Acid Reflux Disease: Causes, Risks and Cures

Get the facts on diagnosis and cure of acid reflux disease from an ex acid reflux sufferer and qualified nutritionist.

Acid reflux disease, or GERD – gastro-esophageal reflux disease as it is known, is caused by the coincidence of two medical conditions. The first condition contributing to acid reflux disease is the backward flow of food and acid from the stomach to the esophagus. Nonetheless, the reflux does not always result in symptoms of GERD or changes in the organic tissues, and can happen in healthy individuals as well, when it is referred to as "physiologic gastroesophageal reflux".

The second factor encouraging GERD is a malfunction of the LES, the lower esophageal sphincter. The LES is a circle of muscle of 3-4 cm, some two to three times thicker than the proximal esophagus and acting as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. When acid reflux disease occurs, the LES fails to close correctly and stomach contents is pushed back into the esophagus. With symptoms of the disease after this process, this is then called gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

The typical sensation of acid reflux disease is persistent (twice weekly or more) heartburn. Heartburn is the burning feeling in the chest or the throat, when the stomach contents is pushed back to the lining of the esophagus. As people in good health may also have light reflux, occasional heartburn is common as well and does not immediately mean gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Other sufferers of GERD may also feel chest-pains or suffer from coughs, hoarseness in the morning, vocal changes, problems in swallowing (notably lumpy foods), lasting earache, burning pains in the chest, nausea or sinusitis. Some sufferers describe sensations of food being stuck, choking or tightness in the throat. This is caused by the continual flow back of stomach contents in contact with the esophagus, resulting in swelling of the esophagus due scars from histological damage.

Acid reflux disease left untreated can have serious health consequences. These include constriction, bleeding, ulcers and spasms of the esophagus. When the acid from the stomach gets to the trachea as well as the upper esophagus, several severe conditions such as asthma, sinusitis and pneumonia can occur. Some patients can develop a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus, where abnormal shapes and colors of cells occur in the esophageal lining. This is an initial stage before esophageal cancer, notably in adults over 60 years old.

There are three options for treating acid reflux disease: surgery, medical therapy and holistic therapy that includes changes in diet and lifestyle and taking specific herbal supplements. Using surgery merits very careful consideration, given that certain underlying conditions can be complicated, such as constriction and muscular contraction disorders. PPIs and H2 blockers are among the options for medical intervention in cases of gastro-esophageal reflux disease. While it is possible to apply prescribed medications or acid blockers like these, remember that the results are sometimes only temporary and that conventional medicine can lead to serious side effects.

From an overall point of view, GERD is an alarm signal pertaining to a significant imbalance internally that must be correctly resolved. For this reason, alternative medicine such as homeopathic remedies, herbal medicine, changes in lifestyle as components of a full holistic plan are clearly recommended for sufferers of acid reflux disease.

Jeff Martin is a medical researcher, certified nutritionist, health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Heartburn No More – Open The Door To an Acid Reflux Free Life". Jeff has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.

To learn more about Jeff Martins Unique 5-Step Holistic Acid Reflux Cure System visit: Heartburn No More.

Find further information at: Acid Reflux Disease.

By Jeff Martin Published: 8/11/2008

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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.”
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Many people from all walks of life suffer from the persistent pain of acid reflux.  It is a worldwide scourge and if not treated more severe conditions can take place.  The lucky ones will have very mild cases of acid reflex from time to time.  This disorder also is prevalent among pregnant women.

Acid reflux Gerd is a circumstance where the acids from the stomach are forced back up through the esophagus and into the throat and mouth.  The afflicted report a sour taste in their mouths and many have a very tough time sleeping owing to this degenerate disorder. This condition is technically called gastroesophagel reflux disease. It is usually referred to by its acronym, GERD.

What Induces Acid Reflux Gerd?

A potpourri of things can induce acid reflux Gerd.  Acid reflux Gerd may be the consequence of diets high in fatty foods, spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol and even onions and garlic have all been foods that are linked with acid reflux.

Medications can also be an element in acid reflux Gerd.  Some medications have a propensity to cause the response that leads the stomach acids to be forced back up the esophagus

There are some causes to acid reflux Gerd that feature changes inside the body.  This comes about during pregnancy and even diabetics seem to have greater incidents of acid reflux gerd.  Patients that have put on large quantities of weight are also run a risk for acid reflux gerd.  This can naturally have something to do with diet that might also be a danger element for acid reflux gerd.

A few patients have a hernia condition that can induce the symptoms of acid reflux Gerd.  This type of hernia drives acids to back up and then the painful symptoms will come out.  Surgery can be performed to remedy the hernia and then the acid reflux symptoms should diminish.

Attainable respite From Acid Reflux

Numerous patients complain of symptoms worsening during the night.  One resolution to this problem is to use a few pillows to prop you up.  This placement seems to help hold back the acid from being forced up.

There are likewise medications that may be consumed that mediate the pain and symptoms of acid reflux Gerd.  Talking with a doctor about the symptoms can result in medications that may help curb the uncomfortableness connected with this disorder.

In some cases, symptoms control can be accomplished with a diet shift that may also help alleviate pain management.  Finding the right diet can mediate the situation.  This is an empirical operation and may take a lengthy period of time to ascertain which nutrients to include or exclude from the diet.

A doctor must be available to supervise the situation because acid reflux Gerd is a painful and traumatic condition.

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