Acid reflux disease is a condition that plagues thousands of people every day. The awful thing about the condition is that it can take all the fun out of eating. Who wants to eat if the after affects are heartburn, belching, hiccups, regurgitation, coughing and sometimes nausea? It just doesn’t seem like the price you pay for good eating measures up to the benefit of eating at all. It’s true that the affects of acid reflux can vary from person to person ranging from mild discomfort in some to completely debilitating pain in others. All those suffering from acid reflux, no matter the extremity, can agree that if they could get rid of the condition altogether, it wouldn’t be too soon.

Acid reflux is a condition that if not properly tended to can lead to more serious conditions that can ultimately be life threatening. What happens with acid reflux is the acids found in the stomach that are used to break down foods for digestive purposes aren’t properly concealed in the stomach causing the acids to travel upward from the stomach into the esophagus resulting in acid reflux. The lower esophageal sphincter, LES, is a circular muscle valve that is located at the entrance of the stomach in the lower part of the esophagus. This valve’s job is to allow food and drinks to pass through from the esophagus to the stomach. Immediately after food and drinks pass through this valve, the valve is to close sealing off the stomach and the esophagus. This way, the acids that are rapidly at work digesting the food that has reached the stomach remain in the stomach so that there is no irritation caused to the esophagus.

A great way to control the hyperactivity of your stomach acids so that they are less likely to reach the esophagus resulting in acid reflux would be to prevent acid reflux triggers. There are several ways to prevent acid reflux. Below you will find a few:

• Eat smaller meals more times a day. The smaller your meals the more likely your stomach acids will be able to take on breaking down and digesting these meals without producing too much acid that may result in acid hyperactivity.
• Avoid foods that contain chocolate, citrus, caffeine, mint, garlic, onions and other foods that are high in fat. These foods have been known to weaken the LES muscle.
• Avoid sodas and alcoholic beverages, opt instead for water. Water is great at stabilizing stomach acids and aids in the digestive process.
• Try not to eat too close to bedtime. Give yourself at least two hours between the last meal of the day and the time you retire. This allows your body adequate time to fully and properly digest your foods.
• Relieve your stress. Stress is linked to many ailments and acid reflux is no exception. Stress can directly affect the digestive system so do your part to relieve stress through exercise, mediation, and rest.

Preventing acid reflux can be better for your body than taming it after it starts. If you are seeking more preventative methods feel free to visit refluxremedy.com

Acid Reflux occurs when the acids and enzymes in the stomach become overactive and escape the stomach into the esophagus. Technically, the entrance of your stomach which is a ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) closes as food passes through it. If the LES neglects to close or it opens more often than it should, the acid in the stomach has the space and opportunity to escape into the esophagus. As a result of the stomach acids finding the esophagus there can be a great pain and discomfort that can ultimately cause a burning sensation. This burning sensation is what is known as heartburn. If this type of heartburn happens often (namely two times a week) you likely suffer from acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux disease may be caused by a hiatal hernia (an abnormality in the stomach). This happens when the LES and upper part of the stomach move above the diaphragm. If you suffer from a hiatal hernia the acids that usually remain in the stomach move up into the diaphragm causing acid reflux disease symptoms.

Common acid reflux symptoms include:

Regurgitation: This is usually a result of the acid build up. Your body attempts to rid of what it finds to be causing internal problems and it does this by forcing a regurgitation. The regurgitation usually is onset by a bitter, sour taste in the throat and mouth.

Heartburn: Heartburn can be gradual or it can occur instantly. Those who experience an immediate striking pain in the chest cavity as a result of acid reflux heartburn often mistake the heartburn for a heart attack. Heartburn doesn?t necessarily remain centralized in the chest. There have been instances when sufferers have complained of heartburn in the stomach and throat.

Dysphagia: This is a narrowing of the esophagus. If this narrowing occurs the consumption of food and liquids can be quite uncomfortable as food and liquids seem to get stuck in the narrowed passage.

There are several ways to treat acid reflux. It is important to find the course of treatment that works best for you. You may have to try a variety of treatments before discovering the treatment that is perfectly suiting.

A few lifestyle changes combined with safe treatment should do the trick at remedying your acid reflux. If you are a smoker it would be a great idea to eliminate that aspect of your lifestyle. It certainly doesn?t help. Also try eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day and eat at least two to three hours prior to lying down.

There are those who find relief by trying a few over the counter antacids including Maalox, Alka-Seltzer and Mylanta that may do the trick. Be aware that these antacids may cause diarrhea or constipation so you may want to opt for antacids that contain aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide. Baking soda is an awesome antacid alternative.

For more natural remedies you should try aloe vera juice which stabilizes stomach acids. Also try drinking water before during and after meals. This works to neutralize stomach acids and aids in food digestion.

These are just a few acid reflux medications. For more information on acid reflux and available medications check out refluxremedy.com.

