The pain and burning of acid reflux are hard to ignore. If you have a fiery sensation in your chest after consuming certain foods or drinks, you may have acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when the acids in your stomach that break down the foods you eat rise up into your esophagus, the tube that carries food to your stomach. Also known as heartburn or acid indigestion, acid reflux can make the simple act of digesting a meal difficult and painful. If left untreated, acid reflux may damage the tissues that line your esophagus. Seek medical attention immediately for unexplained pain in your chest or abdomen.

Why Do I Have Acid Reflux?

A ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, controls the opening between your stomach and esophagus. When you swallow foods or beverages, the LES opens to allow the food to enter your stomach. In the stomach, digestive acids break down food into small particles. When the LES closes properly, undigested food and acid remain in your stomach. When the LES opens at the wrong times or doesn’t close all the way, acidic digestive materials can rise up into your esophagus – a condition called acid reflux.

Many factors can contribute to acid reflux. During pregnancy, some women have reflux when the growing fetus pushes against the stomach, causing the LES to open at the wrong times. Being overweight can lead to acid reflux, especially if weight is concentrated around your waist. A hiatal hernia, a condition in which your upper stomach pushes above your diaphragm, is a common cause of acid reflux.

Along with physical changes that can cause heartburn, certain foods, drinks and habits often trigger acid reflux. You may notice that you have a painful, burning sensation in your chest after drinking coffee or eating chili, salsa or pizza with spicy sauce. Citrus fruits or juices, garlic, onions, fried or fatty foods, chocolate and mint are common triggers for acid reflux. Lying down immediately after you eat or wearing clothes that fit tightly around your waist can also cause acid reflux.

Is Acid Reflux Serious?

Occasional acid reflux is not uncommon; in fact, many people will experience heartburn at certain times. You may find that if you avoid specific foods that increase the acid content in your stomach, like spicy tomato sauce, black coffee or chili with raw onions, you can avoid flare-ups of acid reflux. However, if you have persistent heartburn more than twice a week, you may have a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

The frequent exposure of your esophagus to digestive acid can harm the tissues that line your esophagus. In addition to chronic acid reflux, people with GERD may develop throat pain when they swallow, hoarseness or a painful cough. Scar tissue on the esophagus can lead to narrowing of the passageway, which makes swallowing difficult. Fortunately, acid reflux can be treated with changes in your diet, modifications in your lifestyle and an effective reflux remedy. For more information on acid reflux be sure to visit Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com today!

Hiatal hernia occurs when a part of the stomach protrudes through the muscle of the diaphragm into the chest. It appears to be caused by weakened supporting tissue. Hiatal hernia is very common in Western societies, where by the age of 60, over half the population experiences it. It occurs much more seldom in the developing world. Not only increasing age, but also obesity and smoking are risk factors for hiatal hernia in adults. The herniation itself, in most cases, causes no symptoms, but it is associated with gastric acid reflux, which causes several, the most typical of which is heartburn.

It has been proposed that the reason for this discrepancy is that the Western diet is much lower in fiber than that in developing countries. High fiber in the diet makes for a larger, softer stool. The typically harder, drier Western stool requires straining to pass, which increases intraabdominal pressure, pushing the gastresophogeal junction into the thoracic cavity. This is further compounded by the Western habit of sitting with the feet on the floor when passing stool, whereas in the traditional world, this function is performed in squatting position, which does not require straining and thus does not cause the upward pressure.

The problem of hiatal hernia and the associated acid reflux can usually be managed without medication or surgery. Two of the best preventive measures are to lose weight and stop smoking, as both of these worsen the problem. The good news is that doing these two things will also lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and various other maladies.

The next step is to increase dietary fiber intake. As with the first two preventives, increasing fiber has many additional health benefits, including reducing the risk of colon cancer, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids.

Now we come to a suggestion that many will find more problematic: learning to defecate in a squatting position. This is not easily accomplished using the toilets commonly available in the Western world. It necessitates building up the area surrounding the toilet to create a place on which to place the feet in order to squat. A halfway measure may help: placing a stool in front of the toilet to elevate the feet and leaning forward to defecate.

For those who simply can’t handle the methods suggested to this point, there are still steps that can be taken to avoid acid reflux. You can avoid eating large, heavy meals by eating six smaller meals a day instead of the usual three. You can avoid heavy lifting, which increases the unwanted upward pressure, and can avoid lying down or bending over right after eating. And you can avoid eating for two hours before going to bed and can sleep in a semi-upright position.

Finally, it may help to eliminate certain foods from the diet: alcoholic beverages, coffee, acidic fruit juices, pasta with cheese or sauce, tomatoes, salad dressings, ice cream, fried foods, and chips.

If the hiatal hernia is not causing acid reflux, it is not necessary to do anything, although taking steps to keep it from worsening makes good sense. For more information on Hiatal hernia treatments, be sure to visit Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com today!

