Gastritis is a condition that affects the lining of the stomach. The stomach lining has a very important role in digestion. The lining is what houses the cells that produce stomach or gastric acids and enzymes. This is what the body uses to naturally break down foods for the extraction of nutrients. Stomach acid is essential for making foods useful to the body. The lining of the stomach also produces mucus for its own protection. Mucus shields the stomach lining from acid, thus preventing corrosion of the stomach. If the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed, it will produce less mucus, acid and enzymes. This makes the digestion process difficult.

Types

There are three types of gastritis.

Acute gastritis refers to gastritis that happened suddenly. It is usually very severe.

Chronic gastritis describes gastritis that occurs consistently over a long period of time. This can last for several years.

Erosive gastritis doesn’t cause as much inflammation of the lining as acute and chronic gastritis. Erosive gastritis may be acute or chronic and has the tendency of destroying the stomach lining, even without inflaming it.

Causes

The lining becomes inflamed because of many reasons. The main causes of gastritis are:

• alcohol consumption
• infection
• use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• burns
• surgery
• injuries
• diseases
• disorders
• illegal drug use

Many of the causes are avoidable.

Symptoms

There are many symptoms of gastritis, but you don?t have to have symptoms to have gastritis.? Unfortunately, many people that are experiencing gastritis don?t know it because they may not have any of the symptoms.

Erosive gastritis has several symptoms. It may cause bleeding, ulcers and erosions. Erosive gastritis can also cause you to have dark or bloody stool, and bloody vomit. Overall, all kinds of gastritis tend to cause pain in the stomach. This pain is generally localized in the upper abdominal region.? You may feel cramping in this area, especially after a meal. People with gastritis may vomit periodically. Another common symptom is nausea, which usually accompanies vomiting.

The most harmful symptom of gastritis is the deterioration of the stomach lining. Erosive gastritis is prone to destroying the stomach lining. Without the lining, your stomach is vulnerable to gastric acid. This can damage the stomach severely and intensify the problems in your digestive process. Symptoms of gastritis may not be present in everyone with gastritis so it is important to get regular physical health exams and screening. To prevent yourself from being affected by gastritis you should try to eat a balanced, nutritious diet and avoid alcohol. If you already have gastritis, you should sit down with your doctor to discuss a diet and lifestyle plan.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of gastritis you should seek the help of a trained medical profession. These symptoms should not be ignored. Gastritis that is untreated could develop into chronic gastritis, which may end up affecting you for the rest of your life. The symptoms of gastritis are very similar to the symptoms of other diseases and disorders that are related to the digestive system.

Acid reflux syndrome occurs primarily as a result of an abnormal or weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is a very important part of the digestive process. The lower esophageal sphincter is a muscle that is located in between the esophagus and the stomach opening or diaphragm. A functional LES acts as a gateway for food to pass through from the esophagus to the stomach. A weak LES however, permits stomach acid to pass from the stomach to the esophagus. This is how acid reflux is allowed to happen. Normally, the LES opens for food to enter the stomach and closes afterward. If the LES does not close tightly enough or at all, this can pose a serious threat to your body and cause acid reflux.

Stomach acid is not something that is safe in other parts of your body. Because of the acidity and corrosiveness of stomach acid, no other part of the body is equipped to deal with it. The stomach has several layers and lining that prevents this acid from doing damage to the organ. The purpose of the acid is to help to break down the food you eat into tiny particles. Once broken down, the particles are transferred to the large and small intestines where nutrients, proteins and minerals are extracted and delivered to other parts of the body.

When stomach acid refluxes into the esophagus and even up to the throat, this can be very painful and irritating. Acid in the esophagus can eat away at the nearby tissue and cause you to feel uncomfortable. Frequent stomach acid in the esophagus and throat may be classified as acid reflux syndrome. To determine whether you have acid reflux or not, you should become aware of the causes and symptoms.

Causes

There are some things, other than a weak lower esophageal sphincter that can contribute to the development of acid reflux syndrome. Having a hiatal hernia, being pregnant or obese can all encourage acid reflux to occur. These conditions cause a shift in your internal organs, especially the stomach. If you are pregnant or obese, this can put excess pressure and weight on the stomach, forcing it to shift and morph. This can allow stomach acid to seep out. Your diet and eating habits are also a factor in the development of acid reflux syndrome. Eating fatty foods, large portions and eating right before bed, are not good for acid reflux. You should also avoid lifting heavy objects.

Symptoms

The most prevalent symptom of acid reflux is heartburn. Heartburn affects more than 40 percent of Americans at some point in their lifetime. Heartburn causes you to feel a burning and sometimes painful sensation. It is called heartburn because it happens in the esophagus and throat, where acid is present. This area is close to the heart. If you have persistent heartburn, more than a couple times per week, you probably have acid reflux syndrome. Treating acid reflux syndrome is something that can be done through your diet and lifestyle choices.

