It is typically the direct result of a faulty sphincter in the lower portion of the esophagus, but there are many theories as to exactly what causes the incompetent sphincter. Although a faulty sphincter is thought to be responsible for the majority of GERD cases, other causes may include things such as systemic diseases like lupus, ingestion of corrosive materials, or extended intubation. The malfunction of this sphincter with its subsequent regurgitation results in a burning sensation in the region behind the sternum. Over time, this persistent reflux directly results in the inflammation of the esophageal lining which can eventually reach down to the muscular level. Once the inflammation penetrates into the muscular level, it causes muscle damage which further increases the amount and frequency of reflux that a person will experience. There is no one type of person who becomes afflicted with GERD. It is a very non-selective disease that occurs in the old and the young, the thin and the overweight, in both genders, and in all ethnicities. Because the disease is non-selective in who it affects, the diagnosis is often difficult and tends to rely on patient history, x-ray studies, and endoscopy of the esophagus. Diagnosis of GERD can often be tricky as it can mimic other disease processes such hiatal hernia.

Hiatal hernia can mimic GERD, but it is a completely different condition. The cause is not known, but it can occur as a result of trauma or it can be congenital. Basically, a hiatal hernia is the protrusion of a portion of the stomach through the diaphragm opening. It can be an ongoing occurrence or an infrequent one. When it is of the ongoing variety, it is known as a rolling para-esophageal hernia. This variety has a low incidence and tends to account for approximately ten percent of all cases of hiatal hernia. The more common form of hiatal hernia is the sporadic type which is known as a sliding hernia. This type accounts for approximately ninety percent of all hiatal hernias and tends to happen in response to changes in position. Essentially what happens is that the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm’s opening when a recumbent (lying down) position occurs. When a more upright position is achieved, the stomach slides back to its normal position. Many people who have both types of this hernia are asymptomatic, but others exhibit signs of gastroesophageal reflux especially when lying down. When reflux occurs, it is considered to be of concern and treatment is usually recommended.

For more information on Hiatal hernia and GERD be sure to contact Reflux Remedy at www.refluxremedy.com today!

Heartburn is a painful feeling millions of people experience. Some of these people will experience it more often than others, and some of these people may suffer from severe heartburn. It is not a pleasant feeling, so ways to relief heartburn are always in need, and what may work for one person may not work for another.

What Causes Heartburn

Heartburn occurs when acid in the stomach comes back up through the esophagus, causing chest pain and nausea. This condition is also known as acid reflux. While it may be called heartburn, the burning sensation felt has nothing to do with the heart. A sour taste is also felt inside the mouth, and the heartburn may last for a few minutes or hours if not treated. Someone who experiences these symptoms once a month suffers from mild heartburn, but someone who experiences it every day has a severe case of heartburn.

Certain foods also can cause heartburn. They include anything fatty, spicy, oily or acidic. Coffee, soda, alcohol and chocolate are a few examples. People should avoid eating two hours before bedtime to avoid heartburn symptoms during the night.

Some people suffer from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), a condition that can cause heartburn. This is when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) weakens or relaxes, allowing acids to leave the stomach and into the esophagus.

Ways to Relieve Heartburn

Many pharmacy products can help relieve heartburn. Antacids neutralize stomach acids and can be bought at any pharmacy or gas station. They usually take about an hour to take effect. There are also proton pump inhibitors and H-2 receptor blockers, but they take longer to work and are taken to prevent heartburn, not relieve it. However, antacids cause side effects like headaches, nausea, diarrhea and constipation. That is why it is recommended that people try more natural ways of relieving their heartburn.

One way to relieve heartburn is with baking soda. By adding one spoon of baking soda to a glass of water, the acids in the stomach neutralize. The same can go with apple cider vinegar. Mixed with some water and taken during or after a meal can reduce the chance of heartburn occurring. Chewing bubble gum after a meal will produce saliva to keep the acids down in the stomach area. Papaya, pineapple and bananas are great foods to eat to help digestion and treat indigestion.

Changes in Lifestyle

A lifestyle change can help to decrease the chances of heartburn occurring after meals. A change in diet, like eating less chocolate, coffee, sugary drinks and fried foods can make a large difference. Also, someone who is obese is more likely to suffer from heartburn than someone with a healthy weight. Smokers should quit because it too can trigger heartburn. People should eat their food slowly and not eat heavy meals before bed. It is also recommend that people not wear tight clothing because they can put pressure on the stomach area, causing acid to go back up the stomach valve. For more information on the many ways to relieve heartburn be sure to contact Reflux Remedy at www.refluxremedy.com today!

Over 60 million Americans have symptoms of Acid Reflux at least once a month, and many have symptoms daily. These can include heartburn,regurgitation, nausea, a feeling of fullness, upper abdominal pain and discomfort, burping and even wheezing. People with asthma are very likely to have GERD, or acid reflux.

Doctors consider acid reflux to be a chronic condition. Once it develops, it usually lasts for an entire lifetime. Symptoms get better and worse, but never completely go away for long. Most symptoms, and most damage, occur during the night, when it’s time to rest and recuperate for the coming day. Episodes come and go, but they always come back.

