October 27, 2011
Heartburn and Indigestion
Heartburn and indigestion are two words often used interchangeably that describe a condition in which one feels a burning in his or her chest, esophageal region, and the oropharynx. Although these two words are used to describe the same condition, contemporary research reveals that many people complain of one condition while having another. Heartburn can be burning, tightening, or hot sensations in the chest area that worsens upon inspiration where indigestion is an acidic burning that follows the upper digestive pathway from the epiglottis to the pylorus. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a major diagnosis most receive when seeking medical attention for their heartburn or indigestion. GERD is at its worst when a person eats, lies down after eating, and sleeps. Alcohol is a major contributor to the worsening of GERD. However, heartburn is not considered a form of GERD and may have other causes such as one of the many forms of heart failure or heart disease .
Indigestion has been the cause of discomfort for billions of people every year. Medical treatment for this condition consists of the purchase of over the counter remedies, books for homeopathic remedies, and visits to primary care or emergency departments for extreme cases. However, there are many ways in which one can control his or her indigestion with simple measures. For instance, food is a major contributor to causing reflux. Foods that are high in acid content, such as tomatoes, dairy products, citric acid, peppers, and anything based in vinegar all cause heartburn. By simply avoiding these foods in large quantities, one can limit his or her indigestion significantly. Overeating is another substantial cause of indigestion. When one overeats, the esophageal sphincter becomes stretched and displaced. Over the long term, the elasticity of this small muscle ring loses its ability to contract, which allows the reflux of acidic contents back up into the esophagus. By controlling your eating patterns, you allow for the proper function of the esophageal sphincter and reduction of acidic reflux.
While there are many foods that contribute to increased indigestion, there are plenty of foods that will counteract indigestion. First and foremost, water and hydration is one of the most important factors to reduce indigestion. Water and fluids allow for the proper flow of contents through the stomach and into the small and large intestine. However, it is important to note that fruit juice, because of the citric acid, should be avoided or watered down when consumed. Foods high in fiber should also be consumed on a regular basis. High fiber foods push contents through the digestive system quickly and have the ability to clear the digestive tract of unwanted debris, which leads to more efficient digestion. Apples are a very good choice of high fiber fruits that have no citric acid.
Remedies for indigestion can be found at the local pharmacy as over the counter remedies as well as prescription drugs. Antacid tablets are the most common medicine to control indigestion and are considered the first line of defense. If indigestion is uncontrolled by over the counter drugs, prescription medication such as omeprazole, which stops stomach acid production, may be used. For those suffering from heartburn, he or she would benefit from seeking more information at Reflux Remedy, refluxremedy.com today.
Filed under Acid Reflux Remedy by admin
September 19, 2011
Gerd Natural Remedy
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which acid in the stomach backs up into the esophagus. It is also referred to as acid reflux or heartburn.
GERD can be treated with over-the-counter medications or prescription drugs. In severe cases, a doctor may recommend surgery. If you suffer from GERD, there may be a natural remedy that is effective for your condition.
Apple cider vinegar mixed with water is helpful for people suffering with GERD. You can drink milk to soothe the burning associated with acid reflux. Cumin mixed with water is also a remedy. Lemon balm, German Chamomile and ginger root mixed with honey are natural remedies to relieve the pain from GERD.
Meadowsweet tea reduces stomach acid. Peppermint tea is also helpful, but it should not be used by women who are breastfeeding.
Tea made from slippery elm bark can soothe the throat and cut down on the pain from acid in the esophagus. Swedish bitter and baking soda are also effective in treating GERD. Fennel seeds reduce the pain from acid reflux. Women who are pregnant should not consume fennel seeds in high doses.
Citrus fruits can increase the symptoms of acid reflux, but citrus peels are a remedy for the condition. Citrus peel supplements can be found in health food stores. You can peel citrus fruits and allow the peels to dry. The peels should be stored in the freezer or in a tightly sealed container. Chew them as needed for acid reflux.
Drinking water may be helpful because it reduces stomach acid. Use a filter on your home faucet because the chlorine in the water contributes to GERD symptoms.
There are some lifestyle changes you can make which may be a natural remedy for your GERD. Obesity is believed to contribute to acid reflux. The extra body fat in the stomach area forces acid back up into the esophagus. Because of the link between being overweight and acid reflux, losing weight may be helpful with relieving symptoms.
Avoid wearing clothes that are tight around the stomach area because they can force acid back up into the esophagus.
Consuming smaller meals may naturally reduce acid reflux. You should eat dinner several hours before going to bed and avoid snacking late at night.
Your sleeping position affects GERD. It is recommended that you sleep on a pillow to keep your upper body slightly raised. Lying on your side may also help with acid reflux problems.
Changing your diet can be a remedy. Cutting back on spicy foods or foods high in fat may be helpful. Coffee, alcohol, onions and garlic are believed to increase problems with GERD, so decreasing consumption of these items could eliminate your problems.
Smoking and other tobacco products should be avoided by people who suffer from GERD because they are believed to aggravate the condition.
Stress can lead to digestive problems. Try decreasing your stress level with meditation or yoga. Getting more sleep at night will also reduce your stress level and possibly decrease GERD issues. Try visiting Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com for more natural GERD remedies today!
Filed under GERD Treatment by admin
GERD or Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease is a very dangerous condition that can result in discomfort or in more chronic, serious conditions, for instance Barrett?s Esophagus or esophageal cancer. GERD can be controlled by changing habits and by the use of the GERD Pillow.
