What Is Acid Reflux?

 Are you having a painful burning sensation in your chest or your upper abdomen? Do you feel like this pain sometimes radiate into your back? Does it almost feel like you can’t catch your breath? It is often the reason that thousands of people show up in emergency rooms every year with them, only to find out these symptoms are related to acid reflux even though these general symptoms may sound like a heart attack.

There are as many as 20 – 30 million Americans suffer from acid reflux or as it’s becoming known – gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, and this has been estimated by medical professionals.

There are a lot of us who have experienced it especially after that spicy Italian sausage and pepper sub or even that piece of dense chocolate torte. Some experience it while they are drinking iced tea. This means that it is easy to know what foods to avoid so we don’t have a problem if we are like those people with food related acid reflux. If we take an over the counter antacid, then we can obtain relief.

However, for some of us, acid reflux becomes a chronic condition that over time can cause damage to the esophagus. When the damage to the esophagus occurs this is when acid reflux can cause serious medical problems.

The stomach acids that back flow from up into the esophagus actually damage the lining of the esophagus and this is what happens with chronic acid reflux. With this back up of acid, ulcers can be formed along the esophagus and can cause what is called Barrett’s esophagus which is when the normal esophageal cells are replaced with abnormal cells. These abnormal cells have in fact been associated with cancer of the esophagus.

The question is what to do? First, you can try the easiest path. If you have occasional acid reflux you can try observing what foods bring on the acid reflux. For some medical professionals, they do not see any link between acid reflux and food at all. What they do believe is that acid reflux occurs no matter what type of food you eat. This has not been my personal experience. I have found that avoiding combinations of foods does prevent my acid reflux from occurring.

 Try keeping a diary of what you have eaten when your acid reflux acts up. By doing this, you will know what types of food you should avoid. Another suggestion is that you do not lie down right after any meal. You should also avoid bending over right after a meal.

Avoid wearing any tight fitting clothing. Do not smoke! Smoking can trigger acid reflux symptoms. If periodic acid reflux is what you tend to have then you can seek relief from over the counter antacids. For more severe and chronic acid reflux it is suggested that you seek advice from your medical professional. A prescription antacid is what you may need for relief.

Acid Reflux vs. Non-Acid Reflux

Have you ever experienced a burning sensation in your chest, almost as if your heart is on fire? Have you ever felt a burning sensation in your throat followed by a foul taste in your mouth? If you have, then what you've experienced is acid reflux, commonly referred to as heartburn.

Acid reflux is a common condition that almost everyone experiences at least once during their lifetime. During digestion the stomach produces enzymes and acid to digest food. When the mixture of stomach acid and enzymes are refluxed into the oesophagus more frequently than they should, or for an extended period of time, acid reflux occurs. The most common symptom of acid reflux is a burning sensation behind the breast cavity.

A Number of Factors Can Contribute to Acid Reflux Including:

o Being overweight - excess pounds put pressure on your abdomen and can push your stomach up causing acid to reflux into the oesophagus
o Overeating - Eating too much food can slow digestion.
o Posture and tight clothing - Sitting hunched over while eating or wearing constricting clothing around your waist puts pressure on your stomach
o Foods - many types of food trigger heartburn including: caffeine, fired or fatty foods, salty food, chocolate, excessive alcohol, garlic, peppermint, onion
o Smoking - nicotine aggravates the stomach and oesophagus and inhibits saliva production.
o NSAIDs - Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen can aggravate the stomach.

Antacids and acid-suppressing medicines can help relieve and prevent acid reflux from occurring. There are many types of these drugs available for over-the-counter (OTC) purchase such as the antacids Rolaids and Pepto-Bismol, and acid-suppressers such as Pepcid AC.

Nevertheless, in rare cases, despite the medications an acid reflux sufferer is given to treat their symptoms, they continue to experience symptoms. Many medical researchers are beginning to believe that the ineffectiveness of the treatment may be due to the fact that those who are being treated for acid reflux are actually suffering from agents within the oesphagus that are not related to stomach acid. This condition is known as non-acid reflux.

What is non-acid reflux?
Non-acid reflux is when other potentially harmful agents (not stomach acid) are refluxed into the oesophagus such as bile. It has been discovered that non-acid reflux is defined as a reflux that has a greater pH level than 4. Unfortunately, not much is known about non-acid reflux, its symptoms, or the affects it has on the oesophagus.

