A Closer Look At Acid Reflux Disease
Author: John Wellington
Generally known as ‘heart burn’, acid reflux disease is a condition wherein the liquid content of the stomach refluxes into the esophagus. It can be both agonizing and annoying. But if you want to know the truth, the reflux of the stomach’s liquid contents into the esophagus occurs in most normal individuals. Though, when heartburn becomes acid reflux disease or Gastro esophageal reflux disease, also referred to as GERD, it is s real problem. This is because with GERD, the acid is stronger and remains in the esophagus even longer causing more pain.
Many a times, you will experience this especially when you are upright, sitting straight, or standing and it occurs during the daytime. You body handles this reflux by the fluid flowing back down into your stomach. One tends to swallow more during the daytime as a result draining the acid back to where it belongs. Your salivary glands create saliva that also contains bicarbonate that acts to neutralize the acid your stomach has kicked up.
Though at night, you may experience a greater problem when acid reflux disease takes place that is because while sleeping, gravity does not work as well lying down, your constant swallowing stops, and the production of saliva is reduced.
For GERD, there are certain conditions that tend to make a person more prone to acid reflux disease. For instance, this can be a serious problem while you are pregnant. Elevated
hormone levels of pregnancy probably cause reflux by lowering the pressure in that part of your body known as the lower esophageal sphincter. Moreover the growing baby puts more pressure on the abdomen. Both of these effects of pregnancy tend to increase the risk of GERD.
You will experience only minor symptoms if you’re acid reflux disease is a minor condition. This would include mainly heartburn, regurgitation, and nausea.
However for more complicated conditions, then one would need to watch out for the following symptoms:
Firstly the liquid that comes back into the esophagus damages the lining of the esophagus. The body in turn tries to protect itself from the acid reflux disease by ‘inflaming’ the
esophagus. In many cases when trying to speed the healing process through the inflammation, the wall of the esophagus may form an ulcer. Thus an ulcer is a break in the lining of the esophagus wall. Then what happens is that there may be bleeding. In case the bleeding is very severe, patients might need a blood transfusion or even surgical treatment.
If your heartburn is severe or acute, or if it takes place very frequently, you need to see a doctor.
What can you do for yourself to alleviate the condition? You can try sleeping on a pillow at night that raises your chest up slightly so that gravity can bring the acid back down more
easily. Many a times this condition regularly arises on a full stomach; hence one needs to eat earlier and eat less to keep the stomach from being too full. Cut down on the chocolate,
peppermint, caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Lessen fatty foods and for sure, either cut down or quit smoking. Other foods may aggravate the conditions. Also pass up on both spicy or acid-containing foods, like citrus juices, carbonated beverages, and tomato juice.