March 7, 2011
Signs of Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal hernias occur when a part of the stomach organ relocates to another area. The new area may be within the chest or beside the esophagus. This is allowed to happen when a weak diaphragm opens wider than normal and permits the stomach and lower esophageal sphincter to move upward. There are two kinds of hiatal hernias: sliding and rolling. These types are differentiated based on the location of the stomach.
It is essential that you become aware of the signs of a hiatal hernia. Being able to classify the symptoms will enable you to detect this condition early. Signs of a hiatal hernia often appear to be the same symptoms of gastroesphageal reflux disease (GERD). These symptoms may include burning in the throat or chest, regurgitation, chest pain, sore throat and hoarseness. Pain in the chest and stomach areas are very common ailments associated with a hiatal hernia.
Chest Pain
Chest pain is a major sign of a hiatal hernia. The chest pain experienced can range in level of intensity, but is usually accompanied by heartburn, another sign. This pain is commonly located behind the breastbone but can affect the lower and upper sections of the torso. Chest pain can be confused as a symptom of a heart attack or other cardiac condition. If you encounter numbness in the arms along with shortness of breath, you may be at risk of a heart attack.
Heartburn
Hearburn is a key sign of a hiatal hernia. Heartburn is caused when stomach acid backs up to the esophagus causing irritation and pain. There is increased vulnerability with a hiatal hernia because this condition pushes the stomach and lower esophageal sphincter into the chest and allows acidic fluid to flow backwards through the esophagus. Heartburn pain can be severe and is worsened by lying down. Chest pain, a burning sensation, bitter taste, chronic coughing and difficulty swallowing are just some of the signals of heartburn.
Hiatal Hernia Signs and GERD
The signs of a hiatal hernia strongly resemble the signs of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The signs of these two conditions can sometimes confuse you. Hiatal hernias can contribute to GERD but do not have to be present for GERD to develop. GERD is caused by gradual or sudden changes to the lower espohageal sphincter that fails to stop acid from refluxing into the esophagus.
What You Can Do
If you are experiencing any of these signs, you probably are suffering from a hiatal hernia. To reverse the effects of a hiatal hernia there are a number of treatment options that require lifestyle changes. By eating smaller meals, refraining from eating right before bed and not smoking or drinking a lot of alcohol, you reduce the presence of symptoms. You can also change your diet by limiting fatty foods and foods that are spicy and difficult to digest.
If you seek more information on the causes, signs, symptoms or treatments of a hiatal hernia, visit refluxremedy.com now. There you can get all of your questions answered and move forward with your life.
Filed under Hiatial Hernia by admin
January 20, 2011
What Cures Heartburn
Heartburn has a number of cures, so when you ask the question “what cures heartburn?” you may get more information than you anticipated. However, that’s a good thing, as no one person will respond exactly the same as someone else to a heartburn remedy. That is to say, something that works well for one person may not work for you and vice versa. So, it’s important to try a few things when dealing with your heartburn and not get discouraged if the first few things don’t work.
Lifestyle Changes
There are a number of habits and lifestyle changes you can make to help cure your heartburn.
- Eat smaller meals more frequently to help prevent pressure from building up in your stomach, which results in heartburn.
- Eat further away from bed time helps keep acid down in your stomach when you’re trying to sleep.
- Stop smoking. Smoking causes stomach acid to be produced at a higher rate, causing heartburn. Eliminating this factor will help to cure your heartburn, among other benefits of quitting smoking.
- Eliminate excess stress from your life. Similarly to smoking, stress causes a whole host of health problems, including heartburn. De-stressing can help you to cure heartburn and lead a happier and healthier life.
- Wear clothes that fit. Even though this may sound a bit silly, wearing clothes that are too tight for you can actually cause heartburn. This is because pressure is placed on your abdomen, and your stomach responds by producing acid. If there isn’t much food in your stomach, that acid has no place to go but up into your esophagus, resulting in heartburn. So, invest in a new wardrobe that actually fits you to keep heartburn at bay.
