Causes of Acid Reflux

There are many different factors that can contribute to the development of acid reflux disease. If you have this disease, it was probably caused by a combination of issues surrounding your digestive system. Digestion is one of the most important processes of the body. Whenever you eat food, the process begins. Food that is swallowed goes down your esophagus, past the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and into the stomach. The LES opens and closes to allow food to enter the stomach. If you have a LES that is weak, you may develop acid reflux. A weakened or dysfunctional LES will not close normally. If it remains open, this can permit stomach or gastric acids to go up the esophagus. Other causes of acid reflux disease include pregnancy, hiatal hernia, obesity, diet, behaviors and certain medications like diabetes. Respiratory diseases can also contribute to acid reflux.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux

Heartburn is the major symptom of acid reflux. When stomach acid reaches the esophagus and throat, this causes irritation. Stomach acid is used to break down foods for the extraction of nutrients. This acid is too corrosive for other parts of the body. When stomach acid travels to other areas, this can cause you to feel a painful, burning sensation in your chest area.

Dysphagia is another symptom of acid reflux. This is when you have the feeling that food is stuck in your throat. You may also have difficulty with swallowing.

Regurgitation is also a sign of acid reflux. Food can also escape from the stomach through the LES and into the esophagus, causing discomfort. People with acid reflux disease may feel nauseated and uncomfortable. Nausea is related to another symptom which is excessive burping and vomiting. Wet burps also allow gastric acid to reach the esophagus and throat.

Bloating is yet another symptom. Bloating will cause you to feel pain and fullness in your abdomen. Bloating can trigger chest pain and hiccups as well.

Treatment for Acid Reflux

There are several treatment options for acid reflux. Some treatments are preventative while others offer a solution for acid reflux that is already present. These measures can help to prevent you from developing acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The easiest ways to combat acid reflux is to have lifestyle changes. You should try not to eat meals right before you go to bed because this increases gastric acid production at a time when your body will be horizontal. In this position, the acid can easily escape through a weak LES and get into the esophagus. Eating smaller meals is best for preventing acid reflux. Larger meals encourage acid production. You should also be careful about the kinds of food you eat. Fattening foods are not ideal. Stay away from caffeine, garlic, onions and alcohol. Aloe juice, water, ginger and papaya enzymes have been known to neutralize stomach acid, promote digestion and reduce the discomfort caused by acid reflux disease.

Most people that are affected by acid reflux don’t know it at first. Acid reflux is a disease that stems from a lower esophageal sphincter that isn’t working properly. Imagine that the food you eat is swallowed, goes through your esophagus, lands in your stomach and then all of a sudden goes back into the esophagus and even your mouth. Food from your stomach is now completely infused with gastric acid, and this is what makes acid reflux uncomfortable and unhealthy. The acid from your stomach does not feel good in any other part of the body and is meant to break down food for the extraction of nutrients.

Stomach acid that is out of place causes you to feel a burning sensation, associated with heartburn or acid indigestion, a symptom for acid reflux. Heartburn affects millions of people every year. Many of these people only experience heartburn on occasion. Those who feel heartburn more than twice a week probably have acid reflux disease. You can identify if you have heartburn based on the severe irritation you may feel in your chest, stomach and throat. This irritation can cause you to feel like your insides are burning and can cause a painful feeling.

The heartburn that you feel because of acid reflux is sometimes accompanied by incessant burping and hiccups. Not only do you have the awful burning sensation in your esophagus, but you may have wet burps that expel stomach acid, bile and food particles into your mouth. Now the acid has a chance to irritate the mouth and oral cavity. A gross taste and smell is the result.

Another symptom for acid reflux is nausea. Nausea makes your stomach feel uneasy and urges you to burp and even throw up. The worst part of nausea is when you vomit up gastric acid, upsetting the throat and esophagus even further. The feeling of nausea can impede motor skills, social interaction and can increase general stress.

Regurgitating food is a symptom for acid reflux. Regurgitation happens when a substantial amount of food is refluxed from your stomach. This is usually uncomfortable and can prevent you from getting the proper nutrition and energy from the foods you eat.

Dysphagia can occur as a result of acid reflux. This may be one of the more stressful symptoms for acid reflux. Dysphagia makes you feel as though your food is stuck in your neck or throat. This increases difficulty with swallowing and can prevent you from eating an adequate serving of food every day.

Acid reflux disease is also commonly known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. GERD has many of the same symptoms as acid reflux and may be used interchangeably. You don’t have to worry and wonder about the symptoms of acid reflux if you know what to look out for. For more information on these and other symptoms for acid reflux, visit refluxremedy.com today. Becoming informed is the first step in managing and treating this disease.