Sunday, March 11, 2012

Medical term for acidity and other related terms

Heartburn ("burning" in Greek), is the medical term used to describe a burning sensation behind or just below the sternum. It is a symptom of stomach acids that have found their way into the esophagus, and is more commonly known as "heartburn". After all, this site is about heartburn remedies.

Other medical terms associated with the heartburn are used in the field of medicine so that doctors and specialists can transmit the exact status of a person or symptom in a concise manner.

Other medical terms associated with heartburn (heartburn)

Trying to decipher some medical terms you may feel as you try to read Greek without previous experience in the language. In many cases, the words are truly Greek or at least one variant Latin based on a Greek word. Medical experts used these terms for simplicity in their own reports and when we take a look at many of them, the language begins to make sense.

Esophagus: the esophagus is the tube that we use to obtain food from our mouths to our stomach. It begins in the upper part of the throat (just behind the back of the mouth) and ends in the upper part of the stomach. This is the body that turns into irritation and burns when it comes in contact with the stomach acids.

Gástrica-gástrica is a medical term that refers to something related to the stomach. A related word, "gastro", is a prefix that comes at the beginning of many medical terms that refer to an area of the gastric system.

Reflux – reflux is a medical term that refers to what happens when you feel heartburn. Refers to the process why stomach acids have entered into the esophagus.

Gastroesophageal reflux: if put all together previous terms that we get a variation and a medical term meaning "acids have entered into the esophagus from the stomach". Gastroesophageal reflux is a medical term that combines the word "stomach" and "ebb" and "esophagus" to indicate a relationship between the digestive system as a whole and the esophagus by itself.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease: also known as GERD, this is a condition in which stomach acids often enter the esophagus. GERD is the most common reason for chronic heartburn (heartburn) and often requires changes in diet and lifestyle, along with special medicines.

Dyspepsia: dyspepsia is a medical term that refers to general nausea or stomach upset. Stomach upset is a symptom of GERD and often occurs along with heartburn in people who suffer from occasional acid reflux as well.

Eructation: eructation is a medical term referring to another common symptom that can come with acidity: burp. In literal terms, belching is the Act of expelling gases from the stomach but pass from the stomach, the esophagus and out of the mouth.

Gastric distention: gastric distention is a medical term which means swelling in the stomach. In cases of acid reflux and GERD, this is caused by gastric pressure or gases that have accumulated in the stomach. Eructating, belching, these gases usually help with swelling.

Are We Overlooking Acid Reflux Disease in Children?



An 11-year-old boy in Boston developed a Gastro esophageal reflux Disease (GERD). According to his mother, Cathy, it was the end of June in the year 2005 when his son developed a cough which usually happens during sleep, and even during daytime. It is only a short dry cough symptom. His pediatrician thought it was only allergy, however, when his son was tested, result showed that his son had no allergy.

According to her, it was his son’s asthma that relates to GERD. Studies show that GERD is likewise normal to infants and children like in adults, though this fact is often times being overlooked. The symptoms come in continual sickness, coughing, and other respiratory trouble. Children are vulnerable to GERD because of their immature digestive system. Truth is majority of the infants grow out of GERD once they reach the age of one year old.

The medical specialists further stated that symptoms for children may come in difficulty in swallowing foods, or failure to grow. The doctors recommended that in situation like this it is best to lessen the amount of acid in the children’s stomach before it could lead to acid reflux, since this disease is not very curable in children. However, the doctor suggested some approaches to avoid acid reflux on children; an example of these is burping the infant quite a few times during feeding, or letting the infant stay in an erect position for 30 minutes after nourishing.

Although, for a child ages three and up, doctors suggested to keep them off from sodas that includes caffeine like soft drinks, carbonated drinks, spicy foods like peppermint, acidic foods like citrus fruits, too much chocolate, and fried and fatty foods. Ideally, establishing a healthy eating habit diet can really decrease the acid reflux in children.

