“Heartburn” is no longer a matter taken so lightly as it used to be. It is increasingly prevalent in today’s fast food, eat as you run, the clock doesn’t stop for you so don’t you stop for it, living on the edge society. With heartburn affecting ten percent of Americans at least once a week, many feel trapped by a physical ailment that was once viewed as “innocuous.”
But with over fifty percent of all heartburn sufferers believing it’s impossible to live heartburn free, thirty percent believing they will never again be able to enjoy the foods they love, and ninety percent saying that heartburn affects the quality of their daily life in some way, its presence has become so common that there is great attention devoted both to the prevention and treatment of heartburn. That is, the treatment of Acid Reflux.
What is Acid Reflux? Whether you call it by its proper name, its past names (heartburn, indigestion), or its scientifically correct term of acid reflux, it is a chronic condition wherein the acid produced inside the otherwise safe lining of the stomach regurgitates – or “refluxes” – up into the esophageal tract, burning the tissues in the throat.
More specifically, this occurs when the muscular valve (called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES for short) designed to compress the acid back down into the stomach with the aid of gravity, fails to keep the acid down, and allows it to seep up into the esophageal tract.
More commonly called by the name “heartburn” (a trend which is slowly declining due to proper education and medical research), the sensation which causes heartburn is due to the location where the LES meets the stomach, which is just below the ribcage and off to the left side. This causes heartburn symptoms to closely mimic those of a heart attack, especially the more severe the heartburn.
Heartburn used to be considered a minor nuisance caused by stress or improper eating, but if left unchecked, your infrequent acid reflux could develop into a more dangerous condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD for short. GERD is a far more permanent and much more debilitating condition than common acid reflux. Once this begins to happen, your esophageal tract will slowly begin accruing irreparable damage, and can even become so extreme as to produce bleeding blisters in the throat.
Signs and Symptoms of Mild Acid Reflux (Heartburn)
Perhaps what gives this condition the name “heartburn” is the fact that when mild acid reflux begins, it is usually felt most keenly in the abdomen and left side. It begins as a simple burning, sometimes almost itchy. As it progresses, it produces nausea and in some cases, vomiting.
Another symptom is the nausea in the stomach going away after food is eaten. (Particularly foods associated with aiding heartburn, such as bread or milk.)
Symptoms of GERD
In addition to the above symptoms, GERD will include the following: intensifying of pain in the abdomen or chest (accompanied by a stronger itchy sensation), difficulty swallowing, increase in nausea, a sensation of shortness of breath, and an intense burning sensation within the throat. In some extreme cases, excessive weight loss is also noted. These are severe symptoms, and should be checked by a physician immediately!
What Causes Acid Reflux?
Namely poor lifestyle choices and the continuing harsh chemical treatments of highly processed foodstuffs.
The primary factors are related to mostly physical stresses and conditions which cause a softening and relaxing of the lower esophageal sphincter, the LES. This can be caused by the stresses of obesity (in fact, eating large quantities of food at one time is almost certain to stretch and stress the LES, as food must pass though the LES to get into the stomach); eating foods known to agitate the acid reflux condition; eating before bedtime; drinking highly caffeinated or highly acidic drinks (coffee, soda, lemonade, citrus juices, etc.); smoking and bending over or laying down with a full stomach. Stress is also a highly contributing factor to acid reflux.
Wearing extremely tight clothing can also severely aggravate the condition, especially if food is consumed while in such clothing.
Some medical causes include: pregnancy, hiatal hernia, and taking a variety of anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and NSAID drugs. (Aleve, Advil, etc.)
Prevention
Basic preventative measures for acid reflux include eating nutritiously, daily exercise, and drinking plenty of water. In addition, reducing the amount of daily stress within the household can greatly and dramatically reduce acid reflux’s harmful effects on the body. Antacids are another aid that will stem the sensations associated with lower levels of acid reflux, though it does little more than dull those sensations. If you’re heavy or obese, losing weight has more benefits than just alleviating potential acid reflux issues. The same is true in regards to quitting smoking, as this will help the relaxing of the gastroesophageal reflux disease. (Smoking and Nicotine have been shown to very effectively relax the LES.)
Mostly, preventing acid reflux is solely up to you, as it’s your body. You can make two life changing decisions in the battle against acid reflux. You can either chose to live healthy and minimize your chances of aggravating what is going to likely be an ingrained condition in the human body in the future; or you can chose to simply live with it, and bear the physical scars of that decision forever.