There are several causes for acid reflux. Of the thousands of sufferers of acid reflux daily you would be surprised to discover how the causes for acid reflux in different individuals vary. Many suffer from acid reflux as result of a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia is an abnormality of the stomach that occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the upper part of the stomach move above the diaphragm. The diaphragm, amongst other functions, serves as the muscle that separates the stomach from the chest. When this muscle is functioning properly, the diaphragm helps to keep stomach acids in the stomach. If you are suffering from a hiatal hernia, acid then has the space to move past the stomach into the esophagus causing acid reflux disease symptoms.

There are ultimately two types of hiatal hernias, para-esophageal and sliding:

• In cases of para-esophageal hernias, the gastro-esophageal junction stays put but part of the stomach squeezes up into the chest finding its way next to the esophagus. This type of hernia makes home in the chest cavity. Para-esophageal hernias have been known to cause complications such as strangulation and incarceration. During incarceration, the hernia is stuck and is actively being squeezed. During strangulation there is a lack of blood supply which can lead to tissues that are involved in the strangulation dying. In order to stop the strangulation surgery must be the resort.
• The other type of hiatal hernia is a sliding hiatal hernia. Approximately 90% of hiatal hernias are sliding hernias. A sliding hiatal hernia occurs when the gastro-esophageal junction and part of the stomach literally slides into the chest. This usually occurs as a result of weakening anchors of the diaphragm to the esophagus from increased pressure in the abdomen or longitudinal esophageal muscle contractions. Part of the stomach may only slide into the chest while swallowing or a part of the stomach may make way into the chest and permanently reside there. When you swallow, your esophagus contracts, shortens and pulls on the stomach. After swallowing, your junction falls right back into starting position.

There are no concrete known causes of hiatal hernias, however, it is speculated that hiatal hernias may be a result of a weakening in the tissues that support the area. Weakening of the tissues can be due to vomiting, pregnancy, wearing tight clothing that add pressure to the abdomen, sudden heavy lifting, tears or holes in the diaphragm, age, obesity and smoking.

Over half of hiatal hernia sufferers never complain of any symptoms. If there are any symptoms experienced, it usually simulates the discomfort that is most often associated with acid reflux such as heartburn, which can be experienced in the throat, chest, and lower abdomen, regurgitation, which is the expulsion of stomach contents from the mouth, sour or bitter taste in the mouth, hiccups, burping or coughing. Though it is a less experienced symptom there have been cases where sufferers have complained of nausea.

Try eating smaller meals, avoiding foods that are your acid reflux triggers, losing weight and drinking lots of water to lessen symptoms. If you have any other questions please feel free to visit refluxremedy.com today.

Acid reflux disease, also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is a disease plaguing thousands of people every day. Acid reflux, simply stated, is what happens when the acids from the stomach that are used to breakdown and digest foods escape the stomach and leak into the esophagus causing what is commonly known as heartburn.

How does acid reflux happen?

Acid reflux happens when the circular ring, which is also a muscle, located at the entrance of your stomach and the lower part of your esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) doesn’t adequately serve its purpose. The purpose of the ring is to allow for the passing of food from the esophagus to the stomach. As soon as the food passes through, the LES is suppose to close, only opening if there is more food that needs access. If the LES neglects to close all the way or if it opens too often, the acid that is produced by your stomach to break down food can escape your stomach and make its way into the esophagus resulting in heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms. If this happens rarely, you should not be alarmed. However, if this occurrence happens two or more times a week you may be suffering from acid reflux disease.

Another cause of acid reflux disease is an abnormality of the stomach known as a hiatal hernia. This type of hernia occurs when the LES and the upper part of the stomach move above the diaphragm which is suppose to separate the stomach from the chest. The muscle that is the diaphragm serves as a sort of blockade helping to keep stomach acids in the stomach. With a hiatal hernia, acids may travel to the esophagus causing acid reflux disease.

Symptoms of acid reflux disease vary from person to person. While there are those who may experience acid reflux symptoms mildly, there are others that find acid reflux disease symptoms to be quite debilitating. The most common symptom of acid reflux disease is heartburn. Heartburn may be described as a burning or discomfort in the chest. This burning and discomfort has also been known to travel to the throat and lower abdomen. In rare instances, there have been reports of heartburn making its way to the back.

Regurgitation is also a symptom. Regurgitation happens when acids and undigested, recently consumed food and drinks travels up from the stomach into the esophagus and exits the body from the mouth. This symptom has been known to be accompanied by a sour or bitter taste in the mouth as well. Bloating, burping, hiccups, dysphagia (a narrowing of the throat), and in some cases nausea are also known symptoms.

