Acid reflux, explained in the simplest way possible, is when your keep vomiting a little bit. This is annoying. Not only does it put a weird taste in your mouth, but it hurts. You are, after all, constantly having stomach acid in your esophagus, whether it’s going up or going back down. Stomach acid is not meant to be in your esophagus for long periods of time, and the acid eventually can greatly damage it, making eating very difficult. If you have you Acid Reflux more likely to get cancer of the esophagus.
Acid Reflux Can Be Serious
Acid reflux disease has come in the media spotlight as the disease-du-jour. This is because of the development of medications and treatments for acid reflux. Explained another way, because now there is a buck to be made from curing acid reflux, there seems to be a sudden epidemic of acid reflux disease.
There are many causes for acid reflux, explained as to why there is so much stomach acid in your esophagus and not in your stomach. Most causes seem to be due to lifestyle choices. If you are not eating healthy, not exercising and smoking and drinking, you are a prime candidate for acid reflux disease. Sometimes, medications that you need to be on can, as a side effect, give you acid reflux. Sometimes diseases can, as another side effect, give you acid reflux. Pregnancy can also cause acid reflux, as the baby is pressing on your stomach. At least you know that kind of acid reflux will eventually go away. The other kinds do not. They need treatment.
If you have heartburn or think you might have acid reflux, explained or unexplained, go see your doctor. He or she can determine what kind of acid reflux you have, what the probable cause is and help get you the best treatment that you need.
Is It Heartburn Or Acid Reflux?
Acid Reflux is very similar to heartburn, but acid reflux is a lot more annoying than heartburn, and leads to a lot more potential health problems. A quick way to find out if “it’s just heartburn” is to take an over the counter heartburn relief medication. If you don’t get any lasting relief, and can barely sleep through the night because of the acid burning your throat, you just might have acid reflux disease.
Heartburn is common, and an occasional episode is generally nothing to worry about. However, many people battle heartburn — a burning sensation in the food pipe (esophagus), just below or behind the breastbone — regularly, even daily. Frequent heartburn can be a serious problem, and it deserves medical attention. Frequent or constant heartburn is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — a disease in which stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back (refluxes) into your esophagus.
Acid reflux, explained now as the enemy, can be fought with a variety of weapons. There are the new prescription medications, which many acid reflux sufferers swear by while some swear at. You can change your sleeping position with special foam wedges and pillows to keep your body slightly inclined, so the acid stays within its native borders of the stomach. You can learn a technique for handling stress, especially if you get an upset stomach whenever you are upset. Most importantly, you need to change your diet and eat a balanced, healthy diet. When all else fails, there is surgery.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Acid Reflux?
See Your Doctor?
Using Acid Reflux Drugs.
Today, in our drug-oriented society, the treatment of acid reflux is mostly based on the suppression of acid. These drugs are promoted as miracle cures for heartburn for millions of people and are major moneymaker$ for the drug companies. Consider the mass marketing tactics of "Prilosec", the original “Purple Pill” for heartburn that became the #1 selling prescription drug for seniors in the world.(1) "Prilosec" earns its manufacturer AstraZeneca $6 billion dollars a year.
Drugs are rarely the best solution for the common ulcer and other related stomach problems. It is clear that "Prilosec", and other drugs similar to it, are indeed effective at what they do. If they were not, it would be impossible for these drug companies to convince people to buy them. But drugs do NOT solve the acid reflux problem. In fact, they actually make it worse.
Here’s Why
The so-called "proton pump inhibitors" such as "Prevacid", and Prilosec" and the H2 blocker agents such as "Zantac", "Pepcid" and "Tagament", are some of the worst drugs you could possible take.
These drugs dramatically reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid you have in your stomach, thereby drastically diminishing your ability to digest your food properly. This reduction in the amount of stomach acid also reduces a very important defense mechanism against food-borne infections and increases your likelihood of food poisoning. Not digesting your food properly also increases your risks for nearly every other degenerative diseases. Two studies (2) with laboratory mice, conducted by Howard Hughes Medical Institute scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School, indicate that reducing the amount of hydrochloric acid you have in your stomach could be exactly the wrong thing to do. (see Natural Remedies For Acid Reflux Disease)
Acid Reflux In Plain English
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