Acid Reflux (GERD)
This page on HealthMBA.com is about the condition of chronic heartburn called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux. Occasional heartburn is normal, but for those who encounter the symptoms regularly there may be a malfunction in the stomach that causes acid to go where is doesn't belong on a regular basis. This article suggests remedies to treat acid reflux and to restore normal acid levels to your stomach.
Acid reflux is a medical term for severe indigestion and heartburn. Eating a bad mix of foods that don't agree with your stomach and digestive system can cause a reaction where excess acids build up and even transit up to your esophagus. Your stomach normally contains very strong acid, but the lining naturally holds up well to it. Problems will occur if the acid works its way up to the back of your throat because those tissues were never meant to deal with the corrosive acid from your stomach. When you have occasional heartburn, or the more recurring and severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the strong acids enter into the esophagus and cause a burning sensation.
Having heartburn once in a while is somewhat normal, but if it happens regularly, such as more than once a week, it's a sign that there is an a problem keeping the acid sealed in the stomach. When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not properly close off and stop a backflow of the stomach acids there will be a regular sensation of heartburn, which over time leads to damage to the esophagus. This chronic condition can be very unpleasant and can lead to some other serious conditions. If you notice that heartburn is a regular complement to your meals and that you take antacid tablets regularly you may want to consult a medical professional, such as a gastroenterological specialist, for acid reflux.
There are medical treatments for acid reflux that will regulate the normal physiological operation of your stomach so that the occurrence of acid back flow will be much less common. You can also alter your diet to reduce the incidents of acid buildup and to give your esophagus the chance to heal. Drinking lots of water helps to regulate the acid levels in the stomach and there are herbs (garlic is popular) and other dietary supplements that help your body to function more normally. In severe cases for those who have tried diet and drug treatments but still have chronic heartburn, or those who are unable to comply with a lifetime of drug treatment, there is also a medical procedure using videoscopic surgery to correct the malfunction of LES with one procedure. Heartburn seems like a simple fact of life, but it is not supposed to be a regular part of life.