There are ways to lessen the likelihood of acid reflux. The best way to rid acid reflux would be to change how and what you eat. Try eating smaller meals several times a day as opposed to large meals that may overwork stomach acids during digestion. Drink water instead of carbonated, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. Eat at least two hours before bedtime, and if you are a smoker, quit. Also keep a food log. If you notice that some foods are triggers for acid reflux, eliminate these foods from your diet.

These are just a few suggestions. For more information on acid reflux disease feel free to visit refluxremedy.com.

The best treatment for hiatal hernia is to cure your chronic heartburn, acid indigestion or gastro-esophageal acid reflux (GERD), which is what causes your hiatal hernia to flare up in the first place.

Think about what a hiatal hernia actually is . . . it’s your stomach stuffed with partially digested food pushing up further and further until it shoves your stomach up into your throat area.

Sounds gruesome doesn’t it?

Hiatal hernia isn’t fun, but you probably already know that or you wouldn’t be here reading this, would you? The hiatal opening is at the top of your diaphragm where your esophagus goes through. Once your stomach slips up through there the treatment of the symptoms of hiatal hernia isn’t going to reverse the problem.

Once your stomach bulges upward through this opening the only way to get your stomach back into your abdominal area is to help your digestive system to relax as a whole, which means you need to help your digestive system finish digesting the contents of your stomach.

For immediate treatment you can do heel drops, deep breathing and stretching.

A heel drop works by standing on the tip of your toes, hands to your sides and drop down to your heels, repeatedly. Jumping on a trampoline may help as well. The idea is to help the gut relax and by using gravity to jar your stomach back down into the abdominal cavity where it belongs.

The only treatment I am aware of for hiatal hernia is physical treatment or nutritional treatment. Another thing you can try is to use one of those big yoga balls. They are around a 2.5 to 3 foot diameter rubber ball used for exercise and stretching.

First make sure you have room to tumble in case you roll off the yoga ball. Here’s what you do . . . squat – as low as you can, preferably resting on your heels, with your back on the ball and using your hands to stabilize it, or else get help if you aren’t that flexible, and slowly lean back against it. Gradually lifting your behind off your heels and gently rolling backward, allowing the yoga ball to support your body. If you’re successful you will be arched parallel to the floor with your head hanging over. Now carefully bounce with your leg action until the stretch is complete.

This treatment should drop your hernia back out of your hiatal opening. Deep breathing treatment is recommended to help you focus and relax, this also helps expand your abdominal or chest cavity as well, giving more space for your stomach to drop down.

So treatment for hiatal hernia depends on if it’s an emergency of not, if not then treatment should be based on preventative and maintenance measures by supplementing with ionic minerals, probiotics and enzymes, which will also help you improve you immune, enteric and digestive systems.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass

Health Advocate

By definition being pregnant is the same as a hernia. The bigger the fetus, the more pressure placed against other organs and the bigger the hernia.

A hernia is simply internal pressure against any organ.

A ‘hiatal’ hernia is when the pressure is directed up towards the opening in your diaphragm where your esophagus exits.

Any pressure in this area is called a hiatal hernia.

It usually happens because of a poor digestive system, which allows undigested food to burden the stomach and force it’s growing mass up into the hiatus (the opening).

Being pregnant, especially in the 3 trimester can have the same effect as chronic indigestion would have, except it’s from a growing baby instead of undigested food.

Now hopefully your hiatal hernia is caused only from your baby, I hope you don’t suffer from poor digestion too . . . although it has been known to happen.

The last thing you would ever want to do when pregnant is introduce any drugs into your system.

If you suspect acid reflux and indigestion as a factor for your hiatal hernia pain please don’t just start popping antacids.

Antacids are chocked full of aluminum and other materials that can harm your baby. Besides, you may not even have an over abundance of stomach acid, you may be suffering from a lack of gastric juice, which more often than not is the case.

The symptoms of too little stomach acid and too much are similar, as far as acid reflux goes.

Your baby needs a lot of nutrition and minerals to boot, plus if you are already deficient you need to know your baby now has biological priority.

So see a qualified health practitioner, get on a healthy diet and introduce some food support supplements.

I recommend food support supplements derived from RAW whole food sources.

To defeat acid reflux and indigestion you need easy to absorb (bioavailable) minerals and vitamins. You can’t even absorb vitamins without proper mineral balance and your enzymes need them too.

You also need plenty of minerals for make stomach acid . . . so focus on nurturing your cell health as the best way to stop hiatal hernia pain and grow a healthy baby.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass

Health Advocate