Are Gerd And Halitosis Connected?

The answer is yes…here’s how. A large number of sufferers of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) more commonly referred to as acid reflux admit to having some sort of bad breath. Until recently though, a connection had not been formally established. A recent survey has changed that. The study confirmed that GERD and halitosis are indeed related to one another. While specific methods to fight the root cause of the bad breath are still unknown, we will take the time to explore the connection and discuss some tactics for managing the condition.

The Connection

In essence, the connection between the two can be narrowed down to the root cause of protein pump inhibitors (PPI’s). PPI’s are quite a common form of medicinal treatment for acid reflux, but have been shown in this recent study to stimulate the abnormally large growth of a certain bacteria. The halitosis is caused by this bacteria.

Untreated GERD and halitosis are not always related, the study shows. Only about 40% of the people studied had bad breath as a result of acid reflux. And just because someone has halitosis doesn’t mean they suffer from the condition of GERD. Sometimes, though, it very well could be an indicator. Some patients find out that they have acid reflux without ever experiencing a symptom.

Treatment

Right now, there are not any universally agreed upon treatments that combat bad breath resulting from GERD directly. This is not indicative of the fact that a treatment is hard to develop, or is not coming. It is simply reflective of the very recent determination of the connection between untreated GERD and halitosis. In the mean time, though, you can still follow some very simple guidelines to keep the condition manageable.

Continue reading for some tips in keeping your breath sweet and sign up for the free acid reflux, GERD and heartburn newsletter below.

Some guidelines:

Good Hygiene Habits – Having good hygiene is important for everyone, but especially to sufferers of acid reflux and halitosis. Because of the potentially compounding effects of bacterial growth in a dirty mouth, it is vital to practice better-than-average hygiene habits. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride. You should also floss regularly and brush you tongue and gums to break up excessive bacterial growth.

Visit Your Dentist – See you dentist regularly for a professional teeth and mouth cleaning. This will help break up any hidden bacterial growth that has spread excessively to the mouth. Remember, a dirty mouth coupled with halitosis will only compound the problem of bad breath.

Utilize Mouthwash – Use mouthwash regularly to make sure you kill as many germs as possible in your mouth. The stronger the better, as you want to kill bacteria growth before it can become too established.

Stop smoking – You also should refrain from smoking if possible. In addition to being bad for your breath, smoking will worsen your GERD condition.

Again, these methods still do not directly treat the root problem of bacteria growth. For now, though, they can help keep your problem manageable and discreet until more is known.

By: Kathryn Whittaker -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

By Kathryn Whittaker. Sign up for a free newsletter that has proven methods for tackling Acid Reflux, Heartburn and GERD head-on and discover more about GERD and halitosis.

What is GERD?

If you have acid reflux, or if you have trouble with indigestion, then you may want to know more about GERD. It seems like a funny name, but this is a serious condition. (…)   Read more…

Technorati Tags: acid reflux disease, derd diet, gerd disease, gerds, halitosis

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (gerd) Information

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is the medical term for what most people refer to as acid reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal is a relatively new term for acid reflux disease. It has been used for approximately the past 20 years. Before that it was just referred to as heartburn. But heartburn is just one of the symptoms of GERD. Some of the other symptoms of GERD are regurgitation, hoarseness or laryngitis, the feeling of a lump in the throat, coughing, bad breath, asthma, difficulty swallowing, and water brash. Some people with GERD do not have any symptoms at all.

What happens to cause GERD? It starts with acid in the stomach washing back up into the esophagus repeatedly, which happens if the lower esophageal sphincter becomes relaxed.

Some foods and beverages can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax. This is not an all-inclusive list but some of the most common are: chocolate, licorice, peppermint, fatty foods, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol. Barbiturates, calcium-channel blockers, Diazepam and Sumitriptan are some of the medications that cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and allow acid back in to the esophagus.

Lifestyle changes can be very effective in helping to control GERD although over- the-counter medications, prescription medications, and possibly surgery, may also be necessary. Some of the lifestyle changes that may help control GERD include: losing weight if you are overweight, avoiding high-fat foods, not lying down right after eating, not eating large heavy meals (i.e. don’t overstuff yourselfespecially on fatty foods), and stopping smoking if you are a smoker.

GERD can be a difficult disease to diagnosis. That is because of the wide range of symptoms people can experience and the complication of some people not experiencing any symptoms at all. It is easier to diagnosis if a person is experiencing the classic symptoms of GERD which are heartburn and regurgitation. In some cases a physician will not do tests right away but will first prescribe over-the-counter or prescription medications to see if they clear up the symptoms.

