How Do You Know If You Have Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms

If you have been experiencing some strange sensations that you can't explain, you may be having an acid reflux disease symptom. This may be especially true if you are experiencing these things at night or after eating certain foods.

What is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux disease is a condition where acidic gastric juices travel from the stomach back into your esophagus. There are those who experience acid reflux disease symptom regularly and there are those who experience acid reflux disease symptom only when they eat certain foods.

 Acid reflux disease is not a life threatening condition, but those who suffer with acid reflux disease symptom live with the discomfort and pain that this condition can bring.

Acid reflux disease can become more serious if your symptoms are not addressed, as the acid from your stomach can cause damage to the lining of your esophagus. There are many over the counter medications that a person can take that will address most acid reflux disease symptom you may have.

You may need to see a doctor if over the counter medication is not working for you. They will often prescribe a lifestyle change as well as stronger medication than what you can get over the counter. Many times a simple change in eating habits can alleviate an acid reflux disease symptom.

What is an Acid Reflux Disease Symptom?
For those who are unfamiliar with acid reflux disease symptom, they make include the most common of all symptoms; heartburn. Heartburn is an acid reflux disease symptom that sends many people running to the doctor. What heartburn is is a burning sensation that rises from your stomach into your throat. It can make swallowing difficult or painful.

You may also experience an acid reflux symptom that includes hoarseness or dental erosion. You may even contract asthma from acid reflux disease because the acid from your digestive juices can make their way into not only your mouth and throat, but into the air passages of the lungs as well.

Don't hesitate to talk to a health care professional if you are experiencing any kind of acid reflux disease symptom. Once you get your signs and symptoms under control, you will increase the quality of your life.

Acid Reflux Factoids – What You Need To Know

Acid reflux is a condition nobody wants to experience — it can be very uncomfortable and distressing. Treat it not and the condition can escalate to a chronic state, and symptoms can reoccur even after being remiss for a good period of time.

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease, also referred to as acid reflux, is a physiological condition that causes the regurgitation of the stomach content into the esophagus and throat. An unbalanced diet, physical and emotional duress and an unhealthy quality of life are considered the most common causes of acid reflux in an individual.

Acid reflux has the potential to become exacerbated, especially if the patient in question is a chronic sufferer. However, the main cause for acid reflux is apparently a lack of physiological congruence in the sphincter area, which may include, but not be limited to a weakness in the lower esophageal sphincter, unfettered sphincter contractions or the sphincter’s irregular positioning which could cause low levels of pressure at the bottom of the esophagus. If this is ever the cause of acid reflux, an individual’s best option is to undergo surgery to correct the abnormality, or some other medical procedure that can normalize one’s physiological balance.

The best way of controlling the condition is through the means of good diet. Appropriate diet has a great importance in preventing and controlling acid reflux. Because it is known that the inordinate production of stomach fluid can lead to such an uncomfortable state, having an appropriate diet could be just the salve a sufferer needs to circumvent acid reflux and its symptoms. The following foods are strictly forbidden in a good diet against acid reflux: milk, fatty foods, caffeine and caffeine byproducts, alcoholic beverages, cigarette smoking, fried foods and spicy foods.

Other means of controlling the symptoms of acid reflux are medications and surgery. Medical treatments include all kinds of drugs (antacids, histamine antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, etc) that can be effective in preventing the gastric acids from reaching inside the esophagus. Surgery on the esophagus is supposed to be a procedure that generates permanent results. If abnormal activity of the lower esophageal sphincter is the cause of acid reflux, surgery can improve its functioning either by tightening the inner walls of the esophagus in order to increase pressure, or by reshaping the sphincter to better seal the lower end of the esophagus.

Anybody can get acid reflux at any point in their lives, regardless of gender or physical make-up. Typically acid reflux is a condition associated with infancy and early childhood, but there are millions of teenagers, adults and those of advanced age who suffer from this condition. It is important to act quickly when suffering from acid reflux, as it can lead to complications. Acid reflux can mutate and transmogrify into other types of diseases if not treated expediently, such as lesions in the throat, further gastrointestinal concerns, esophageal deterioration, problems in breathing and sleep apnea.

