Lower Esophageal Sphincter

October 30, 2010

Acid Reflux Disease Cure

Acid reflux, sometimes called heartburn, happens when stomach acid is allowed to flow up into the lower esophagus.? This can cause discomfort and pain for the sufferer.? Although there is no one sure and fast cure for heartburn, there are many ways to alleviate its symptoms.

Medicine

  • Over the counter medications like Tums or Mylanta may help by neutralizing stomach acid. However, they can also have some nasty side effects, like constipation or diarrhea when over used.
  • Prescription medicines can help attack heartburn in many ways.? Some, called foaming agents, help prevent heartburn by coating the stomach.? Others, known as H2 blockers (like Pepcid and Zantac) and proton pump inhibitors (like Prilosec and Nexium), prevent production of acid in the first place.? Prokinetics (like Reglan) can help strengthen the muscle that prevents acid from moving into the esophagus (called the lower esophageal sphincter), as well as help push food through the system faster ? preventing pressure buildup and reducing acid reflux.

Natural Remedies

  • Apple cider vinegar has been found to be very helpful in relieving and preventing heartburn.? As little as 2 to 3 tablespoons can help relieve acid reflux, and when added to a cup of water, can help prevent future attacks.
  • Ginger is also a widely used remedy.? It can be found in many forms ? pill, candied and tea ? and, like apple cider vinegar, can help alleviate heartburn, or prevent it when taken before a meal.
  • Among the helpful bacteria in yogurt, unflavored yogurt is said to contain the kind that helps tighten stomach walls.? This in effect, prevents acid from backing up into the esophagus.
  • Drinking chamomile or fennel tea may also help.? However, it should be sipped at a warm temperature, not gulped while hot.
  • If nothing else works, drink a glass of water.? It will help flush the system and dilute the acid in the stomach.

Daily changes

  • Smoking has been shown to aggravate acid reflux.? Quitting may help soothe symptoms.
  • Wear loose fitting clothes.? Wearing tight clothes puts pressure on the abdomen causing acid to back up.
  • Sleep with a few pillows under your head, and take naps in a more vertical position, like in a chair.
  • Eat smaller meals more often.? Also, avoid eating right before going to bed.
  • Extra weight can put pressure on the stomach, so overweight people may try losing a few pounds.
  • Monitor consumption of over the counter pain medications and supplements.? Some NSAIDS ? like aspirin and ibuprofen ? as well as vitamins ? iron, calcium and potassium for example ? have been shown to exacerbate heartburn and acid reflux.

Surgery

Generally, surgery is not necessary and used as a last resort.? However, if dietary changes and medications are not helpful, a procedure called fundoplication may be necessary.? It involves wrapping part of the stomach around the lower esophagus, tightening the muscles there and preventing acid backups.? The procedure can be done laparoscopically as well as through an open incision in the abdomen.


For more information on finding relief for acid reflux, please read our Reflux Remedy Report.

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October 7, 2010

What Does Heartburn Feel Like?

If you?re asking how heartburn feels you obviously have never experienced it.

Imagine nearly the most corrosive substance know to man, hydrochloric acid (HCL) splashing up into your sensitive mouth area, again and again and again.

Why does this happen?

Besides the fact that we eat too many processed foods, Americans have been lied to by antacid manufacturers. These so-called antacids actually produce what?s called a stomach acid rebound affect.

You see, the layers of your stomach are very complex and don?t have any problem holding down a bubbling cauldron of caustic acid so powerful it will ?etch? a glass window.

All this volcanic, blistering nasty stomach acid is kept down below by muscular valve called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). Now I see two schools of thought which describe exactly how the stomach acid gurgles its way past this esophageal flap.

One idea claims that the stomach acid over powers it, weakens it and allows the forbidden elixir of brimstone and digestive acids to eat their way up into your more sensitive oral cavities.

The other more feasible explanation of how the bubbling curd works its way upward into your mouth, nose and middle ears is because the undigested stomach contents are bulging and piling upward forcing the flap to compromise its integrity.

You see, in actuality most people have difficulty properly digesting food when they get older because they suffer from mineral and nutrient deficiencies. These nutritional deficits are caused from eating a lot of enzyme-barren foods, forcing the pancreas to make enzymes that are usually hidden within raw fruits and vegetables. This also taxes the bile producing gall bladder of important minerals necessary to make stomach acids.

So now here we are, gut full of food eaten days ago, maybe longer, just slowly fermenting like a cow?s belly, simply because there?s no more stomach acid or enzymes left to break it all down faster.

This bulk, presses up ward causing gas, heartburn and acid indigestion, cramps, flatulence and the rest of it. But what?s bad is the body is working hard to produce a much needed ?mega burst? of gastric acid and when it lets it go, it has nowhere to go but up, because your stomach is already stuffed to the brim.

In this case ?the brim? is referring to the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES).

Now use your imagination. What?s going to happen is noxious stomach acid, from your guts HCL surge, is going to shoot straight up where it should never be. The deep burning sensation is your flesh being etched, blistered and chemically peeled away; the rancid disturbing taste is horribly indescribable.

Over time you?ll experience gum disease, loss of tooth enamel and permanent ?non-kissable? breath. In fact your breath may get so bad no one will want to even talk with you without a ten foot pole to keep a safe distance.

I haven?t even touched on the damage the gastric fumes and stomach acid particles have on your lungs.

This acid reflux situation is so serious it can end up mutating your throat?s tender lining into cancerous leather capable of handling large gulps of hydrochloric and sulfur acids.

