January 27, 2011
Chest Pain Indigestion
They call it heart burn because acid indigestion causes pain in your chest right behind your heart.
Your heart is actually located in the center of your chest, right behind your sternum, it’s just that the upper part of your heart is turned a little to the left, even though we’ve been told it’s on the left side.
It’s not unusual for people experiencing chest pain from indigestion to panic, thinking it’s a heart attack.
When your stomach has difficulty digesting large amounts of food, it tends to stretch like a balloon forcing pressure on the large muscle surrounding it.
The chest pain from indigestion is sometimes from this larger muscle, called the diaphragm being forced outward. The chest pain can also be from your stomach being pushed upward toward the opening in the diaphragm where your throat is.
Sometimes the pushing is so strong the stomach literally escapes the surrounding diaphragm, near that opening causing a hiatal hernia . . .
Another cause of chest pain from indigestion is acid reflux, which is when the flap that seal the bottom of your throat, to protect stomach acid from passing upward, get’s over come with pressure.
This produces that burning pain you can feel right behind the heart in the middle of your chest, called heart burn.
All this indigestion and chest pain is from your inability to release pressure and digest food fast enough to empty your stomach.
You can either eat less over all or break your meals down into smaller meals throughout the day, or both.
Some people have chest pain from lack of digestive juices causing undigested food to pile up; others just eat too much through the day, or at the last minute before bed.
Your chest pain may not be a heart attack, but indigestion that triggers chest pain has been known to trigger heart attacks . . .
Also eating a large meal before exerting yourself can cause chest pain too.
So learn to relax, breathe deeply, eat small meals of diverse foods and try to go for a casual walk after eating. Chest pain is a serious issue whether it’s indigestion, poor circulation or a heart attack . . . always see your doctor if it recurs or won’t go away.
You were born to heal,
Todd M. Faass
Health Advocate
Filed under Indigestion by admin
January 21, 2011
Acid Reflux Cough
If you have to clear your throat a lot during the day, you may have acid reflux cough.
I found there are several different types of coughs. One of the best ways to identify acid reflux cough from other coughs is by duration of the cough suffered by the patient.
According to studies done on acid reflux cough in children with chronic coughing, the coughing is less frequent than non reflux coughing.
Cough specialists have discovered that chronic coughing lasts longer than 8 weeks. Amazingly people who have had chronic coughing for many years can be cured by identifying and removing the root cause.
Acid reflux cough originates in the diaphragm and throat area, but not all coughing arises from the chest. Some types of coughing can originate from problems in other parts of the body.
If your cough lasts less than 8 weeks, it’s defined as acute rather than chronic and odds are it’s due to one of many viruses. It’s not unusual for the cough to persist even after the virus has gone.
If your acid reflux cough becomes chronic (lasting longer than 8 weeks) an X-ray will help determine if it really is an acid reflux cough or a cough triggered by something else.
Acid reflux happens to be the most common cause of chronic cough. Acid reflux cough may seem to suddenly appear for no real reason, but there is always an underlying development of factors leading up to it.
An acid reflux cough usually persists through the day and calms down and goes away in the evening and at bedtime hours. Apparently the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), which is a valve at the bottom of your throat closes at night and then in the morning opens back up to release intestinal gases (burps).
The worst thing you can do if you suffer from an acid reflux cough is to eat a large meal late at night. It’s best to eat 3 hours before sleeping or at least a good hour and a half before. It seems acid reflux coughing is satisfied by constant eating, which ultimately causes further indigestion and more acid reflux.
Blocking stomach acid production calms the acid reflux cough for about 50% of the people, at least while they are taking the medicine . . . but it’s not a cure.
The other 50% most likely have a stomach acid deficiency, which can also cause acid reflux symptoms simply because food builds up and places pressure on the diaphragm and Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES).
Leading experts agree the nutritional approach is a natural way to target the real cause of acid reflux cough for long term results, without drugs or drug side effects.
You were born to heal,
Todd M. Faass
Health Advocate
Filed under Acid Reflux Symptoms by admin
September 24, 2010
Back Pain and Hiatal Hernia
Whether you suffer from symptoms of hiatal hernia that involve lower back pain or not, this report can help you.
First, did you know there are 2 main types of hiatal hernia?
1. A sliding hiatal hernia
2. A rolling hiatal hernia
Both types of hiatal hernias can trigger back pain issues.
The ?sliding hiatal hernia? shows up about 95% of the time. This kind of hernia happens when the part of your throat (esophagus) which is normally even with, or below, the main muscle (diaphragm) that separates your stomach area from your throat area, moves above . . . ?sliding-up some stomach along with it.
A sliding hiatal hernia is a result of a weakened or damaged opening between your throat and stomach sometimes referred to as the gastroesophageal junction.
The ?rolling hiatal hernia?, is also called the ?paraesophageal? hiatal hernia. This happens when your stomach literally protrudes (herniates) right through the opening that separates the throat area and stomach area. This opening is called the esophageal hiatus. The ?rolling? hernia refers to a significant part of the stomach actually rolling up alongside the esophagus, but without disturbing the natural opening where the stomach and throat are kept separated.
So many health issues can lead people to false conclusions. A hiatal hernia is especially deceptive because many of the symptoms like back pain, seem to suggest different causes, or health problems all together
Back pains from hiatal hernias can turn into dull chest pains; heart palpitations and even shortness of breath.
Neuro-gastroenterologists have discovered that the whole gastrointestinal system, Central Nervous System (CNS) and brain are all interconnected by a vast and complex electro-chemical nerve matrix.
One of these major nerve connections is called the ?vagus nerve? Once this nerve is exposed to acid reflux or irritated by gastrointestinal juices; it can cause bronchial spasms, affect circulation and trigger an aching back by inflaming, or constricting large back muscles, resulting in a lot of back pain issues.
It?s not uncommon for people suffering from hiatal hernias to not notice any back pain symptoms, palpitations or breathing problems. Usually they think all they have is acid reflux, heartburn or a gastrointestinal problem.
As you can imagine having a ?sliding? or ?rolling? hiatal hernia would easily allow nasty tasting bile salts, stomach acid and heartburn air up into your throat, mouth and even sinus cavities . . . not a pleasant though is it.
Fact is your back pains maybe the least of your worries.
Here are some hiatal hernia ?risk factors? that could also trigger back pain and other problems too:
? Being over weight
? Constipation
? Frequent coughing
? Vomiting
? Sneezing
? Pregnancy
? Heavy lifting
Some of the proven exercises that relieve pressure on your diaphragm and hiatal hernia will cure your back pain and other problems as well. The secret is to address the root cause of as many symptoms as possible. Because hiatal hernias can have so many symptoms that seem unrelated, a holistic or naturopathic approach is often the only, or best, way to a lasting solution . . . certainly worth looking into!
You were born to heal,
Todd M. Faass?
Health Ecologist
Filed under Hiatal Hernia by admin