 If acid reflux does get aggravated, it is quite possible for its symptoms to become more dramatic and pronounced. If an individual suffers from chronic acid reflux, symptoms are more than likely to recidivate and surgery or other forms of continuous treatment may become de rigueur in order to properly and completely cure the condition.



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Recognizing the Major Acid Reflux Symptoms

Your life can be painfully disrupted by acid reflux if it isn’t effectively treated. If you want to handle acid reflux in the best way, it helps if you know all about the symptoms associated with it.

You don’t want to misinterpret your symptoms or get treated for the wrong illness. Fortunately, it isn’t hard to manage or prevent most acid reflux symptoms. The sooner you notice the symptoms, the better you’ll be able to treat them. The remainder of this article will focus on a few acid reflux symptoms that many people suffer from.

Do you sometimes have the feeling that you’ve eaten a lot when you haven’t? Do you have a feeling of being bloated for no obvious reason? Feeling this way can signify an acid reflux attack. If you really did eat a large meal, of course, this could explain feeling bloated or too full. Acid reflux symptoms could be the explanation, though, if you have this feeling without eating a lot. If you’ve already been given medical advice on treating acid reflux, symptoms like this are a good signal to begin your treatment. If you don’t yet have a treatment, you should visit a doctor to find out if you really have acid reflux.

One of the most obvious of the acid reflux symptoms is pain in your upper abdominal area. You may not experience it as pain when it starts. At times, you are first only aware of a vague discomfort, but this often transforms into actual pain. This is almost always a sure sign of heartburn or acid reflux. Sometimes it can be a sign of something more complicated so it is a good idea to see your doctor whenever you are experiencing this particular symptom.

The majority of acid reflux symptoms are experienced in the areas of the chest and abdomen. These type of symptoms, unfortunately, can be caused by a wide variety of problems and illnesses. This is why people with these symptoms are often misdiagnosed with something other than acid reflux, when this is actually what they have. Pay attention to your symptoms and keep track of them so that, when you do ask your doctor how to treat them, you will be given proper instructions.

 Acid reflux is totally controllable if you identify it properly!
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Herbal Tea Home Remedy For Acid Reflux

 There are many things that cause problems for those who have GERD (otherwise known as acid reflux). There are some things you can’t eat, and some that you should.

There are times when this can be very confusing, and many don’t want to rely on medications to make all foods tolerable. If you want a home remedy for acid reflux, there are things you can try.

One of these things is drinking herbal teas. Some of them will help, and some might make matters worse, so you should know which to have and which to avoid.

When choosing herbal teas, there is one important thing to think about when you are choosing what you want to try. Caffeine is a known trigger for acid reflux and it should be avoided. That means that any herbal teas that you try must be caffeine-free. Though you can get decaffeinated coffee to drink, even that is known to aggravate GERD and should be avoided. This makes decaffeinated herbal teas the best choice when you seek a hot and soothing drink. Some of them might even help with some of your symptoms of acid reflux.

Many suggest that ginger can help sooth acid reflux symptoms, and if you can find it in a tea, a cup after a meal might help your stomach settle down for the night. You can mix peppermint with aniseed and lavender for a great tasting and soothing blend. You should boil a few cups of water and a teaspoon of your herbal mix, then drain the herbs after sitting for about ten minutes. If you boil this tea and want to have it sweetened, you might try honey instead of sugar or artificial sweetener.

Chicory Root can also be used to make a great herbal tea. You boil a few cups of this and then let sit for a while. You can then drink the tea with honey if you wish. Marshmallow tea might also help. This is not tea made from the marshmallows in your cupboard as the name might suggest, but from a root by the same name. This is known to soothe the digestive system. Another popular type of tea is Chamomile. This is also known to help soothe the symptoms of acid reflux.

You can make many of these on your own, but you can also find them in natural food stores or special sections of your grocery store. Any of these teas might help you feel better, but you won’t know until you try them.