If the medications do not take care of the symptoms then a physician will likely do one or more of the following diagnostic tests: x-rays with a barium swallow, an upper gastrointestinal x-ray series, an upper endoscopy, an esophageal manometry, or a 24-hour pH probe. The reason physicians may try over-the-counter or prescription medications before running tests is because some of the tests, such as the upper endoscopy and pH probe are invasive, and because of the costs of some of the tests.

After diagnosing GERD, a physician will recommend lifestyle changes such as the ones mentioned earlier in this article to help control the GERD, and depending on the severity will recommend over-the-counter medications or will prescribe a stronger medication by prescription. The medications may need to be continued indefinitely because over half of all people who stop taking their medications after getting their symptoms under control have a recurrence within a year.

If the medications do not alleviate the symptoms, surgery may be needed. Surgery is also an alternative to having to take medications indefinitely. A procedure called a ‘Nissen fundoplication’ is the type of surgery typically done to relieve GERD. In the surgery the upper part of the stomach located near the esophagus, called the ‘fundus,’ is wrapped around the lower esophagus. Doing this strengthens the barrier function of the lower esophagus, thus preventing gastreosophageal reflux and repairing the main irregularity that occurs in people suffering from GERD. The surgery is usually done laparoscopically. It is considered a safe surgery (but remember any surgery carries risks) that typically gives good results.

By: D Ruplinger

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

D Ruplinger is a featured writer for www.acidrefluxhq.com. For more information about acid reflux and GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) visit www.acidrefluxhq.com

Technorati Tags: acid reflux disease symptoms, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gerd symptoms, gerds

Natural Reflux Treatments For Gerd

For those who suffer the effects of GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) finding a natural reflux treatment can make life with this condition much easier. The natural treatment choices for acid reflux disease normally consist of lifestyle changes or modifications that usually start with diet.

One of the first things you should do if you suffer from GERD is keep a food diary for 2 to 4 weeks. Keep track of what you eat and which foods appear to cause symptoms. This will give you a good idea as to which foods to avoid. Knowing this can go a long ways towards the mitigation of your symptoms.

There are also a wide variety of foods that are known to exacerbate the symptoms of GERD. Chocolate, peppermint, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol all cause the stomach to secrete excess acid which worsens the problem. Fatty foods, spicy foods, and acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus fruits should also be avoided.

Another natural reflux treatment that has worked to calm the stomach and reduce the secretion of gastric acids is the use of apple cider vinegar. To do this simply take a table spoon of the vinegar and mix it into a glass of water and drink it. This can be done as symptoms begin to appear or it can be taken as a preventative during a meal.

Many people suffer the most from GERD at night when they lay down to sleep. The reason for this is that gravity is no longer working to keep your stomach contents down. It is much easier for stomach acid and bile to move back up into the esophagus when lying down. The best way to combat this problem is to elevate your upper body using pillows or a pillowed wedge designed for this task.

Chewing gum is also a great way to mitigate the effects of acid reflux. What many people don’t realize is that saliva is a natural anti-acid and chewing gum increases the amount of saliva that gets swallowed. This calms the stomach and neutralizes excess gastric acids.

GERD is a serious condition and it is important that you talk to your doctor about it. It needs to be properly treated to prevent the more dangerous complications it can bring about. Part of this should include natural reflux treatment based upon lifestyle changes to diet.

By: Andrew Bicknell

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

For more information about acid reflux treatments please visit the websiteAcid Reflux Disease by clicking here.

Technorati Tags: acid reflux diet, Acid reflux natural cures, gerd diet, gerd treatment, gerds