It is also suggested that children will eat smaller meals before sleeping, if possible, do not allow them to eat two to three hours before sleeping, also, elevate the head of their bed for at least 30 degrees. Further treatments include the use of H2 blockers; this is available in any drugs store. Prevacid, proton plump inhibitors, can also be used in treating acid flux for children. However, if these treatments fail to stop the symptoms, other treatment method needs to be done. It is very atypical, but doctors’ recommends surgery, this is so far the best treatment for relentless symptoms which do not anymore counter to other treatments.

The Esophageal reflux surgery for children is designated for children who have had unsuccessful medical treatments, and continuous surgery is essential as the child grows. Now, if you get confused whether when is the time to consult a pediatrician regarding acid reflux. The answer is you observe, observe the amounts of vomiting of the child, if it already comes out in green or yellow or appears to be like blood or coffee grounds, there difficulty in breathing after vomiting, and there is pain in swallowing, immediately consult a pediatrician before the symptom gets aggravated.

So to prevent the occurrence of this disease, stay away from the habit of leaning forward after eating, or worse, sleeping after taking a large amount of food.

 Take note, advanced acid reflux disease has a great possibility to end serious medical complications, and it may lead to hospitalization. Be keen of the possible symptoms so will not overlook it.

Take care of your kids.

How to Keep Pregnant Women Away From The Acid Reflux Dilemma!


Many women tend to experience heartburn symptoms when they are still carrying their babies, and this happens for several reasons. One of these is the increase of hormones in the women’s body while they are pregnant.

The occurrence of this will result in softening the ligaments which function is to keep the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) firmly closed.

When the LES rests at unsuitable periods, tendency is, this will let the gastric acid and food to reflux back to the esophagus and throat. One more reason of experiencing heartburn during pregnancy is because the changes in the body and the development of the baby creates more pressure in the women’s stomach. Therefore, the stomach contents are forced right into the LES, and then to the esophagus.

However, there are several methods that a pregnant woman can observe to lessen the discomfort brought by heartburn. The following are good advices, although this may not remove the heartburn totally: • Avoid the food that triggers heartburn. Examples of this are chocolates, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, mustard, tomatoes and tomato based products, fatty foods, fried foods, and highly seasoned dishes.

Try to refer to medical specialists to know the complete list of foods to avoid Acid Reflux. Also, for foods that you may take which contains little danger of causing heartburn.

• Get rid of drinks that have caffeine, like tea, coffee, and soda. Too much of these will cause the LES to relax and let the acid to return into the esophagus.

• Stay away from alcohol beverages. This, like caffeine tends to relax the LES thus, creating the same effect—triggering heartburn.

• Avoid eating large meals. It is suggested that taking numerous small meals throughout the day will be better.

• Avoid rush in eating your meals. Chewing food thoroughly will really help in avoidance of heartburn, so better take your time in eating.

• Rest for at least three hours after having your last meal before taking your sleep.

 • A pregnant woman is advised to take more glasses of water a day, at least 8 to 10 glasses, though this must be taken not just during meals. Through this, the stomach will expand, and then the LES will be given more pressure, obliging it to open inappropriately. Hence, it is really recommended to drink more water and other fluids in between meals.

• When sleeping elevate the head of the bed for at least six to eight inches. Try to sleep with an elevated head and shoulders through a wedge pillow. Through this, the gravity will work as much that it will keep the acids in your stomach in their place—in the stomach, not in the esophagus. Try to consult physicians to gain additional knowledge on how to relieve nighttime heartburn.

• Don’t wear tight fitting clothes. Tightness around the waist and stomach will trigger heartburn as it causes uneasiness.

 • When bending, do it at the knees, not at the waist. This will avoid in creating too much pressure in the stomach.

• Don’t slouch; rather sit erect in a relaxing chair.

• Maintain a sensible amount of weight, too much weight and fatness will give more stress in your stomach. As a result, this will force stomach contents throughout the LES and to the esophagus. Stay with your doctors guidelines.

• Avoid smoking. Doctors stated that smoking could cause several effects to a pregnant woman, much that it can add to the possibility of experiencing heartburn.
 
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