However, it is important that you talk with your doctor before you try them, as some can have side effects that you need to know about, and they might also mix badly with any prescription drugs that you might be taking for your acid reflux or for any other reason. You usually will not have any problems with this type of home remedy for acid reflux, but you don’t want to take a chance with your health.

7 Ways To Relieve The Symptoms Of Acid Reflux Disease With Diet

A acid reflux disease diet can help control the occurrence of acid reflux and decrease the risk of acidity for gastroesophageal reflux disease patients.

 A controlled diet is a question of determining what foods trigger symptoms and which foods are safe to eat.

Creation of a daily food for two weeks, which make a record of all the food they eat and symptoms continue, is the best way to discover the foods to eliminate.

 Two weeks, you must present, then food diary to your doctor or dietitian who can help create a plan of diet which is beneficial for you.

Although it is in your best interest to create a food diary, the following are 7 categories of foods and related foods should be avoided or considered safe to eat each.

The seven categories are:
1 2 Dairy products. 3. For meat. Grain 4. Vegetables and fruits, 5. 6 Oil and fats. Sweets and snacks 7. Drinks

To know what should and should not eat from each food category is how to create a diet of reflux disease acid that effectively relieves symptoms by stopped before they start.

Acid Reflux Foods to Avoid

The following foods must be eliminated or limited considerably on a diet of acid reflux disease and eating them, even in small amounts, can worsen symptoms and lead to recurring heartburn.

Dairy products - sour cream, Cottage cheese, ice cream and ice cream products (i.e. milkshakes, floats, etc.).

Beef - Buffalo wings, chicken nuggets, ground beef and marbled steak

Grains - Marinara Pasta with sauce, Macaroni and cheese

Vegetables - vegetables: raw onion, French fires, mashed potatoes.

Fruit: Cranberry juice of fruits and juices which include lemon, lime, lemon, Orange, orange juice, grapefruit and grapefruit, citrus, tomato juice and tomato juice.

Oil - and fat oily or creamy salad dressings and essentially all fried or fatty processed foods.

Sweets and snacks - Chocolate, doughnuts, butter cookies, brownies, corn chips and French fries.

Beverages - Alcohol, regular or decaffeinated coffee and tea drinks sugary overlooked such as soda.

Foods That Are Considered Safe

The following foods are considered safe to eat and should not aggravate symptoms GERD; Therefore, they can become a part of the acid reflux disease diet

Dairy - cheese cream without fat, feta or goat cheese, low fat soy cheese.

Meat - lean ground beef Extra, London steaks grilled, chicken breast, whites of egg, imitation of eggs and fish without additional fat.

Grains - whole grain or white spade corn, oatmeal, Bran, white or brown rice cereal

Vegetables - vegetables: broccoli, carrots, cabbage, peas, green beans and potato baked.

Fruit: banana, fresh or dried apple, Apple juice.

Oil - and fat low fat salad dressing

Sweets and snacks - Pretzels baked fries, graham crackers, rice, fat free cookies and Red licorice candy cakes

Beverages - water

Occasional Sweets

Last but not least, the following is a short list of foods that occasionally you can enjoy in the diet of acid reflux disease, but with discretion and moderation should consume that may aggravate the symptoms:

Cheese cheddar or mozzarella products dairy – yoghurt,

Meat - laid eggs, fried fish, hot dog, salad of ham and tuna.

Grain - grain Granola and muffin.

Vegetables - vegetables: garlic, leeks and green onions.

Fruits: dried blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries orange juice.

Fats and oil - tomato sauce

Sweets and snacks - low fat cookies

Beverages - non alcoholic drinks and drinks carbonated


Finally, please note that listed above are only general guidelines. Foods that are considered safe to eat for heartburn patients may not be the same for another.

Therefore, make sure you keep a food diary for determining what is the best diet for you, acid reflux disease can be treated effectively and prevent symptoms.
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The Signs And Symptoms Of Silent Acid Reflux

Choking often occurs with night time acid reflux, but silent acid reflux can also cause choking, coughing, and other throat related issues. Although commonly referred to as silent reflux, the actual term for this particular form of acid reflux is Laryngopahryngeal reflux (LPR).

