Acid Reflux and
Heartburn Information
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Click here to learn more about a safe, natural
cure for acid reflux
disease
What is Acid
Reflux?
Synonyms for acid reflux are acid indigestion, reflux, and heartburn. In
the U.S. nearly 60 million people suffer from heartburn at least once a
month. 25 million Americans suffer from frequent acid reflux. This
ailment is usually more common in older people and pregnant women.
Acid reflux is a medical condition with biological reasons. The
lower esophagus sphincter (LES) does not work properly in some people.
Therefore they are more prone to develop acid reflux than others. That
means that the esophagus does not function properly as "natural valve".
It opens and closes at the wrong time.
The symptoms are usually a burning in the chest
that is caused when acids from the stomach (hydrochloric acid) irritate
the esophagus lesions. The stomach is protected against the strong
digestive acids, whereas the esophagus is not, and that exactly is
causing the problem. When our own stomach acids reflux into the
esophagus it creates this burning pain in the chest area
close to the heart, therefore often called heartburn.
Heartburn occurs often when we eat a very fatty or heavy meal, or big
amounts of food. After a meal there is a pressure in the stomach that
acts against the esophagus. The more we eat the more pressure. A healthy
esophagus can resist the pressure and might only give up if it is a huge
amount of food. The damaged esophagus of frequent heartburn sufferers
however will not stand the pressure that is created by the stomach. The
pressure makes the aggressive stomach acids that are actually meant to
digest food reflux into the esophagus.
Bad diet habits, overweight and smoking among other causes, can provoke
heartburn in some people with a slight LES defect that otherwise maybe
would have never occurred.
Even if you do not suffer from heartburn and haven't eaten that much,
you can experience this rising of the stomach acids if you lean over
after a meal, or when going to bed or laying down right after a meal.
In severe cases the lower part of the esophagus (LES for lower esophagus
sphincter) has been damaged and hurt so much over time by the acid that
it is extremely sensitive, especially when it comes into contact with
acids. That can happen through food, like citrus fruits. Therefore
people with frequent or severe heartburn will experience the symptom
of burning sensation only by drinking a glass of orange juice.
People that only occasionally suffer from heartburn might not yet feel
the pain when drinking citrus juices; however, if nothing is done they might later on experience the pain as well.
Adjusting your diet habits can be a good solution to start with.
Click here for more information about an ideal
heartburn diet
The pain caused by citrus fruits might also be a sign for a more serious
condition...
Acid
Reflux Disease (GERD)
Cases of severe heartburn of at least 3 times a week are often
referred to as acid reflux disease (GERD), a serious condition that
needs to be treated. In these severe cases acid reflux sufferers can
even feel a pain or pressure in their arms or neck. Another symptom that
people with acid reflux disease may experience is a frequent sore
throat or cough. This cough is provoked by the mucus that can reflux
together with the acid stomach juices if the pressure is too high for
the esophagus. If acid reflux disease is not treated surgery might be
required in a later stage.
What are the symptoms of Acid Reflux?
· Pressure or burning in the chest that causes pain
· Sour bitter taste in the mouth
· In severe cases the pain is also felt in the neck and arms
The symptoms are caused when acids from the stomach irritate your
esophagus.
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