Acid Reflux

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Author:
Dave Lavinsky

Acid reflux disease, also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, afflicts millions of people. Many suffer from an occasional bout with heartburn, but acid reflux disease, as a diagnosis, should only be made if the heartburn causes impediments to your lifestyle due to severe, chronic discomfort over prolonged periods of time. Usually, if you suffer from heartburn 2 or more times per week for at least 12 weeks, there’s a good chance that your diagnosis would be GERD. Unfortunately, no one knows exactly what causes acid reflux disease, but there is an ample amount of information available at your doctor’s office and on the Internet.

The good news is that acid reflux disease is a highly manageable condition, though it can lead to potentially serious, chronic conditions. Many avenues are available with regard to treatment options. The most common options recommended include lifestyle changes, medical treatments, stress management, and/or a combination of all strategies.

What is Acid Reflux Disease?

Acid reflux disease is a chronic condition in which stomach acid washes back up onto the esophagus, causing severe discomfort. Stomach acid burns the esophagus lining due to a relaxed lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES acts as a valve between your stomach and the esophagus. The valve is designed to open and allow food into the stomach, and then close, protecting the esophagus from acids. However, if the LES is not closing properly, acid rushes or refluxes upward, coating the esophagus, and causes a burning sensation.

Remember that it’s normal to suffer from acid reflux (heartburn) every once and awhile. It’s only acid reflux disease when it’s a chronic condition, happening frequently and for long periods of time. If you are unsure, don’t hesitate to see your doctor. One more thing to keep in mind is that heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. It just feels that way at times because the esophagus is located behind the heart. Acid Reflux provides comprehensive information on the cause, symptoms, treatment, and diet associated with normal and infant acid reflux. Acid Reflux is the sister site of Pain Relief Web.

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Acid Reflux... Silent Acid Reflux Sometimes people do not realize that acid reflux is a problem for them. This may be referred to as silent acid reflux. A prescribed silent acid reflux remedy may be no different from those prescribed for common acid reflux, but diagnosis is sometimes more difficult. Many people believe that heartburn and acid reflux are synonymous, but in silent acid reflux, heartburn is frequently not a symptom. It may seem strange that a silent acid reflux remedy may be an antacid or other medication to prevent or reduce stomach acid, because most people think of these as heartburn remedies. But, silent acid reflux is caused by the same stomach acid that causes heartburn. There are two different sets of sphincter muscles that normally allow food and drink to pass into the stomach and prevent stomach acid from backing up into the esophagus. Sometimes the lower set of muscles does not do the job and the stomach acid passes back up into the lower esophagus only. The lower esophagus is less sensitive to the stomach acid than is the upper esophagus, so symptoms of heartburn or those commonly associated with acid reflux may not be present. A set of different symptoms is what usually leads people to seek a doctor’s help and an acid reflux remedy is often prescribed. The symptoms of silent acid reflux may include hoarseness or trouble talking, particularly in the morning. These symptoms are caused by stomach acid reaching and irritating the voice box. People sometimes have difficulty swallowing or excess mucus in the throat and possibly drainage from the sinuses. They may feel the need to clear their throats often or cough frequently. Because it is stomach acid that causes the symptoms, an effective silent acid reflux remedy reduces or prevents excess stomach acid. A recent...