What is LPR? Laryngopharyngeal reflux is similar to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in that it occurs when the lower esophagealsphincter (LES) weakens and opens, allowing acid to reflux into the esophagus. However, the main difference is that the primary symptom of GERD is heartburn, while the primary symptoms of LPR typically occur in the throat.

Most people are aware that acid reflux usually occurs when the LES,the lower sphincter in the esophagus located between the esophagus and stomach, malfunctions. However, what is not as commonly known is the esophagus actually has another sphincter called the upper esophageal sphincter (UES). The UES is located where the esophagus meets the throat. When both the LES and UES fail, silent acid reflux is the result.

What is the difference between LPR and GERD? As was previously mentioned, LPR results when stomach acid makes it past both of your sphincters and pools in your throat, or reaches your mouth or the back of your nose. GERD is when acid makes it past the LES and remains in the chest and does not pass through the UES.

The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn, which occurs after a person has experienced repeat episodes of reflux, and the acid has burned away the protective lining that coats the esophagus.Although some LPR sufferers experience heartburn, this isn't a common symptom, because the refluxed digestive juices do not remain in the esophagus long enough to cause damage. This is often why LPR is referred to as silent acid reflux, because most people don't associate the symptoms they experience from laryngopharyngeal reflux with acid reflux.

What are the symptoms of LPR? Symptoms almost always occur in the throat and are usually felt because, unlike the esophagus, there is no protective lining in the throat.

Common Symptoms That May Be Experienced Include:

o Chronic cough


o Asthma-like symptoms


o Regurgitation


o Sour or bitter flavor in the mouth


o Frequent need to clear the throat


o Consistent mucous in the throat


o Burning sensation or pain in the throat


o Sore throat


o Hoarseness and possible loss of voice


o Difficulty swallowing


o Post-nasal drip


o Pain in the ear and/or consistent ear infections


o Nausea


o Heartburn

A silent acid reflux sufferer may experience some or all of these symptoms.

What should I do if I think I have LPR? Well there are a lot of acid reflux remedies but if you think you may be suffering from laryngopharyngeal reflux, you should visit your doctor for an examination and diagnoses. Your general practitioner (GP) may send you to an otorhinolaryngologist (a medical professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating ear, nose and throat disorders,also known as an ENT specialist).

You can expect to have different tests done, such as a fiberopticendoscopy, a special test that is designed to visualize the full length of your throat, and is often used to diagnose LPR. Other tests you may experience for further diagnosis include barium swallow or dual pH probe studies. It is imperative that you have LPR diagnosed and treated, because it can cause just as serious damage as untreated GERD.

What is the best acid reflux treatment? Silent acid reflux is primarily treated with the same methods as GERD. The reason is because the goal is to reduce acid to treat symptoms and prevent acid reflux from occurring. Thus, treatment typically involves lifestyle changes (I.E. eliminating foods and beverages that trigger acid reflux, quitting smoking, losing excess weight, not eating before bed,etc.), and may include antacid medication or surgery depending on the severity of LPR and the frequency of acid reflux attacks.
Remember that you should always consult your doctor first before starting any method of acid reflux treatment. Do not self-diagnose silent acid reflux, because the symptoms you are experiencing may be related to another condition altogether. Always seek a professional diagnosis.

Warning-Treating Your Acid Reflux Symptoms May be Dangerous!

A prominent medical study in 2007 found that all common acid reflux prescriptions, including Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec make hip fractures far more likely.

Nearly 50% more hip fractures occurred after just one year of taking the most effective "proton pump inhibitor" drugs!

This is shocking news, because one in five people dies after a hip fracture, according to Dr. David Forcione; and it can be presumed that the risk becomes greater with every year that reflux drugs are taken. It now seems that reflux drugs, which act by limiting the acid we produce, thereby limit the amount of calcium we absorb (calcium reacts with acids), imperiling our bones to a startling degree.

