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How to Calm the Raging Inferno of Acid Reflux
By Rita Kennon
More than 60 million people suffer with acid reflux disease every week of their life. Acid reflux is a very unpleasant and annoying condition. It is not considered to be a severe condition such as acid reflux, unless it occurs over twice a week over a time span of several months.
If acid reflux disease goes untreated for a prolonged period of time, it can cause permanent damage to the esophagus.
Acid reflux disease is caused by acid from the
stomach washing back up into the esophagus
repeatedly. This happens when the lower
esophageal sphincter becomes weak and relaxed.
The main cause of the relaxed esophageal sphincter muscle is high fat foods which have been shown in studies to temporarily weaken the esophageal sphincter muscle.
The most common symptoms of acid reflux disease
are a burning sensations in the chest, a sour acidic taste in your mouth, sore throat, and bad breath.
Usually laying down right after eating will make symptoms worsen.
Many people suffering from acid reflux have found relief in positioning their bed in an upright position.
They usually do this by putting 4 to 6 inch blocks under the 2 bedposts at the head of the bed.
The answer to most people who suffer with acid
reflux disease is to reach for an antacid. These are o.k. for short term use, but reducing the acid in the stomach is not the answer.
In recent research, results indicated that reducing the acid in the stomach can cause several other diseases. So, what can you do? When you have acid reflux you absolutely have to have relief- and the quicker the better.
To start with, you can use these tips to help wean yourself off of the antacids for good. Lifestyle changes can go a long way in helping keep the flames at bay.
Things such as quitting smoking, drinking, and
reducing stress will set you on the right road. Then, making changes in your diet is the best thing you can do to keep acid down in the stomach where it belongs.
The first thing to do is start eating foods that are high in fiber. Then make sure that you eat smaller meals so you won't overfill the stomach, causing sloshing of the fluids in the stomach up into the esophagus.
Eat more complex carbohydrate foods and lay off of the fried fatty foods. Last of all, but not least it will help you tremendously if you can start an exercising program.
The most common foods that are known for causing acid reflux are fried foods, caffeine, and alcohol. Smoking also causes the esophageal muscle to relax causing a problem for acid reflux sufferers.
There are even some medications that can cause
problems for some patients with acid reflux disease.
Be sure to consult with your physician concerning interactions of medications he has prescribed. A physician administering an acid reflux treatment usually prescribes various drugs as a first line of defense.
The stomach is designed to be very acidic with a pH of 3.0 or less. When your stomach has the proper pH, it digests your food so that it is broken down into vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are absorbed.
When the acid is reduced greatly in the stomach by antacids, it leaves too little acid for the functions in which it was designed for. Vitamins and minerals are severely depleted in cases where the patient continues over long periods of time to consume antacids.
Herbal supplements have rapidly gained popularity over the past decade because they are safe and affordable solutions for chronic health problems. Herbal supplements are a natural and effective solution for revitalizing your health.
There are several herbs that are well known for
alleviating heartburn. One of my favorites is a very refreshing drink- ginger tea. As always, consult your physician before taking any treatment of any kind.
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