For more information on acid reflux syndrome, review The Reflux Remedy Report to get all of your questions answered.

A sore throat is one of the most uncomfortable things to deal with. It can alter how you speak and even what you eat and drink. Most people relate a sore throat to having a cold or even the flu. But these aren’t the only ways that you can end up with a sore throat. Having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can contribute to developing a sore throat. GERD can be caused by several different conditions.

Causes of GERD

To treat a sore throat that is caused by GERD, you need to concentrate on the root cause of GERD.

• A weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES) can be the main cause of your GERD and sore throat. The (LES) is the diaphragm muscle between the esophagus and stomach that allows food to enter the stomach after it is chewed and swallowed. Once the food goes into the stomach for digestions, the LES is supposed to close. A weak LES doesn’t close properly and can permit stomach acid to leave the stomach and go into the esophagus.
• Other medical conditions can promote GERD or persistent acid reflux. Being pregnant or obese may cause your stomach and intestines to move and compress because of the growing fetus. Shifts in the stomach organ can cause gastric acid to escape into the esophagus.

Symptoms of GERD

A sore throat is one of the symptoms of GERD. It can actually be considered as a symptom of another symptom as well.

• Heartburn is the primary symptom of GERD. Heartburn occurs when the acid from your stomach refluxes up to your esophagus and your throat, causing intense irritation, a burning sensation and tissue damage. Tissue damage in the throat will cause soreness.
• Regurgitation is another symptom of GERD. Regurgitation happens when food and gastric acid is brought up to the esophagus and even into the mouth. This can cause discomfort and a foul odor in the oral cavity. This may contribute to a sore throat.
• Other less common symptoms include nausea, chest pain and abdominal discomfort.

Treatment for GERD and Sore Throat

A typical sore throat requires that you rest your voice, gargle or eat throat lozenges for relief. These methods don’t address the underlying cause—GERD. There are several treatment methods for GERD that can eliminate your sore throat as well.

• Change your diet to include less fatty foods.
• Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol can exacerbate GERD.
• Don’t eat right before bed. This can increase the production of stomach acid at a time when you lay down. Being in a horizontal position can encourage stomach acid to breach your LES.
• Balance the amount of alkaline and acid forming foods in your daily diet.
• Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen and naproxen. Ibuprofen is found in several over-the-counter medications like Advil.

The Reflux Remedy Report contains more information on the symptoms of GERD sore throat and can assist you in determining your risk level. Log on to refluxremedy.com to view additional tips and methods of treating these symptoms.

Acid reflux disease is very much connected to what you eat. Food is one of the major contributors to acid reflux disease. Acid reflux disease has the ability to cause long-term harmful effects. If you have acid reflux you may be experiencing heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, nausea and hoarseness. The term ‘You are what you eat‘ couldn’t be more true when it comes to acid reflux. Your diet has a lot to do with how you feel. There are foods that are great for preventing and treating acid reflux. There are also eating habits that are known to decrease the chances of developing acid reflux disease.

Finding the Right Balance

The body needs the right balance of foods in order to perform properly. Many people think that foods that have an acidic taste are foods that cause acid reflux. This isn’t always the case. Citrus fruits have an acidic taste but are more neutral when they are digested. You need a balance of acid forming and alkaline forming foods to have good nutrition. A diet that is heavy in either acidic or alkaline foods can cause an imbalance. Too much acid forming foods in the body causes an increase in hydrogen levels. An abundance of hydrogen can increase your chances of developing acid reflux.

Types of Foods

The kind of food you eat is directly related to acid reflux disease. You should be eating a wide variety of healthy foods. Fatty foods are not good for acid reflux. The higher the fat content of the foods you eat, the more your body will need to produce stomach acid to break it down. Fat molecules are more difficult to digest and therefore cause the stomach to create more acid. If you have a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the presence of more acid can be dangerous because the acid may seep into the esophagus. You should focus on eating low fat protein, fruits and vegetables. Drinking water, aloe juice and eating ginger and papaya are great for acid reflux prevention and treatment. You should avoid alcohol, caffeine, sodas, onions and garlic.

Eating Habits and Lifestyle

Acid reflux may be triggered by a variety of foods. The food that triggers your acid reflux may not be what triggers someone else’s. To find out what is causing you to reflux you should keep a daily food journal. When you feel acid reflux, look to see what may have caused it to occur. Try to remove that item from your diet, but be sure to find an equally nutritious replacement. Your eating habits can contribute to acid reflux disease. You should avoid eating right before bed as this can cause the production of excess stomach acid at a time when you are in a laying down. This may permit stomach acid to enter the esophagus.

If you would like to find out more information about the types of food and eating habits that can help you to prevent acid reflux, review The Reflux Remedy Report today.