Is Acid Reflux Causing you Pain?
Acid Reflux is the product of abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus.
This is caused when the valve between the stomach and the esophagus allows acid to seep up into the esophagus – this is called acid reflux. This seeping acid can cause pain and irritation.
Just because you have acid reflux does not mean you also suffer from heartburn. Likewise, people who have heartburn may not have acid reflux; however they may suffer from some other type of pain.
Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart; it is called heartburn because it is described as a burning at the back of the sternum.
Some other symptoms of heartburn are:
- Coughing.
- Voice transformation.
- Hoarseness.
- Constant ear ache.
- Sinusitis.
You don’t have to have just eaten to get heartburn. There are many factors that can cause heartburn such as:
- Medications.
- Exercise.
- Types of foods.
- Obesity.
- Stress.
- Eating certain foods.
- Eating large portions.
- Pregnancy.
- Going to sleep right after eating.
- Tight fitting clothes.
Knowing what triggers your heartburn is a great way to prevent it. If you suffer from acid reflux it’s imperative that you find a helpful preventative so your heartburn doesn’t worsen.
Heartburn treatment may include medications, home remedies, or diet changes.
You should also try eating several small meals instead of 3 larger ones. This helps not only lessens acid reflux symptoms, it’s a great way to lose some weight.
There are many other treatments for acid reflux, one of which is eating a healthy well balanced diet. If this doesn’t work, your doctor may recommend medication, therapy or surgery.
Below are the lists of several types of Acid Reflux treatments:
- Eat a proper diet; acid reflux can be cured naturally by making changes in your eating habits. Many people with acid reflux or GERD found success in following this method. They avoided the foods that might intensify heart burn such as:
- caffeine.
- hot spicy foods.
- soft drinks.
- smoking.
- Avoid eating two hours before sleeping and no lying down right after eating.
- You can also try to elevate the head of your bed about 6 – 8 inches or 20 centimeters. Try both not eating at least two hours before bed and raising the head of your bed, there is a great chance for many patients to get about 95 percent relief. Raising the head while lying down hampers the backflow of gastric fluids.
- If none of the above treatments work your doctor may prescribe medication which can reduce the secretion of the gastric acid.
- When all else fails, surgery may be necessary. Nissen fundoplication, the surgical treatment for Acid Reflux is a procedure that supports the sphincter, a spherical bond of muscles that opens and closes to let the food or waste pass, as well as stop acid reflux and restore the hiatal hernia.
Could you have GERD?
Although heartburn usually isn’t a serious health issue, some difficulties may arise with recurrent, severe, relentless acid reflux.
If you have heartburn two or more times a week or you take more than the recommended dose of over the counter drugs then you may have Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD and it should be treated by your doctor.
Other symptoms of GERD are a sore throat which is caused by the acid refluxing all the way up into your throat. You may also have trouble swallowing or your throat may fill tight.
Without proper treatment GERD can cause inflammation and ulcers. It can also change the lining in the esophagus causing what is known as Barrett’s Esophagus. This increases the risk of esophageal cancer.
If your acid reflux is persistent be sure to get it checkout by your doctor.
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