Kathryn Whittaker asked:


Acid reflux is really just a symptom of an underlying condition. However, many conditions can cause acid reflux, which often makes it harder to treat. Among the contributing potential causes can be: hiatal hernias, pregnancy, defective lower esophageal sphincters, insufficient digestive enzymes, asthma, and lifestyle.

So, let’s take a look at few of these…

A hiatal hernia can cause acid reflux as a result of impairing the function of the lower esophageal sphincter. Hiatial hernias are a condition that occurs when the upper part of the stomach ‘pokes’ through into the chest cavity via a small opening in the diaphragm.

The diaphragm is the muscle separating the chest from the stomach. This condition is usually the results from severe cases of vomiting, coughing, straining, or a sudden exertion. Obesity, pregnancy and advancing age also increase the risk of hiatal hernia. When hiatal hernia and acid reflux occur at the same time, symptoms of both tend to be more severe.

Pregnancy can cause acid reflux within the last trimester because as the baby grows, it puts pressure on the stomach, forcing some of the contents back up into the esophagus. In this case, antacids and other similar medications will not help to provide relief to heartburn symptoms. Instead, it is recommended that pregnant women eat smaller, more frequent meals so that there is never too much in the stomach. Once the baby is born, the symptoms will typically stop.

For similar reasons to pregnancy obesity can also cause acid reflux as the stomach becomes constricted by the excess weight.

Another cause of acid reflux is a defective lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This can easily cause acid reflux, due to a malfunctioning esophagus that does not effectively seal off the stomach from the lower esophagus, allowing stomach contents to rise up. A defective LES can mean that it is not strong enough to keep food in the stomach, or it may relax once food has passed through, allowing it to come back up again, causing the burning sensation and acidic taste.

Insufficient levels of digestive enzymes can also cause acid reflux as without sufficient volumes, digestion can become delayed. This results in food remaining in the stomach for longer, allowing stomach acids to build up and leading to a higher risk of acid reflux.

Even asthma is linked to acid reflux – with there being evidence that asthma is both a cause and also a possible effect of acid reflux. The theory of asthma causing acid reflux, it can be explained by the coughing, sneezing, and other forceful respiratory events associated with asthma, pushing acid from the stomach into the esophagus. Some asthmatic drugs also list acid reflux as a potential side effect.

Of course, lifestyle can also have a tremendous impact on acid reflux. Your lifestyle choices can cause acid reflux through overeating, smoking, stress, and even the foods you eat such as salty or fatty foods. Solutions can range from changing your lifestyle, losing excess weigh, taking typical antacids that you see at the convenience store or drug store to more long term lifestyle changes.

Although this article has only touched on some of the underlying conditions and factors that cause acid reflux, it shows the diversity of potential triggers. Many treatments look at resolving the symptoms without tackling the underlying cause, which in the end will never solve the problem for good.



Peter

Jeff W. Martin asked:


There are typically three principal kinds of treatment for Heartburn: classical medicine, surgical operations and the natural/holistic solution. These methods are very different in the way that they operate and their approach to resolving the different underlying factors, as well as in their effects over the long-term. It’s important to select the correct and most effective solution for you and that means getting precise information on the real reasons that lie behind the symptoms of heartburn.

Heartburn is the external manifestation of acid reflux or GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). GERD is what happens when the muscular valve between the esophagus and the stomach is weakened. This valve is also known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES is in a normal, healthy state, it allows food to pass one way into the stomach, but shuts afterwards to prevent acidic stomach contents from being pushed back the opposite way. It is when this muscle relaxes at the wrong moment that acid content refluxes into the esophagus and causes the pain and burning that is known as heartburn.

Physicians habitually treat heartburn and associated problems by prescribing medications, some of which can be bought over the counter. These drugs to treat acid reflux can be further divided into three categories:

1. Antacids, examples being Maalox, Rolaids, Mylanta and Tums. They neutralize stomach acid by creating a covering that envelops the food content.

2. H2 blockers to reduce acid creation, examples being Pepcid AC, Axid AR and Zantac 75. They diminish acid production in the stomach.

3. PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitors), examples of these being Nexium, Protonix and Prilosec, which act by blocking the stomach cell mechanism that releases acid.

Although short-term alleviation of pain can be effected by these drugs, long-term usage can lead to a number of problems. These drugs do not treat the underlying causes but only the symptoms and they do this by changing the chemical ingredients of the gastric system. The Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery published an article in 2004 to show that PPIs do not help with the frequency of reflux attacks for GERD victims. PPIs simply change the acidic contents into alkali ones. The reflux still occurs in the esophagus with acid content now being changed in to an alkaline bile that may in fact be no better. These drugs in general only have a temporary effect and can also lead to long-term dependency. GERD drugs such as these can also generate many undesirable secondary effects.