Acid reflux starts with the symptoms of stinging pain at the back of the breastbone. Over 60 million adults in America endure acid reflux, and in at least 90 percent of these cases show a link to precise foods. Most people experience acid reflux at night while they are trying to sleep.
The most everyday sign of GERD is acid reflux which occurs when sphincter of the lower esophagus is weak or opens incorrectly and lets stomach acid into the stomach.
This condition can be found in babies and young children but is most likely to occur among pregnant women and older people.
Reports have indicated that people can eliminate acid reflux by ending the practices that cause it. This means to discontinuing the use of refined sugar and animal fat, stopping smoking, and doing away with alcohol and caffeine. Other bad practices are eating late and sleeping on one?s stomach. Both of these routines cause acid reflux to increase.
Using a GERD pillow and sleeping an the left side will help alleviate heart burn.
People can reduce the risk of GERD by changes in daily routine and by natural medicine. However, those who are not prepared to take the steps to treat acid reflux may have to turn to Proton Pump Inhibitor drug (PPIs) which stops the cells in the stomach from producing more acid. Prior to taking the drugs, the patient must be certain that his stomach is producing too much acid. A shortage of acid can produce similar acid reflux signs.
Proton Pump Inhibitor Drugs can have many serious and negative consequences. According to tests in Denmark, people who have had one heart attack are 30% more likely to have another heart attack when receiving PPIs, even if they are using the GERD pillow. PPIs can result in a artificial condition known as acid rebound. In addition, PPIs can cause people to have heart inflammation and palpitations as a result of lowering nutritional enzyme partners. It reduces oxygen to unsafe levels. PPIs also lessens the amount of nutrients absorbed, boosts bacteria inflammation in the stomach and obstructs the function of the liver.
Another symptom of acid reflux is the acid reflux cough. This begins in the diaphragm and the throat and is the cause of unceasing coughing. It lasts during the day and diminishes in the evening. One of the best ways to handle the cough is to eat at least three hours before sleeping. If the patient can stop producing acid in the stomach, that reduces the cough along with taking medicine. Professionals recommend amending the nutrition as the natural way to stop the acid reflux cough.
If a person sleeps raised with a pillow on his left side, tests have shown that this will decrease acid reflux. The slope prevents the stomach acid from reentering the throat and shields the esophagus from acid. It also helps with the sleep apnea condition and eliminates snoring. Find the GERD pillow that is right for you by visiting Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com today!
Filed under GERD Treatment by admin
September 16, 2011
Infant Halitosis
While bad breath may be, unfortunately, commonplace for adults, and can often have no malignant cause, an infant with bad breath is not only rare, but possibly indicative of an underlying health concern. Parents of infants with halitosis should follow a process to determine the cause of their baby’s bad breath, as failing to identify this as a health concern can do much worse than simply bad breath, it can also result in health compromising infections that could have easily been avoided.
Check Noses First
A simple examination of your infant’s nose can quickly ascertain whether they have stuffed their nasal passages with something that may be causing bad breath. This should be an initial priority, as the possibility of choking or rapid infection is very real, and can occur quickly if the object is not removed.
Determine Prevalence
Acute halitosis occurs when a baby only rarely has bad breath, and is often something that a parent can overlook. This is especially true if the halitosis can be tied to a baby’s eating habits, for instance, when a pungent food is consumed, like garlic or a strong smelling cheese.
If your infant’s bad breath continues for more than 3 days at a time, with no common cause that is identifiable, a quick process of elimination should then begin.
Your Baby’s Mouth
Infants often suck on a variety of objects, whether they be pacifiers, blankets, stuffed toys, or even their own fingers, and the bacteria that is present on any one of these can lead to the presence of bad breath.
It is important to thoroughly wash objects that your infant places in his or her mouth multiple times a day using soap and water, as this stymies the levels of bacteria present. Be sure to not use bleach to sterilize objects, or any other substances that leave harmful residues your child may ingest when sucking.
Properly cleaning your baby’s favorite sucking objects should result in rapid cessation of bad breath, and if foul odors continue past one day of cleaning, it is important to move on to the next step.
Check For Infections
If your child is sick, then the odds are that he or she will be breathing through their mouth more than normal, which can quickly dry infant breathing passages and the mouth itself. This will rapidly result in bad breath, and clearing up the infection should quickly restore normal, fresh breath odor.
GERD (acronymn for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) can also cause bad breath in infants. Though, in most instances children grow out of GERD by age 1. Acid reflux and GERD have been known to cause infant halitosis. Try burping the infant several time during the feeding to lower the risk of reflux.
If you, or your baby’s doctor, cannot determine whether an upper respiratory or mouth infection is present, consider the possibility of an imbalance in stomach bacteria caused by a lack of immune system in the gut. When a child is not breastfed, or fed formula or food that causes a reduction in intestinal flora, the immune system function that is enabled by the presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut is compromised.
If your infant is also experiencing stomach distress of any kind while also experiencing halitosis, it would be in your best interest to discontinue any foods other than breast milk, especially formula. There are also certain formulas that provide pro-biotic cultures in approximately the same manner as breast milk, if breast milk is not available. For more ways to address and cure infant halitosis be sure to visit Reflux Remedy at refluxremedy.com today!