Acid Reflux Symptoms

Acid Reflux?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (G.E.R.D.), or more commonly known as acid reflux disease occurs when acids from the digestive process backs up into the esophagus provoking a burning sensation, causing chest pain, problems swallowing, among other things. As a chronic acid reflux sufferer, I know all too well the troubles and discomfort this can cause you.

EsophaWHAT?

The esophagus is the tube that carries the food from your mouth to your stomach. Problems occur when the lower sphincter doesn’t close properly. If this happens often, chronic symptoms due to acid reflux occurs which weakens the esophagus leading to esophagitis, which can also lead to other serious problems. Medication. such as aspirin can aggravate this condition. Smoking and alcohol will also have adverse affect on your system if you suffer from chronic acid reflux. If acid reflux symptoms is not addressed immediately, chronic acid reflux can cause discomfort for months.

One of the acid reflux symptoms you can suffer from is heartburn. People have been administered in emergency rooms believing they are having a heart attack, when in fact, they are suffering from regular heartburn, due to acid reflux. If you have frequent heartburn, it is best to see a physician to get a proper diagnosis. Another acid reflux symptom is regurgitation. If you are waking up at night due to regurgitation, you need to take this seriously because this is a strong sign of acid reflux disease.

To the unlucky people who suffer from acid reflux disease, a hiatal hernia might be the culprit. Hiatal hernia is the opening or protrusion of the uppermost part of the stomach into the diaphragm, which causes it to bulge, in turn interfering the way the sphincter works. Unfortunately, if hiatal hernia is the cause of your acid reflux symptoms, surgery will be required to correct your acid reflux. It is important to note that teens who suffer from acid reflux symptoms most likely does not have a hiatal hernia.

If you do not have a hiatal hernia, medication and the proper diet can remedy your acid reflux symptoms, effectively treating your acid reflux disease. A proton pump inhibitor in the morning half hour before breakfast is recommended. After lunch and dinner be sure to take an antacid. Most importantly is to eat small meals. If you have a severe case of acid reflux, taking 5 milligrams of metoclopramide before your last meal or before bedtime is recommended.

Acid Reflux Symptoms:

If you experience these symptoms, there’s a strong possibility that you have acid reflux disease.

* Burning sensation in your chest, that can radiate to your throat (heartburn)

* Difficult swallowing, feeling that food is stuck in your esophagus

* Pressure in your chest

* Nausea

* Shortness of breath

* Temporary spasms that narrows your esophagus

* Burping

* If you are vomiting blood (serious problem; see your physician immediately)

* Sudden weight loss

* Sour acid taste in the mouth, especially lying down resting

* Sore throat, coarse sounding voice

* Dry cough; Bad breath

If you suffer from any of these symptoms more than 3 days of the week, there’s a strong possibility that you have acid reflux disease. Typically, heartburn for normal healthy individuals only occurs maybe once a week. Certain individuals have a higher risk if they:

* are 50 years old and older

* are obese, overweight

* smoke

* are pregnant

* drink alcohol, coffee

Prevention:

Certain lifestyle changes and medication can help prevent/alleviate acid reflux symptoms. Diet plays an extremely important role preventing acid reflux symptoms from occurring. Generally, it is wise to avoid these foods to prevent acid reflux symptoms:

* Tomato based foods; such as pizza, pasta sauce, even ketchup

* Citrus fruits; oranges, grapefruit, lemon, lime

* Chocolate, mint, caffeine

* Spicy foods, greasy foods with a lot of fat

As previously stated, changing the your daily routine will also greatly improve your chances of avoiding these acid reflux symptoms. Here are a few to keep in mind:

* Sleep, lay down, with your upper half body in an inclined position. This prevents your stomach contents from putting pressure against your esophagus. Let gravity help you to keep food where they belong, in the stomach digesting. This incliner sleep wedge has helped me tremendously with my night time (nap time) acid reflux symptoms. Also, if you want to use your existing mattress, you can try the mattress genie that will give you that incline position so crucial to avoid acid reflux symptoms at sleep time.

* Eat small meals instead of large meals. It is preferred to eat 6 small meals a day, instead of 3 large ones. The stomach has a feedback mechanism, if it’s overloaded with food, it increases digestive acid production which in turn increases the chances of refluxed food.

* Avoid exercising before and after you eat. Exercise! Just don’t do it before or right after meals.

* Avoid putting pressure on the stomach after meals. Putting pressure in the stomach can sometime push the acid upwards into you esophagus.

* If overweight, try to lose some weight. Again, being overweight just adds pressure to your organs, such as your stomach.

* Drink water. Not too much at one time, because it will dilute the digestive acids in your stomach triggering a feedback mechanism which makes the stomach produce more acid.

* RELAX!!! Too much stress is bad for overall health.

Try to follow these simple lifestyle and diet changes and you are half way of preventing acid reflux symptoms.

Medication:

Acid reflux can be medicated with various drugs known as proton pump inhibitors. From my experience certain drugs are better than others. I will now list the most popular of these medications as I have used pretty much all of them in my fight to alleviate my acid reflux troubles. Please note that some of these are prescription drugs; please consult your doctor before starting medication.

PRILOSEC (omeprazole): is a proton pump inhibitor used to treat dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

PROTONIX (pantoprazole): is a proton pump inhibitor drug used for short-term treatment of erosion and ulceration of the esophagus caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. Initial treatment is generally of eight weeks duration, after which another eight week course of treatment may be considered if necessary. It can be used as a maintenance therapy for long term use after initial response is obtained.

PREVACID (lanzoprazole): is a proton pump inhibitor which prevents the stomach from producing acid. It is manufactured by a number of companies worldwide under several trade names. Also can be treated for of dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Help prevent the acid that causes heartburn pain. Provide heartburn relief for up to 24 hours Heal damage to your esophagus.

NEXIUM (ezomeprazole): is a proton pump inhibitor marketed by AstraZeneca. It works similar to Prilosec, since it is the S-enantiomer of omeprazole. However, the manufacturer claims improve efficacy of this enantiomer over omerprazole. Ezomeprazole is the third biggest selling drug in 2005, with more than $5.7 billion in sales.

Herbal Alternative:

Slippery Elm Bark Extract

Natural supplement that can combat acid reflux symptoms. This herb is called Slippery Elm; sold in extract form it is used to make  tea. Slippery Elm works as a protective coating for the stomach and the esophagus, protecting it from acid reflux disorder. One cup of tea usually is sufficient for protection all night long, till the next morning.

To close, I would like to say there is no one ‘cure’ to acid reflux. A conscientious effort in part is needed to combat acid reflux symptoms, which includes lifestyle changes, diet changes, medication, or even surgery.