Everything You Need to Know About Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a condition that affects millions of people around the world. It often presents itself after eating a meal that causes stomach acid to rise and flow into the oesophagus, where it can cause discomfort, burning, or even pain. Acid reflux has been on the rise since the 1970s because people's lifestyles have changed significantly. Work schedules have become increasingly hectic, so fewer people have time to eat a leisurely meal, and obesity rates have also increased. Both of these factors make people more prone to developing the condition, which, unfortunately, can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

What is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is also commonly referred to as heartburn, gastric reflux and gastroesophageal reflux. It's felt as a burning, painful sensation that occurs when gastric acid backflows from the stomach into the throat. The pain is normally located just behind the breastbone, in the esophagus and often radiates to the throat, neck and jaw.

Others symptoms may include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Bloating
• Dental erosion
• Asthma
• Hoarse voice
• Food regurgitation
• Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bad breath
• Dry cough

Source: geb.com

Causes of Acid Reflux

Physiologically speaking, acid reflux is caused by a dysfunctional lower esophageal sphincter in the stomach that allows for acidic stomach contents to backflow into the esophagus. Whilst science is still deciding, there are a number of reasons thought to cause the sphincter to be faulty in the first place. Some of these include:

• Pregnancy
• Heavy meals and overeating
• Acidic foods such as spicy foods, coffee, citrus fruits and fatty foods
• Bending forward
• Hiatus hernia
• Peptic ulcers
• Insufficient amounts of digestive enzymes in the stomach
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Asthma

What is the difference between acid reflux and GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may be diagnosed when symptoms of acid reflux persist for two or more days a week over an extended period of time. The disease carries serious implications as it may potentially lead to erosive esophagitis, which is inflammation of the delicate lining of the esophagus. A common symptom of GERD is difficulty swallowing, as the erosion causes scar tissue, which in turn narrows the esophagus lining.

GERD has also been linked to:

• Asthma
• Chronic cough
• Hoarseness
• Teeth erosion
• Esophageal cancer

Long-term implications of acid reflux and GERD

• Bleeding or ulcers in the stomach which are caused by esophageal inflammation triggered by stomach acid
• Difficulties in swallowing due to scar tissue formation in the oesophagus
• Barrett's oesophagus, a condition in which esophageal lining cells take on abnormal shapes and colours which in turn may develop into cancer.
• Cystic Fibrosis

Lifestyle changes for acid reflux

If you are experiencing acid reflux on a regular basis, there are some things that you can do to help prevent it from happening. One of the most important is to avoid eating large meals and see to it that you spread your frequent meals out throughout the day to reduce excessive acid secretion in the stomach. You should also avoid eating late at night, and try to avoid drinking large amounts of fluid with your meals. Another important thing to remember is to maintain a healthy weight, as obesity can contribute to acid reflux.

• Quit smoking
• Quit or dramatically reduce alcohol intake
• Weight loss
• Eat small, regular meals
• Opt for loose-fitting clothes rather than those that are skin tight
• Using blocks of wood (not pillows) under the bedposts, raise your bedhead six to eight inches

Medications for acid reflux

There are many over-the-counter medications for acid reflux that may be recommended to you by your healthcare provider. Some of these include:

• Antacids, such as Mylanta, Rolaids, Alka-Seltzer, etc. Many are produced from the combined ingredients calcium, magnesium, aluminum, hydroxide/bicarbonate ions which act to neutralise the excess acid in your stomach.
• Foaming agents, such as Gaviscon, which seals the reflux in by covering it with a foam layer.
• H2 blockers, such as Zantac which act by inhibiting acid production.
• Proton pump inhibitors, such as Nexium which block the acid hence reduce symptoms.

Natural Treatments for Acid Reflux

There are many natural, complementary therapies available that aim to reduce acid reflux symptoms without the harsh side effects of over-the-counter medicine. Some of these include:

• Nutrition - The food you are eating may be causing the symptoms themselves with symptoms often dissipating with a change in diet. Foods that are safe for some may trigger attacks in others, hence there is no one prescribed anti-reflux diet.
• Hypnotherapy - This therapeutic technique puts the acid reflux sufferer into a trance-like state in which they act only on external suggestions. It may be used to incite different patterns of thought and behaviors, particularly those that trigger acid reflux, such as smoking, stress, digestion and weight control.
• Herbal medicine - Uses medicinal plants and herbs to treat acid reflux, relieve its symptoms and assist the individual in reaching an optimum state of health.
• Acupuncture - This is an ancient Chinese technique that employs the use of needles on the skin to relieve symptoms of acid reflux.
• Colonic hydrotherapy - Otherwise known as Colonic irrigation, Colonic Hydrotherapy aims to eliminate acid reflux symptoms and their potential causes by introducing filtered, oxygenated water into the colon through a very small tube via the anus.
• Counselling - A professional counselor may assist reflux patients in reducing symptoms by exploring and resolving with them the underlying triggers that may be causing the attacks in the first place. 

If you are living with acid reflux, it is important to be aware of your triggers and to take steps to minimise them. You should also speak to your doctor about any medications you may be taking that could be contributing to your symptoms. Also, following a balanced diet and avoiding strenuous exercise can make living with acid reflux easier. For more information on the above treatments, check out "Natural Treatments for Acid Reflux".