Friday, August 01, 2008
By Jessica Ryen Doyle, Fox News

What goes up must come down.
But for the millions of Americans who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, that saying is of little comfort.
Commonly referred to as acid reflux, this annoying condition is usually accompanied by symptoms of heartburn and/or regurgitation, which can make for an irritating lifestyle.
“Acid reflux occurs when the acidic contents of the stomach pass up into the esophagus, and the sphincter muscle –- the barrier between the two –- has a defect, so it cannot block the acid,” Dr. Anish Sheth, a gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at Yale University, told FOXNews.com. “The lining of the esophagus is not made to resist acid, it’s very different from the stomach. So acid reflux can cause ulcers and inflammation, and a whole host of other problems.”
Acid reflux can present itself with a variety of other symptoms. A chronic cough, worsening of asthma symptoms, constant throat clearing and a hoarse voice are all problems that patients with acid reflux have complained of.
1. Who is at risk for acid reflux?
There is really no rhyme or reason as to why acid reflux occurs, Sheth said, and it afflicts millions of people in the United States. Except for obese people, there aren’t any demographics for who are more at risk, he said.
“There are certain lifestyle things we tell people to avoid,” he said. “Alcohol consumption increases the risk of acid reflux, as well as caffeine. So do foods like chocolates and tomatoes, or tomato-based products. If you have mild symptoms, and can avoid these things, you might be able to avoid medicines.”
2. How is acid reflux diagnosed?
A new outpatient procedure allows the doctor to attach a capsule to the patient’s esophagus using an endoscopy, which involves sticking a tube down the patient’s throat. The capsule transmits wireless pH data to a beeper on the patient’s belt over the course of 48 hours, to give doctors a concise idea of how much acid is being washed up.
3. How is acid reflux treated?
There are three ways to treat acid reflux, Sheth said:
1. Lifestyle changes, which include adjusting your dietary habits and losing weight if you are obese;
2. Taking proton pump inhibitors, which are acid-reducing medicines like Nexium, Prilosec or Protonix;
3. Surgery. This is usually a last resort taken after medication and dietary changes fail. The procedure involves wrapping the top portion of the stomach around the bottom of the esophagus and securing it below the diaphragm.
By creating a tight sphincter, the food cannot reflux back into the esophagus.
4. Acid-reflux may cause other medical conditions
“The thing that should be taken away, is that acid reflux isn’t going to kill you,” Sheth said. “Why we actually look down your throat into your esophagus with a scope is because it can cause other problematic conditions.”
If left untreated, acid reflux can cause:
— Barrett’s esophagus. The cells that line the esophagus undergo a change, Sheth said. In a small percentage of patients, they can turn pre-cancerous; dysplastic, which is the earliest form of a cancerous lesion; or cancerous.
— Esophageal stricture. This is a narrowing in the esophagus that comes after a long period of irritation and leads to difficulty in swallowing, Sheth said.
— Esophageal cancer. If doctors can catch it early enough, surgery is still an option and patients have good outcomes, Sheth said. If patients wait until they have trouble swallowing, chances are the cancer is at a more advanced stage, and treatment could be less effective.

Technorati Tags: acid reflux cure, acid reflux treatment, gerd symptoms, gerds, symptoms of acid reflux

WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ — We have all experienced an upset stomach at one time or another from the foods we love to eat. However, when frequent heartburn and other discomfort are experienced, diet alone may not be the culprit. The symptoms may be indicators of a larger problem — one that is best addressed by talking to a doctor about what these symptoms could really mean. ??Those who experience heartburn at least twice a week, even after trying home remedies and a change in diet, could be suffering from a potentially serious condition called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), commonly referred to as Acid Reflux Disease. In fact, it is estimated that 6.1 million Hispanic-Americans in the United States suffer from GERD. ??GERD occurs when contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus. It is often mistaken for occasional heartburn, but frequent, persistent heartburn is actually the most common symptom of GERD. This misconception can be dangerous, as GERD is a chronic condition that, if left untreated, may potentially lead to more serious medical conditions, such as erosion of the esophagus. ??Fortunately, over the last three years, Hispanic-Americans have become increasingly aware of GERD, but there is still much work to be done to care for the health of Hispanic-Americans. ??GERD awareness is on the rise, but a need for doctor visits remains … ?A new survey evaluated how well 1,000 Hispanic-Americans understood GERD and its symptoms. The survey, conducted in April 2008, was designed to gauge whether or not progress in GERD education had occurred, building upon a similar survey conducted in 2005. Results showed that 69 percent of Hispanic-Americans are familiar with common terms used to describe GERD. This is a steady increase from the prior survey, which showed that only 34 percent were familiar with common terms to describe the condition. ??Unfortunately, despite improved awareness, the survey showed that the number of Hispanic-Americans consulting a doctor about their GERD-related symptoms has remained unchanged since 2005. More than half of the respondents who reported suffering from GERD — and knowing about the seriousness of the condition — said they have not consulted a doctor. This is an important and revealing statistic, as it is necessary to work closely with physicians to properly and effectively manage GERD symptoms. ??”The results from the follow-up survey are encouraging, as they demonstrate that Hispanic-Americans are taking a more proactive role in their personal healthcare, and becoming more informed about the prevalence of GERD in their community,” said Marta Illueca, MD, a specialist in Gastroenterology at AstraZeneca LP, who pioneered the original survey. “But with more than six million Hispanic-Americans suffering from a condition that can severely impact their daily lifestyles, it becomes increasingly imperative for us to understand the signs and symptoms of GERD and talk with our doctors to help diagnose and treat the disease.” ??Identifying and Treating GERD ?The new survey also revealed that Hispanic-Americans are now increasingly able to identify symptoms of the condition. Sixty-five percent of respondents said they, or someone in their household, currently suffers from GERD-related symptoms two or more times a week. ??GERD affects a significant portion of the Hispanic-American community, but anyone can develop the disease. In fact, approximately 60 million American adults experience GERD symptoms more than twice a week. Risk increases with age, but symptoms of the condition can be alleviated with proper treatment. Consulting a doctor, and staying updated on new information regarding the condition, are best for determining the right options for managing GERD symptoms. For more information about GERD, please visit http://www.GERD.com or http://www.familiassanas.com or call 1-866-271-7278. ??GERD AT A GLANCE ?Talk To Your Doctor If You Experience These Common GERD Symptoms: ?– Heartburn ?– Belching ?– Acidic or sour taste in the mouth ?– Hoarseness ?– Persistent coughing ??Common Treatment Options for GERD: ?– Antacids neutralize stomach acid ?– Mucosal protective agents protect the lining of the esophagus ?– Promotility agents cause the stomach to empty faster ?– Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) reduce the amount of acid the stomach makes ??These lifestyle changes have been shown to have a positive effect on symptoms associated with GERD in some patients: ?– Losing weight ?– Quitting smoking ?– Wearing loose-fitting clothing ?– Eating smaller meals ?– Raising the head of the bed when sleeping ?– Waiting at least 3 hours before lying down after eating ?– Avoiding certain foods and drinks, including: chocolate, peppermint, alcoholic drinks, caffeinated beverages, citrus drinks, tomato-based foods, high-fat and/or fried foods