The next alternative to drugs is surgical intervention. The surgeon uses the upper part of the stomach to wrap around the lower part of the esophagus in order to reinforce the valve mechanism between the esophagus and the stomach. This is designed to stop the valve opening when it should not, thereby halting the flow back of stomach contents into the esophagus.

This solution is not without its problems however. Risks and secondary effects include cramps in the abdomen, diarrhea, nauseous feelings, bloating and problems in swallowing. A patient who relies solely on this is likely to be disappointed as without the right lifestyle of diet alterations, heartburn symptoms can come back again.

The major drawback of these classical methods for resolving heartburn is that they all target local GERD symptoms and give solutions only for reducing the symptom, and not the real cause. They try to decrease the quantity of acid produced, or neutralize the acid or tighten mechanically the LES. Yet in no case are the real causes being addressed.

It is the simultaneous existence of different medical and lifestyle factors that provoke acid reflux. Genetic weakness, fatty foods, being overweight and specific lifestyle and nutrition factors all conspire to weaken the LES which stops it from closing properly. Inner equilibrium can also be perturbed by Candida infection and poor diet and lifestyle habits, including undue stress and inadequate sleep patterns, which lead to excess acidity, toxic accumulation and fermentation. It is the underlying factors that must be tackled to treat heartburn. This is the only possibility for permanently solve acid reflux and to prevent it from happening again.



Michelle

Juana Cruz asked:


You can not pinpoint to only one heartburn cause. Heartburn can be triggered by so many factors, and that depends on your lifestyle.

Heartburn happens when the acidic stomach contents containing pepsin irritate the esophagus, something which should not happen if the lower esophageal muscle is firmly closed. But as I said, there are many causes that make the LES weaken, paving way for the stomach contents.

So, what causes heartburn?

1. Smoking. Nicotine is found to make the LES relax, cuasing heartburn. If you are a smoker, you are likely to be prone to heartburn by seventy percent, compared to non smokers, and if you are a smoker and already have heartburn, your symptoms will be much worse.

2. Alcohol. Another heartburn cause, this also irritates the esophagus and causes too much production of acids in the body.

3. Fatty food. Fat is the worst digestive stimulant which is hard to digest, which irritates the digestive tract and puts too much pressure on the abdomen, which later causes the LES to relax.

4. Pregnancy and obesity. Having too much pressure around the abdomen will force the stomach contents upwards, causing heartburn to some.

5. Lying down after eating will cause the stomach contents to be pushed to the esophagus instead of staying close down there.

6. Chocolates, tea and coffee have theobromine, a compound found in cocoa, coffee and tea plants, which

is shown to irritate the esophagus.

Now that you know the top heartburn causes, the next thing you should do is to stop heartburn. There are many ways how to get rid of heartburn, you just have to visit my blog for more tips.

And for a natural treatment for heartburn, read “Heartburn No More” By Jeff Martin. The information on the book can be found in my byline.



Edith

Jeff W. Martin asked:


Does the combination of a particular heartburn diet and changes to a healthy lifestyle get you heartburn relief? Recent studies bring information to show that new diet plans can really lower heartburn and simultaneously make major improvements in quality of life in general. But the question remains, will a diet really bring permanent heartburn for you personally? Classical medicine has run foul of huge populations of heartburn victims in this respect, because of the potentially dangerous side effects that it produces as well as its poor record of results over a long duration.

Because heartburn is only a symptom of a more complicated medical condition known as GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) or acid reflux, we need to know if new diet plans will act on the true, underlying causes. It is important to know that recurring heartburn cannot be dispatched in a permanent way without a full holistic treatment that clearly identifies the root causes.

A circular muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a key part of the syndrome of heartburn. When acid escaping via the LES corrodes the cells lining the esophagus, this causes the unpleasant burning sensation known as acid indigestion or heartburn. GERD is the result of this valve-like muscle between the stomach and the esophagus weakening and no longer keeping the stomach contents away from the esophagus.

New diet habits must bring down this excess of stomach acidity, but must also take account of a malfunctioning sphincter. Therefore new diet habits must simultaneously work with both aspects of acid reflux. We describe seven simple axes for diets below as initial actions to get to a holistic, all-natural treatment for GERD:

1. Reduce the quantity of each meal. The bigger the meal, the more the stress on the digestive system, the more the level of stomach acidity and the greater the risk of compounding an existing acid reflux condition. 5-6 smaller meals per day is better than 2-3 big meals.

2. Allow your stomach to get its work done 2-3 hours for a light meal, rather than the 5-6 hours for a big one. This is especially important at the end of the day, so as to finish digestion and avoid lying down when acid can still reflux towards your esophagus. Therefore, eat a light meal for the last one of the day, before helping digestion by going for a short walk.