People who have experienced heartburn know firsthand that it can hurt so bad that you want to rush to the hospital for emergency treatment. Fortunately getting rid of heartburn does not have to go to this extreme. Instead there are four quicker and cheaper ways to get rid of heartburn.

One way to get rid of heartburn is with home remedies. Chances are likely that you already have either some or most of these products in your kitchen.
Some of the home remedies used for heartburn relief is surprisingly healthy foods such as bananas and almonds. Fat free milk can also relieve heartburn discomfort.

Baking soda is another home remedy choice for getting rid of heartburn. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda into a full glass of water. Stir it until the baking soda is dissolved. Although this mixture has an appalling taste, you will be grateful to have instant relief from heartburn.

This remedy, however, is not recommended for pregnant women or high blood pressure patients. This can cause water retention as well as increased blood pressure.

Yellow mustard not only flavors up a hot dog; it is also recommended as a heartburn remedy. Eating just a tablespoon of this condiment rids you of heartburn. This is because it contains distilled vinegar.

In regards to vinegar, apple cider vinegar is another home remedy that can be used to get rid of heartburn. Mix a teaspoon of this liquid into a cup of water. It provides instant relief of heartburn.

The second method is the most common used method for getting rid of heartburn: over the counter antacid medicines. Such examples of these medicines are Pepto Bismol, Tums, and Maalox. Newer brands of over the counter antacid medicines such as Prilosec and Zantac provide longer heartburn relief; up to 24 hours.

Since no prescription is needed for any of these instant pain relievers, you can purchase these medicines at local supermarkets and drugstores.

The third way to get rid of heartburn is to change your diet. This can be done by either cutting back or eliminating certain foods that are notorious for causing heartburn. The following foods should be eliminated: onions, spicy foods, tomatoes, tomato based products, fatty red meats, chocolate, citrus fruits, and dairy products like ice cream and cheeses. Even beverages such as coffee, sodas, and alcohol should be avoided in effort of preventing heartburn.

The fourth and final way to get rid of heartburn is to change the time you eat. Do not eat two hours prior to going to bed. Avoid late night snacks. Taking this advice will put your stomach at ease; thus, allowing you to get a restful night?s sleep.

If you continue suffering with heartburn after trying these four suggestions, then you may need to consult a doctor as soon as possible. It is probable that your heartburn could be an indication of a more serious health condition such as acid reflux. Otherwise, watching when and what you eat will help you avoid heartburn. Contact Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com for causes and cures of heartburn today!

Acid reflux is a condition that many people suffer with every day. It’s the result of gastric acids traveling up the esophagus from the stomach. There are many causes of acid reflux, and the symptoms vary in severity from person to person. Once an individual is diagnosed with acid reflux disease, there are various ways it can be treated. Healing the condition is possible, but it may take some trial and error.

If you have symptoms of acid reflux disease, there are several steps you can take to find relief.

Common Acid Reflux symptoms include:

• heartburn
• excessive burping
• unrelenting hiccups
• nausea
• regurgitation
• difficulty swallowing.

When these issues become severe, it may be the sign of a more serious disease. It’s a good idea to speak with your physician about your symptoms.

For mild cases of acid reflux, basic lifestyle changes may alleviate the pain. If you are overweight, it may be causing your acid reflux. Changing your diet and eating nutritious, balanced meals may combat the problem. Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine can also contribute to acid reflux. Limiting your intake of these substances may greatly reduce your symptoms. Stress produces stomach acid, so practicing relaxation techniques after meals may also help.

Some foods may cause acid reflux. To decrease the likelihood of getting acid reflux after a meal, avoid spicy foods like garlic, hot peppers or onions. Fatty foods, chocolate and citrus fruits should be avoided as well. Vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli may also increase the amount of acid in your stomach. Lowering the acidity in your digestive tract can lessen the chance of reflux.

There are certain foods you can consume to heal your acid reflux. To improve your digestion and soothe your heartburn, drink cold milk or apple cider with each meal. You can also drink herbal tea with lavender to control indigestion. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will help regulate the acidity in your stomach. You can add ginger root to your meal as well. Ginger absorbs acid, so some excess in your stomach will be soaked up.

Eating small meals frequently throughout the day will keep your stomach active and emptying regularly. Chew gum after each meal to produce saliva. The alkaline in it stabilizes stomach acid. Do not lay down within two hours of eating, and sleep with your head raised several inches. Certain medications can also heal acid reflux disease. Antacids containing aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide neutralize stomach acid. Histamine-2 blockers suppress acid, and foaming agents coat the stomach to stop reflux.

Acid reflux disease is painful and frustrating, and it can affect your everyday life. The problem can be treated if you understand the causes of your condition. In addition to healing acid reflux, you can take preventative measures to ensure the problems do not return. It is a good idea to seek the advice of health care professional before beginning any treatment. Acid reflux disease can be healed, and it does not have to rule your life. For more information and ways to heal acid reflux, be sure to visit Reflux Remedy at www.refluxremedy.com today!