It has been found that most cases of non-acid reflux occur after mealtime when the contents of the stomach are being neutralized, and the condition is more present in children than adults.

Medical researchers are still trying to figure out the exact cause of non-acid reflux. Currently new technology is being used that can accurately determine the presence of acid or non-acid in the oesophagus by measuring the Ph level.

If you believe you are suffering from acid reflux, but you find that OTC antacids are not relieving your symptoms, it is a good idea to seek the advice of your doctor. It is important for you to know what type of reflux you are experiencing so you can properly treat your condition. The reason is if you are suffering from non-acid reflux, taking an antacid will not cure your symptoms because this drug has been designed to neutralize acid - acid which would not be present in the case of non-acid reflux.

In addition, if you suffer from frequent episodes of acid reflux, you should still consult your doctor. It may be possible that your common condition has developed into a chronic disease known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Some Guidelines On Proper Acid Reflux Diets

 Before taking medication, most doctors will advise that the person with acid reflux disease make some changes to his/her diet, i.e. have a proper acid reflux diet plan.

It is an easy and useful change that one can make. A proper diet for acid reflux could make a huge difference to the health and comfort of many people.

 With a proper diet for acid reflux, it could remove all of the symptoms attributed to this condition and provide for more undisturbed sleep.

An effective and proper acid reflux diet plan includes knowing what food to avoid, what food to consume and good eating habits. In this short article, we shall go through some important guidelines that you can take away.

 (The Do List)

Appropriate Foods For The Acid Reflux Diet

Consume food that is rich with complex carbohydrates
Foods that are good for an acid reflux diet are foods that contain complex carbohydrates. Foods such as bread, pasta, and rice tend to absorb the acid and prevent it from backing up in the esophagus. Since these foods tend to put on weight, it is best to eat smaller portions of them. If you drink milk, switch to a milk that is lower in fat.

Bake or Broil Food
Avoid frying foods whenever possible. Baked or broiled will serve two purposes; it will help control acid reflux symptoms and help to maintain a lower weight. Do not drink alcohol in excess, especially fruit wines. Having a small glass of wine with dinner will probably be ok but keep it to a minimum of one to two times a week.

Stick to non carbonated drinks
Switch to drinks without carbonation. Decaf tea or coffee is a good choice but water is better. There are many flavored waters that are quiet good and good for you. Herbal tea is another good choice. You can experiment with the foods you eat to determine which foods cause you the most trouble. Everybody reacts to foods differently. By controlling your portions and eating high acid foods in moderation, you should be able to stick to an acid reflux diet without a lot of difficulty.

Use nutritious meat
There are some excellent meats to include in this diet that are nutritious and delicious. Extra lean ground beef, steak and chicken are usually great for a main course when on the best diet for acid reflux. Most fish is also very nutritious and safe for those with acid reflux. All of these are acceptable in the best diet for acid reflux, but these should not be cooked with a lot of grease. Those who want to avoid the symptoms of acid reflux might want to grill or broil the dishes.

Use wheat based food items
Most bread, cereal and graham crackers should not produce the symptoms of acid reflux. Corn bread and pretzels are good additions to the best diet fiber acid reflux. The best diet for acid reflux will eliminate some desserts, but other desserts should be fine for those with this condition.

Use cheese
Cheese often makes a good dessert, and there are some cheeses that will be an important part of the best diet for acid reflux. Fat free cookies are usually fine for those with acid reflux. People with acid reflux should avoid rich, creamy cakes and most ice creams.

Use ginger
Gingers have some healing qualities, and those with acid reflux might try adding ginger to some of their food and beverages. Fresh ginger is available in the grocery stores, and this can be ground up and added to meals. Some dishes call for this in the recipe, but it can be added to other dishes. Ginger can also be added to tea. There are some cuisines that include ginger in many dishes such as Chinese cuisine. Those with acid reflux might patronize the Chinese restaurants and look for those dishes with ginger.

Drink Tea
People with acid reflux should try to add green tea to their diet as this beverage is known to help the body digest other food and beverages. Herbal teas contain substances such as chamomile and licorice root provide a repair mechanism for the stomach so those with acid reflux should consume these teas if possible. People with acid reflux should try to drink plenty of water which will help the body excrete the excess acid more efficiently.