3. Chew and eat your food in a leisurely way. This prevents air from being ingested at the same time as the food, and avoids pressure in the stomach and bloating which all put extra pressure on the esophageal sphincter, with the resulting splash back of stomach acid.

4. Lessen coffee intake and drink herbal tea instead, as well as reducing intake of peppermint, soda and alcohol, high-fat or spicy meals, citrus juices, coffee and caffeine, chocolate and foods based largely on tomatoes. Don’t eat food that irritates your intestines, because this in turn can cause your esophageal sphincter to open at the wrong time.

5. Studies done in Sweden support the theory that acid reflux danger can be reduced by 50% by adopting a high fiber diet and that high-fiber diets are effective for optimizing digestion and sweeping away toxic matter.

6. Dairy produce, especially milk, should be cut down. It causes for more acid, mucus and allergies, all conditions that stimulate Candida overgrowth and bring on further digestive problems contributing to GERD.

7. Because obesity and excess weight also act to lever open the lower esophageal sphincter, reduce calorie intake as well.

The right program using the diet guidelines above will reduce the risk of GERD and at the same time increase your fitness and health.

A food plan to combat heartburn with the right inner balance is the first part of a full natural and holistic program against acid reflux. It is the only way to permanently improve this condition. Diet plans are just one part of the whole solution, in the same way that heartburn is a fragment of the whole acid heartburn picture. All the factors need to be treated by the solution in order to bring an effective resolution of the problem.



Gladys

Juana Cruz asked:


Constant heartburn attacks are a problem to some. Just imagine what it would be like to stop in the middle of a task because a burning sensation suddenly creeps up to your chestbone, to your esophagus, to your throat, and sometimes even to your mouth. The pain can strike anytime, even at night. Which is why it is no wonder why many heartburn sufferers want to find out how to cure their condition once and for all.

There are many cures to constant heartburn, varying from surgical procedures to medicines. Here are some of the treatment options to consider.

1. Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication is a common type of heartburn surgery which involves tightening the walls of the esophagus and adding pressure to the lower esophagus muscle in order to prevent stomach contents from reaching the throat. Another method focuses on tightening the esophagus valve to keep acids from burning the esophageal lining.

2. Intraluminal endoscopic surgery is about using an optical, tubular instrument which is inserted inside the part of the patient’s body to let the doctor get a better view of it. This procedure is much faster and has a shorter recovery rate, which is why many patients want this kind of surgery.

3. Antacids are taken to neutralize the acids and promote the body’s defenses by helping increase the production of micous and bicarbonate. These medicines are aimed to relieve mild symptoms of heartburn, and are bought without the doctor’s prescription.

4. Histamine blockers are made to block the actions of histamine, a chemical which helps promote the production of stomach acids. They are for the relief of frequent cases of heartburn, but you have to wait for thirty to ninety minutes before these drugs could take effect. Then, the effect will only last for six to twenty-four hours. For patients with more serious cases of heartburn, they have to take two dosages a day.

5. Proton pump inhibitors reduce the acids in the stomach by reacting with cells responsible for producing stomach acids. You should note, though, that they are found to cause side effects like

diarrhea, headache, itching, and nausea.

There are many other ways how to cure constant heartburn. For more information, just visit my blog.

If you want to treat your acid reflux naturally, I suggest you read a review of the book that helped thousands of former acid reflux patients get rid of their condition permanently and naturally.



Amanda

Jeff W. Martin asked:


To banish your heartburn, the main thing is to choose the correct and most effective solution for you. That means obtaining precise information about the genuine causes that are behind heartburn symptoms. Overall, there are three ways to handle heartburn: doctors’ classical treatments, surgical actions and natural/holistic cures. These methods have major differences in the way they are put in place and how they deal with different causative factors, as well as in their effects over a long duration.

When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) between the esophagus and the stomach functions correctly, food is allowed to move one way into the stomach, but then kept in the stomach by the closing of the LES to prevent acidic stomach contents from being pushed back the opposite way. However, when the LES muscle relaxes incorrectly, acid stomach contents can move back to the esophagus to cause the pain of heartburn. This explains why heartburn is the outer sign of acid reflux or GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). GERD is what comes about when the LES valve between the esophagus and the stomach loses its muscular force.

Physicians habitually deal with heartburn and related problems by trying to use conventional medications, some of which are available to anyone over the counter. These acid reflux OTCs can be sorted into three groups:

1. Antacid, canceling out stomach acid by covering over the food content, and characterized by products such as Maalox, Rolaids, Mylanta and Tums.

2. H2 blockers to damp down acid creation and diminish acid production in the stomach, characterized by products like Pepcid AC, Axid AR and Zantac 75.

3. PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitors) which break the proton pump action that normally releases the acid in the stomach, characterized by products including Nexium, Protonix and Prilosec.

The Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2004 published research that found that PPIs do nothing to reduce the frequency of reflux attacks for GERD victims. Instead, PPIs simply convert acidic contents into alkali ones. The reflux still happens, but with an alkaline bile which may in fact be worse for the esophagus. Although short-term pain alleviation is promised by such drugs, long-term usage can be a significant problem. These drugs do not address the real issue, only the external manifestations. They set about this by altering the composition of the stomach chemically. These drugs typically only have short-lived effect and can induce long duration patient dependency as well as unwanted secondary effects.

If drugs are not the answer, is a surgical operation any better? Such operations are designed to stop the valve opening when it should be shut, thus blocking the flow back of gastric contents to the esophagus. The surgeon envelops the upper portion of the stomach around the lower esophageal passage in order to bolster the muscular valve at the meeting point of the esophagus and the stomach.

A sufferer who relies solely on this solution is likely to remain a sufferer. If no accompanying lifestyle or diet alterations are made, heartburn symptoms will probably be back. Associated with this solution are other risks including cramps in the abdomen, bloating, diarrhea, nauseous feelings, and glutition difficulties.

The solutions mentioned either attempt to slow down the quantity of acid produced, or cancel it out or use physio-mechanical means to artificially reinforce the LES. However, none of them deals with the real cause. The major disadvantage of these conventional methods for treating heartburn is that they all address local GERD symptoms, their only action being on the external signs and not the real cause.

Inner body balance can also be severely impacted by Candida infection as well as lifestyle and bad diet habits, including major stress and incompatible sleep patterns, leading to excess acidity, fermentation and toxin overstocking. For a real measure of progress, it is the underlying causes that must be dealt with be rid of GERD and heartburn. Acid reflux is the direct result of the simultaneous existence of diverse medical and lifestyle elements. Genetic weakness, high fat food intake, excessive weight and particular lifestyle and nutrition factors all band together to strip the LES of its muscular force which stops it from closing correctly. The only possibility to really get rid of acid reflux and to prevent it from happening again is to suppress these root causes directly.



Vanessa

Keith George asked:


All food we eat passes through the gullet and into the stomach through a pipe and lodged in the stomach. So the basic cause of heartburn is that the food particles and the acid from the stomach leak back into the gullet or the esophagus. This condition also leads to severe pain in the stomach and chest. Most people have stomach acid reflux at some time in their lives, either as heartburn or acid regurgitation.

Americans and other westerners suffer from heartburn symptoms more often than people from asian and eastern countries. The other symptoms include burping and a feeling of bloating. If these symptoms occur more than two days a week for several months, a person may have Acid Reflux Disease, otherwise known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Most of us experience heartburn occasionally but if it persists then a visit to the doctor may be necessary.

Your diet and lifestyle have been pinpointed as some factors which may cause heartburn and acid reflux. Most people believe that particular food or drinks could cause heartburn and they are right, excess acid is the main cause of heartburn.

In some rare cases, though, the damage can be enough to cause cancerous cells to develop in this area. If you know what the cause of your heartburn is, you cab stop it from hurting and destroying your quality of life. Chronic heartburn is also dangerous on its own since the frequent contact with the acidic stomach contents will harm the lining of the esophagus and cause inflammation.

Late meals can also cause heartburn by stimulating the stomach’s production of digestive fluids. When you go to bed and do not have an upright position the acid come up more easily.

There are several remedies, also natural one’s that really works. Herbal remedies typically contain fennel, ginger or mint oil, alone or in combination. Depending on the heartburn causes, the remedies should differ. There are many natural remedies that you can add to your pantry for use when the symptoms flare up. Home remedies and over the counter products and prescription drugs are available to relieve heartburn.

If your condition is severe your doctor will probably inform you that you would most likely need medications indefinitely. To find out what works you will often have to try several remedies. Regretfully, one single doctor visit may not take care of the problem, but don’t give up.

A holistic treatment for heartburn includes treatment plans and hollistic cures for heartburn may be more time consuming than taking a little pill. On the other hand this treatment can be more effective in the long run and the holistic treatment has no side effects.

Most treatment plans or recommended ways to reduce heartburn include lifestyle changes along with dietary changes. But as always, the leading causes of heartburn vary and the best treatment for heartburn varies depending on the individual. Most common is an antacid that can be purchased over the counter from your local pharmacy.

Keep in mind that stress, smoking, alcohol, caffeinated and carbonated beverages may all lead to heartburn. Lifestyle changes like not lying down immediately after a meal and not lying down in a flat position can be a great relief. Also remember to avoid spicy foods, drinking beverages with caffeine, taking alcohol and smoking. Exercising regularly and reducing weight can also help control heartburn to a large extent.



Katherine