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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