Technorati Tags: acid reflux medicine, acid reflux treatment, gerd symptoms, gerd treatment, symptoms of acid reflux

Monday, August 04, 2008
By Jessica Ryen Doyle

When Debra Peterson tells her patients their worsening asthma symptoms may be related to gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, they look at her with shock.
“People are surprised because we are not gastrointestinal doctors,” said Peterson, a family nurse practitioner with Advancements in Allergy and Asthma Care in Minnetonka, Minn. “However, we see a lot of association between asthma and acid reflux. In the 15 million [Americans] who have asthma, as many as 50 to 80 percent also have acid reflux.”
But many patients fail to recognize this association because the classic symptoms of acid reflux –- heartburn and/or regurgitation –- may be absent.
“There’s no clear-cut cause and effect,” Peterson said. “We do know that reflux can cause asthma if the reflux is aspirated into the lungs. Or, the acid in the esophagus can cause chest tightness. Also, if acid gets into the bottom of the esophagus, it can reflux up against the bronchial nerve, which causes the airways to narrow and a shortness of breath.”
Also, some asthma medications, including bronchodilators, such as theophylline, have been known to trigger acid reflux, Peterson said.
Peterson said she becomes suspicious of an acid reflux/asthma connection if the patient:
— Complains of a nighttime cough;
— Notices his asthma becomes worse after eating a big meal, drinking alcohol or lying down;
— Was diagnosed with asthma as an adult;
— Has poor asthma control, even when taking prescribed asthma medication.
Peterson’s patients often notice an improvement in their asthma once they start taking proton pump inhibitors such as Nexium, Protonix or Prilosec, which are commonly prescribed for acid reflux and GERD.
“My patients will say, ‘Oh, that tightness in the middle of my chest isn’t there anymore,’” Peterson said. “When a patient thinks of reflux, they think of heartburn, or regurgitation, and they aren’t aware of the other atypical signs.”
If a patient’s asthma symptoms do not get better with PPIs, they are typically referred to a gastroenterologist.
“It’s not uncommon anymore to get referrals from allergists and pulmonologists,” said Dr. John Allen, chair of the American Gastroenterology Association clinical practice committee and medical director of Minnesota Gastroenterology in St. Paul, Minn. “I’ve seen it increasing over the last five years.”
For these patients, gastroenterologists often want to perform an endoscopy, which involves inserting a thin camera down the patient’s throat and into the esophagus. Once inside the esophagus, doctors can place a capsule that will record the patient’s pH levels over the course of the next 48 hours.
“Sometimes surgery is needed to tighten up the esophageal sphincter, which prevents the reflux of acid,” Allen said.
Scientists are still somewhat baffled by the association between the two conditions, but much research is being done.
Recently, researchers at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina conducted a study in an effort to find the link between the conditions.
Dr. Shu Lin, an assistant professor of surgery and immunology at Duke, found that the immune systems of mice produced changes that drive the development of asthma in mice once they inhaled small amounts of stomach fluid that backed up into the esophagus.
“This is the first experimental evidence in a controlled, laboratory setting linking these two very common conditions in humans,” Lin said in a study published online in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation. “These data suggest that chronic micro-aspiration of gastric fluid can drive the immune system toward an asthmatic response.”
“This does not mean that everyone with GERD is going to develop asthma, by any means,” said William Parker, assistant professor of surgery at Duke and co-author of the study. “But it may mean that people with GERD may be more likely to develop asthma. If there is an upside to this, it is that developing GERD is something we can pretty much treat and control.”
C

Technorati Tags: acid reflux disease, acid reflux heartburn, asthma gerd, gerd foods, gerd symptoms