Remedies
There are also various remedies you can explore when you’re looking for the answer to what cures heartburn.
- As simplistic as it may sound, try drinking a glass of water. The water helps to dilute stomach acids and wash them through your digestive system, so they can’t create further irritation in your esophagus or stomach. For a different approach, try adding a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar to the water. That will help defuse the acid in your stomach and provide fast and long lasting relief.
- Ginger has long been reached for when it comes to relieving stomach problems, and heartburn is no exception. Try ginger tea, or even candied ginger to help settle your upset stomach.
- Papaya can also help your body break down difficult to digest foods, and reduce acids in your stomach. It contains an enzyme that aids in the digestion process, and can help relieve stress on your stomach.
- Aloe vera juice can also help to relieve heartburn, however be aware that this is aloe vera juice, not gel. If taken orally, gel can cause a number of digestive issues. Only aloe vera juice is meant to be consumed and is known to help relieve heartburn.
These are only a few of the natural ways that you can try to cure your heartburn. For more information on what cures heartburn, visit www.refluxremedy.com today, and check out The Reflux Remedy Report. It places focus on holistic remedies for heartburn, and simply demonstrates how you can be heartburn free right away.
Filed under Heartburn Remedies by admin
December 13, 2010
Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Heartburn
If you suffer from frequent heartburn, you may want to consider lifestyle changes to prevent heartburn.
Before we get too far into that though, let?s look at heartburn a bit more closely. Heartburn happens when acid in the stomach that?s meant to help break down food escapes into the esophagus, causing irritation and pain. Symptoms of heartburn often include a burning sensation that can surge up into the neck, burping, hiccups, and indigestion. Frequent heartburn can be very damaging to the esophagus, and steps should be taken to alleviate it, and allow the body to heal.
This will change your life
The first thing, and possibly the easiest, lifestyle change you can do to prevent heartburn is to stop eating large meals. Consuming less food more often can help the stomach more easily digest meals, and absorb all the nutrients it needs to heal damaged areas. Large meals can result in a buildup of pressure and acid, which produces heartburn pain.
Next, pay close attention to what you eat. Keep a log of what foods you consume, and particularly what foods cause heartburn. Then, simply avoid those foods. Everyone has their own irritants, but some common triggers for heartburn include garlic, caffeine, onions, citrus fruits and alcohol. Eliminating these foods, or consuming them in extreme moderation, can often help stem the frequency of heartburn.
Then, pay attention to when you eat. Eating too close to bedtime, or right before a nap can bring heartburn on like there?s no tomorrow. This is because gravity is your ally when it comes to keeping stomach acids down. When you lie down, gravity can no longer help you, so acids and food can creep up into the esophagus with little resistance. To avoid this scenario, don?t eat less than 2 hours before you want to lie down. This is especially important after a big holiday meal. It may be tradition for you to take a nap on the couch immediately following an overdose of tryptophan, but you?ll regret not breaking that tradition later.
If you do decide you want to lie down right after a meal, or you just have to have that evening snack right before bed, prop yourself up to help keep your esophagus above your stomach. Just one extra pillow under your head can sometimes be all your body needs to help it keep stomach acids where they belong.
You should also avoid tight clothing and anything that puts pressure on your abdomen. Wearing a belt too tightly can often force acid into the esophagus, which results in heartburn. So, buy clothes that fit you correctly to avoid this problem.
Additionally, if you?re overweight try losing some of it. Along the same lines of wearing clothes that are too tight, added weight on the abdomen places unnecessary pressure on the stomach, making it difficult to digest foods properly and easily allowing acid to be overproduced and escape.
There are a number of lifestyle changes to prevent heartburn you can try ? these are only a few of them. To find out more, visit www.refluxremedy.com and read The Reflux Remedy Report.
Filed under Heartburn Remedies by admin