The familiar discomfort of heartburn can develop into actual pain that is hard to distinguish from heart attack. When heart attack symptoms are confused with acid reflux, a medical emergency could develop or the patient could even die from the heart attack.

Uncontrolled acid reflux can cause more than momentary discomfort. It can scar the esophagus and cause it to narrow. This can make swallowing difficult. Some people get a sensation that food is stuck in the esophagus.

It can also cause an esophageal ulcer. Sometimes ulcers bleed, and heavy bleeding may require treatment with blood transfusions.

The throat and larynx may become inflamed with resulting hoarseness. Fluid may also enter the sinuses and middle ear, causing infection. Problems with the voice may develop because of acid reflux.

In more severe cases, cells in the lining of the esophagus can become misshapen and abnormal in color. This is called Barrett’s esophagus. This condition could even develop into cancer. Esophageal cancer is extremely serious, with a survival rate of only 15%.

Worrisome symptoms of advanced acid reflux include weight loss, black or tarry stools, vomiting of blood, and pain or trouble in swallow. Wheezing or a dry cough could develop. Morning hoarseness or persistent sore throat, hiccups that seem to last forever, and nausea that lingers for weeks are other alarm bells that the condition is out of control.

Unfortunately, sometimes serious complications can develop without warning signs. A person could develop cancer without even being aware of the condition before it is too late.

Asthma sufferers with acid reflux often experience increased symptoms, especially at night. These can include wheezing, dry cough, or even a full-blown asthma attack.

Another risk is aspiration pneumonia or other severe conditions caused when stomach contents back up into the lungs. They may include pus in the lungs, swelling and inflammation, or pneumonia. Symptoms of these conditions may include chest pain and cough with bad smelling phlegm, greenish phlegm, and bluish color of the skin. Fatigue, fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, excessive sweating, and difficulty swallowing are other symptoms.

People with acid reflux have been known to try many different remedies to get relief. They may sleep with the head elevated, sometimes even resorting to sleeping in an easy chair. Usually, acid reflux is a minor problem. It can get out of hand and even become life threatening. Don’t risk serious complications. Get it under control today. For more information on the acid reflux condition and potential cures be sure to visit Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com today!

If you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you might notice that certain foods and beverages aggravate your symptoms. Some heartburn-inducing foods are well-known, while others aren’t as obvious.

Citrus fruits and juices can certainly cause heartburn. In particular, avoid orange, grapefruit and cranberry juices, as well as lemons and lemonade. Tomatoes, tomato-based sauces, garlic and onions will spark symptoms in many GERD sufferers.

Spicy and fatty or fried foods are also common heartburn culprits. Full-fat dairy products (particularly milk shakes, sour cream, ice cream and cottage cheese) and chocolate are lesser-known foods to avoid, along with peppermint and spearmint, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Avoid fatty meats, such as ground beef (chuck), marbled sirloin, chicken nuggets and buffalo wings. Creamy or oil-and-vinegar salad dressings may bring on acid reflux, along with fatty desserts and sweets like brownies, doughnuts, potato or corn chips and butter cookies.

As for beverages, avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks and carbonated beverages. This includes liquor, wine and beer. Coffee and tea can instigate acid reflux, even if they’re decaffeinated.

Additionally, everyone has their own particular heartburn triggers, so pay attention to what you eat or drink and how it affects your GERD symptoms. Keep a food diary if necessary to document what you’ve consumed, and at the same time add notes to your diary about the severity of your heartburn and other GERD symptoms.

In many cases, however, it’s not what you eat but how much you eat that can trigger heartburn. If you have GERD, eat smaller meals to ease your symptoms. Overeating is a common cause of heartburn, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Also, what you do after you eat can affect your post-meal heartburn. For instance, you should wait at least three hours after a meal before lying down. Because some GERD sufferers experience their most intense symptoms at night when they go to bed, try elevating the head of your bed about 6 inches to help your digestive tract using gravity. Simply raising your head using pillows, however, isn’t very effective, the Mayo Clinic states.

Avoid exercising or bending over right after eating meals as well. These movements will only disrupt your digestion and aggravate your GERD symptoms.

Eager for that after-meal cigarette? Skip it. Smoking reduces the lower esophageal sphincter’s proper functioning, which is the main cause of GERD to begin with. Losing weight if you’re obese or overweight and reducing your stress can also help prevent heartburn.

While you’re studying the potentially GERD-aggravating foods in your diet, also consider the medications you take. Certain drugs can worsen or trigger heartburn. These include tricyclic antidepressants, dopamine, anticholinergics for treating sea sickness, sedatives, some bronchodilators for treating asthma and progestin used as birth control or for treating abnormal menstrual bleeding.

Calcium channel blockers and beta blockers for treating hypertension or heart disease also commonly worsen heartburn. If you have GERD and take any of these types of medications, talk with your doctor about whether you can switch to a different but equally-effective medication that won’t trigger heartburn.

For more information on what to the foods to avoid in order to not suffer from GERD visit Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com today!