Acid reflux is an extremely inconvenient disease plaguing thousands of people every day. The range of discomfort experienced as a result of acid reflux varies from person to person. While many complain of heartburn, nausea, belching, coughing and regurgitation as signs of their acid reflux there are those instances where acid reflux is more severe which usually indicates a more extreme condition. It is imperative that sufferers of acid reflux appropriately gauge the severity of the disease before considering proper treatment. If you feel as if you acid reflux symptoms far surpass those who may suffer from acid reflux around you, you may need to consult with your physician to see if there is something outside of acid reflux that may be the problem.

If you notice that your acid reflux is getting worse as time goes on and you have exhausted all known remedies it may definitely be time to take your research a little further. On-going acid reflux that has gone ignored or that increasingly gets worse can lead to other health problems that could be avoided if proper precautions are taken ahead of time. Most extreme damage that is caused by severe acid reflux is noticed in the lining of the stomach and the esophagus which can ultimately lead to ulcers and other conditions.

Do not underestimate the more severe symptoms of acid reflux as they can be life-threatening. Persistent, severe acid reflux can lead to esophagitis. Esophagitis happens when there is consistent acid contact with the lining of the esophagus. This can cause esophagus ulcers or bleeding. This in turn may affect your eating which can ultimately cause many other health issues.

Strictures are another result of severe acid reflux. Strictures happen when the scar tissue that forms in the esophagus as a result of ulcers and bleeding causes for a narrowing in the esophagus. This narrowing makes it difficult to swallow foods and drinks.

Esophageal cancer is a condition that arises due to severe acid reflux as well. This form of cancer is most commonly found in men and can be the result of smoking, alcoholism, severe acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and Barret’s esophagus. Sufferers of esophageal cancer eventually experience a difficulty swallowing, which in turn may cause a lack of food consumption which ultimately may result in extreme weight loss.

Barrett’s esophagus is a result of untreated severe acid reflux and is ultimately cell abnormalities in the esophagus. This condition can turn what essentially are normal esophagus cells into cells that are unhealthy. Barrett’s esophagus, like most of the other listed acid reflux related illnesses may be prevented by getting acid reflux under control before allowing it to get out of hand.

The best care is preventative care. Be sure to watch what you are eating. Make a note of acid reflux triggers and avoid consumption of these triggers. Drink lots of water to soothe the esophagus and calm the potentially hyperactive acids in your stomach.

Be sure to take control of acid reflux before it takes control of you.

Though acid reflux is prevalent in thousands of people the causes for the disease tend to vary from person to person. What may send your insides blazing may be a walk in the park for another sufferer of acid reflux and vice versa. The key to determining and tackling the causes for acid reflux would be to determine your specific triggers and take the necessary precautions to eliminate the triggers from your lifestyle thus improving (or eliminating) acid reflux altogether.

If you are unfamiliar with what is happening to your body before and during acid reflux here’s a little bit about what you should know–Acid reflux occurs when the acids in your stomach make way to your esophagus causing a burn that is referred to as heartburn. This heartburn can be felt in the throat (esophagus area), the chest and often times reaches down into the abdomen.

There is a small circular ring known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that is located at the top of your stomach and at the bottom of the esophagus. The key to avoiding acid reflux all relies on the efficiency and functionality of this ring. The ring is a muscle. The job of this muscle is to close immediately after food or drink passes through, leaving the esophagus and making way to the stomach. If this muscle neglects to close or if this muscle opens too often the acids in the stomach have room to escape the stomach area making way to the esophagus causing acid reflux.

There is another way for stomach acids to reach the esophagus. This is by way of a stomach abnormality knows as a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when the LES and the upper part of the stomach moves above the diaphragm. One job of the diaphragm is to serve as a muscle that separates the stomach from the chest thus keeping stomach acids in the stomach. If you are suffering from a hiatal hernia, stomach acids can move into your esophagus causing a burning sensation and other acid reflux symptoms including regurgitation, nausea, bloating, burping, dysphagia (a narrowing of the esophagus), hiccups and weight loss.

You may be unaware but there is a possibility that there is something that you are doing that is causing acid reflux to take place. Here are a few tips on things that may need to be altered to eliminate the disorder:

• Try eating smaller meals instead of larger meals. Smaller meals are more easily broken down by the acids in the stomach.
• Drink lots of water. Eliminate drinks that are alcoholic or carbonated. Water does an excellent job at stabilizing the stomach acids and aiding in digestion. If you are already experiencing acid reflux symptoms, water may be used to soothe the burn in the esophagus.
• Don’t eat too close to bed time. Eat at least two hours prior to bed time. This allows sufficient time for your body to digest foods.

Diet can directly affect acid reflux. Alter your diet, alter your life. For more information on acid reflux causes visit refluxremedy.com.