Once your throat cells have transformed to literally become more like the stomach lining your Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is likely to progress into throat cancer . . . not a good situation and I don?t want to even imagine what that feels like.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

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October 5, 2010

Treatments For Acid Reflux GERD

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) happens your throat becomes irritated and inflamed from gastric acid rebounding up where it doesn’t belong.

Here are some factors that can contribute to acid reflux disease. By NOT doing these things you will effectively treat your GERD without drugs or surgery:

  • Alcohol
  • Cigarettes,
  • Obesity,
  • Poor posture
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Theophylline (Tedral, Hydrophed, Marax, Bronchial, Quibron)
  • Nitrates
  • Antihistamines
  • Fatty and fried foods
  • Milk chocolate
  • Garlic and onions
  • Drinks with caffeine
  • Acid forming foods (sweet fruits)
  • Spicy foods,
  • Mint flavorings
  • Eating large meals
  • Eating soon before bedtime
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Pregnancy
  • Diabetes
  • Rapid weight gain
  • Mixing fruit and protein
  • Gluten

Normally ,the Lower Esophageal Sphincter ?(LES) acts as a lid on your stomach only letting food and liquids down and keeping everything there.

The problem with Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is that for one of two main reasons the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) is allowing gastric acid to rise up ward into the throat, middle ear and sinus areas.

It shocked me to learn that more often than not acid reflux sufferer’s experience symptoms of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) because their stomach acid isn’t strong enough, or there simply isn’t enough of it to digest the food down. This creates your classic acid reflux symptoms and makes it feels as if there is too much stomach acid, when in fact there is too little.

That’s another reason why antacids have been scientifically proven not to cure acid reflux diseases. In reality antacids trigger increased acid rebound events, literally ruining quality of life for millions of heartburn sufferers.

Rarely someone actually over produces stomach acid because of a bacterial infection, imbalance of stomach pH or from drug effects.

The acid reflux diseases come from not addressing the real cause of the acid indigestion in the first place.

First you need to restore proper nutrients, friendly flora and essential mineral balance. Nothing upsets all of these factors quicker than antacid drugs, not to mention drugs in general.

This lack of digestive acid also explains why hiatal hernia is also linked to acid reflux disease. When food piles up undigested in your gut, it ferments with bad bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms. After a while the bulk of the food piles up further pushing pressure against not only your Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), but you diaphragm muscles as well.

Eventually when you bend over and the food in your gut has nowhere to go, you tighten up and literally push your upper stomach and esophagus above your diaphragm.

So you should be able to imagine, as the little stomach acid you have left is dumped on top of this fermenting pile of food stuff, and that it has only one place to go . . . upwards.

This erodes the esophagus causing a complicated case of Gastro-Esophageal-Reflux Disease (GERD) and a hiatal hernia.

Your risk of surgery and throat cancer just went up again.

All this can be prevented, naturally treated and even reversed- but you must address the root cause, NOT just hide the symptoms with drug products that make things worse.

You were born to heal,

Todd M. Faass?

Health Ecologist

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September 29, 2010

What are Good Foods to Eat with Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a kind of medical condition which is caused when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close after taking the food. Whatever food we eat passes into our stomach through the LES and if it does not close, then acid produced inside our body can reach to our esophagus causing acid reflux disease. This causes heartburn or chest pain. Hence, it is extremely important to know which types of foods are best to prevent or reduce acid reflux.

Preparing a diet regimen for treating acid reflux can be intimidating. ?The problem may increase if you have any kind of food allergy. Normally acid reflux increases post meal, hence it is important to have food that discourages reflux. It is important to know that patients suffering from this disease should have food in small amounts. It is even better, if they can spread their meals throughout the day instead of having a square meal a day. The last meal of the day must be taken well in advance before going to bed. If you take small amounts of food throughout the day, then you can ensure less bulging of the stomach. And a small meal is more or less easily digestible. This results in low acid levels thus leading to reflux free life.

An acid reflux reducing diet consists of all the essential food groups- fruits, vegetables, grains, meats and dairy products. However, some of the items under these groups are not prescribed. You must note and remember them. People suffering from acid reflux disease, are asked to avoid drinks containing caffeine, alcohol, chocolate and peppermint. One should also avoid high fat containing food.

Normally patients are asked to have grains that have low fat content. Rice, multigrain, corn, oats, graham crackers, unseasoned pretzels and bran can be eaten. White bread and rice cakes are also good for patients suffering from acid reflux. Cabbage, celery, fennel, peas, green beans, broccoli, carrots and cabbage can be included in the diet. Fruits like bananas, apples, peaches, berries, melons are good choice. Any kind of citrus fruits must be avoided since they aggravate the problem. Low fat dairy products are good for sufferers.

Feta cheese, cheese prepared from soy and vegetables can be eaten, while ice cream, whole milk and chocolates must be avoided. If you wish to have meat, then have the lean variety. You can have skinless breast of chicken, no fat fish, egg whites, London Broil steaks and ground beef. We normally use a wide variety of seasonings, toppings, condiments while having food. However, you must remember that these should also contain low percentage of fat.

Avoiding chocolate based desserts is mandatory. Jelly beans, pudding, baked chips, cookies, fat free snacks, sweets, sorbet and yogurt containing low fat are prescribed. You should also eat high fibrous food since it clears the stomach nicely and is quite filling at the same time. Food items like strawberries, scallions, ham, scrambled egg, Mozzarella and Cottage cheese, muffin and root beer can be had in moderation.

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