Acid reflux is also known as Gastro-esophageal reflux disease; this rather long terminology is commonly reduced to GERD. Persons suffering from acid reflux experience a regurgitation of the stomach’s liquid content into the esophagus. Repeated refluxes of this liquid can cause an inflammation of the esophagus’ lining and thus damage. A limited number of people suffering from this condition exhibit these inflammation signs. The refluxed liquid has significant amounts of both pepsin and acid which are both generated in the stomach. In some instances this liquid contains bile. The bile accumulates in the stomach when it is itself refluxed from the duodenum. Of all the three constituents of this liquid, acid has the most damaging effect. Bile and pepsin may have some effects too but this remains unclear.
For persons suffering from acid reflux it is most likely that this condition will persist throughout the entirety of their lives. Both acid reflux and esophagitis are chronic conditions. Though one can receive treatment for the latter, the condition will recur in a couple of months upon cessation of treatment. This implies that such persons will have to be under constant treatment for indefinite periods of time. It has been proposed that persons who exhibit sporadic acid reflux symptoms but have no subsequent esophagitis can receive discontinuous treatment. Treatment can then be sought in symptomatic instances.
Many persons experience such refluxes of stomach liquids into the esophagus. Research has revealed that acid reflux occurs in normal individuals as much times as it does in persons suffering from GERD. However, acid reflux patients have to bear with higher acidity contents in the regurgitated liquid and the fact that this acid tends to be retained in the esophagus for longer. Additional research has revealed that in GERD patients the refluxed liquid climbs to a much elevated level; more than would happen in normal persons.
The human body has its own safeguard measures against acid reflux and the effects that come with it. Reflux is predominant in daytime. Most persons are upright during the day and the force of gravity becomes instrumental in ensuring that these liquids find their way back into the stomach. As long as one is awake it is second nature to keep swallowing. The very action of doing so actually ensures that refluxed liquids are redirected into the stomach. Human saliva contains bicarbonate. As one swallows, the saliva passes through the esophagus and neutralizes the small traces of acid that have escaped both swallowing and the pull of gravity. As one sleeps, gravity ceases to be of much assistance. Swallowing is halted and the mouth’s salivary glands cut down on saliva production. In the event that acid reflux occurs during this time, it is most likely that the refluxed acid will be retained longer in the esophagus. Much more damage to the esophagus is therefore expected during sleep.
Acid reflux is aggravated in a number of conditions. Expectant mothers are chief candidates for these symptoms largely because of the pressure exerted by the fetus in the abdomen and also due to the effects of increased hormonal influences that tend to depress pressure in the mother’s lower esophageal sphincter. The incidence of acid reflux is also elevated in individuals that suffer from ailments that enervate the esophageal muscles including mixed connective tissue disease or even scleroderma.