(The Don't List)

Avoid Spicy food
Stay away from spicy foods. Even foods you don't think taste spicy can play a big role in creating acid reflux, so knowing what's in your food and knowing to stay away from food with spices in them is a great way to naturally remedy acid reflux. This isn't to say you are limited to nothing but bland foods now, it just means be as liberal as possible when eating spices that can irritate your stomach to the point of being in pain.

Cut down on Large Meals
A recommended choice of acid reflux diets plan always include eating several small meals everyday instead of three large meals as what most people do. This is a good eating habit for everyone, even if you don't experience from acid reflux disease. This is to let the stomach to have sufficient capacity for proper digestion.

Avoid Any Meal Just Before Bedtime
Consuming just before bedtime, especially heavy meal, is prone to cause reflux problems. This is because the stomach has to produce great amounts of acid in order to digest the food. The excessive acid tends to back up into the esophagus when you lie down. Generally, a good practice is to eat your last meal before 8pm daily.

Avoid Fast Foods
Fast food are high in fat and will cause your stomach to produce more acid. Fast foods can also lead to weight gain, which will add to the problem of acid reflux.

Limit Or Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol will add to the secretion of acid in the stomach. It may also curb the contraction of esophageal sphincter. It is the failure of the sphincter muscle to contract tightly that leads to acid reflux.

Avoid Foods That Stimulate Acid Production
Last but not least, an acid reflux diet should avoid foods that increase the secretion of acid in the stomach. These foods include coffee, spicy foods, tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, and alcohol.







Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit acid reflux remedy to learn what causes the pain of acid reflux and other home remedies for acid reflux.

Asthma and Acid Reflux - The Relationship...

 The environment that people live in today's world is very much different from the environment hundreds of years ago. At present, you can see many places being abused by man, and pollution is just about everywhere. Perhaps it is due to this polluted environment that many people get sick. Although one may not like it, the possibility of getting sick is sometimes unavoidable.

One of the many conditions that man suffers from is asthma. Asthma is a well-known disease which is characterized by breathing difficulties, with symptoms like wheezy breathlessness, airflow resistance, and occurrence of frequent allergies, stimuli hyper responsiveness, and nocturnal episodes. Another disease related to asthma is the GERD or the gastro-esophageal reflux disease which is popularly known as acid reflux. You might have an acid reflux if you experience heartburn for more than twice each week.

Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux. The sensation is caused by the stomach acids which burns the walls of the esophagus. These two diseases are said to be somewhat connected with each other. However, there have been no conclusive studies about this matter. What most doctors know now is that acid reflux worsens asthma. How is this possible? When acid reflux remains untreated, the disease would simply get worse. The stomach acid will continue to go up until it reaches the mouth. But before it reaches the mouth, the lungs will be affected first.

A research showed that by putting acid into asthmatic people's gullets it worsens their asthma. And so they reached the conclusion that asthmatic people get GERD more often. They further explained that this was caused by the chest changes due to big pressure every time the person breathes. The high pressure is said to force the stomach liquid to travel the wrong path. People suffering from asthma should avoid getting acid reflux, but the sad truth is that they are the ones who are most prone to having it.

 Studies regarding the connection of the two diseases are still continually being conducted because some pinpointed that if acid reflux is effectively treated, then the asthma should also be better. But they were disappointed by the results. So if you are diagnosed with asthma, and you think that you also have acid reflux, then it would be better to consult a good doctor. They would help you a lot in addressing your asthmatic problems, as well as your acid reflux.

Never take medications without consulting your doctor. The doctor can give you medicines like the adrenaline and hydrocortisones. These are known asthma-preventers. If you can prevent asthma, then it might be possible to prevent acid reflux as well. Most medicines are better taken by breathing them in because it has fewer side effects to the body. Other drugs also help asthma, but again remember to consult your doctor first. Asthma changes during a person's lifetime.

Some children outgrow asthma, but later on, it usually grows back. Adults suffering from asthma sometimes are never relieved from it even if they use medication. The aim now is to minimize the airway's inflammation. Whether you have acid reflux or asthma, the most important thing to do is to get proper treatment. Don’t wait until such time when the situation gets even worse.

he time to act is now, be aware of the disease, and how it can be treated.