Yet both the new and old drugs do not stop acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD since reflux is "primarily a motor disorder." 15729198 They only reduce the amount of acid within the fluids that come up. Also, older drugs were found to thin bones less only insofar as they were less effective in reducing acid in the first place, so switching back to such drugs as Zantac doesn't help you avoid osteoporosis any more than reducing the dosage of the more recent drugs would.

But there may be worse news hidden in this new study. It may even be that the most profound and common long-term side-effect of reflux drugs is... worse reflux over time! This is because calcium is essential in controlling reflux, not just neutralizing the acids in it. Calcium seems to increase gut mobility 15628717 and have anti-inflammatory action as well as immediately neutralizing acids. 17201221 So if modern acid reflux medications are indeed reducing our calcium intake, then more and worse reflux may be an all-too predicable consequence of taking those drugs for long periods. These drugs may actually be helping to cause the problem they are being prescribed to cure.

Calcium and magnesium are a common treatment for acid reflux, and not just because the calcium we've just eaten combines with acid to neutralize it in the stomach. The calcium available in our body also helps us to deal with stomach acid in reflux by being released and neutralizing it, as well as improving gut mobility and more. Therefore taking calcium long before an episode of acid reflux helps, but only if the calcium is absorbed, needless to say; and current acid reflux medications are helping to prevent that.

 If over time we have less calcium in our body thanks to reflux drugs such as proton pump inhibitors or older drugs such as Zantac, still worse reflux months or years later may be a likely result. Sadly, the new finding about hip fractures may also explain why so many people who start taking acid reflux drugs end up staying on them year after year, and even decade after decade.

Other conditions can also be strongly affected by calcium deficiency, including epilepsy, anxiety, and muscle spasms. So combining reflux medication with these conditions may not be advised. It is also known that low acid interferes with natural B-12 absorption.

So what to do if you have reflux? The first thing: take all the calcium and B-12 you should (which for almost everyone means taking calcium/magnesium supplements). Note, however, that if you are still taking reflux drugs, these may prevent you from absorbing any calcium from these supplements, as well. At a minimum, it's worth finding out, in consultation with your doctor, whether taking substantial calcium supplements will allow you reduce your dosage of reflux drugs such as PPIs, or help you withdraw from them.

 If acid reflux drugs are indeed addicting, then only being off them for some time, during which calcium can be replaced; will tell you if you truly still need them. You should expect a transition period during which reflux is more noticeable because it's now more acidic, before things get better. Take a probiotic as a precaution, because your digestive system may need a whole new kind of bacteria to deal with a more acid enviroment, and because probiotics have been recommended as a treatment for acid reflux symptoms.

Do consider the possibility that your acid reflux is being caused by other medications you are taking. Asthma medication, anti-depressants and aspirin-class NSAID painkillers can all cause reflux, and taking female hormones may do so. Also, any drug which is a sedative or tranquillizer may slow the peristaltic waves within the esophagus that clear food. Lose weight if you can, since extra pounds worsen reflux.

Other ways of helping acid reflux:
Make sure you are getting enough fiber, since this also helps intestinal mobility. Raise the head of your bed a few inches, and do not use abdominal muscles when you rise from bed - roll onto your left side and use your uppermost arm to raise your upper body. Be certain to drink a full glass of water after taking any medication, as this limits damage to the esophagus.

 Exercise! Short term strenuous exercise can cause acid reflux, but as you learn to "isolate" abdominal muscles and not clench them unnecessarily as you move (a lot easier as other muscles such as leg muscles become stronger) you'll have far less reflux.

 Limit smoking, alcohol, chocolate, coffee and tobacco and if you do take them, try to do so only in the morning, since these stimulants may possibly cause reflux by altering the stomach and intestine's daily cycles. The good news is that if you've improved these habits since you started taking reflux drugs, the only thing now causing your reflux, might be the acid reflux drugs themselves!  
 
Since jet lag can cause reflux, it is wise to establish a healthy rhythm of day and night, with sufficient darkness.