Acid Reflux, Hereditary and Tips For Control

Have you ever asked the question if your acid reflux disease and symptoms are hereditary? Some studies have been made and suggest to a degree that hereditary may play a part in acid reflux conditions.

Many doctors believe that just under 50 percent of those suffering from chronic heartburn and acid reflux can find the condition traced back to the genes. Those not in the gene pool usually finds their problems come from other sources, including work stress, diet and foods they consume.

The most common digestive disease or disorder in the world is acid reflux with about 1 in 5 suffering from heartburn and/or experiencing the burn of acid in the throat or esophagus. A greater risk exist for those who experience this burning / churning regularly to develop esophageal cancer.

Hereditary may play a part but many other potential areas for cause need to be considered, many of them focus on the foods we eat.

Top of the list and the foods most people link with acid reflux is fried and fatty foods. You know how you feel after eating these foods ? slow and dragging, the same description could be applied to your digestive system. These types of foods slow down the digestion process causing food to remain in the stomach longer. Large meals can also be a problem by increasing the pressure on the stomach and can allow the acids or contents to move upward into the esophagus.

Other foods can cause the lower sphincter muscle to relax causing the came results as the fried or fatty foods. These foods often contain caffeine like tea, coffee and soft drinks. Citrus juices and fruits, chocolate is another and tomato-based foods or products are another common cause of acid reflux.

Alcohol can increase in stomach acid, tobacco and its destructive chemicals and compounds can slowly weaken the digestive system and esophagus making individuals more prone to acid reflux disease.

Although hereditary may contribute to some people suffering with heartburn, GERD and acid reflux disease and its symptoms, by watching the foods we eat and when we eat them can offer increased ability to control the problem.

If you suffer or experience heartburn regularly consult with your doctor for find out what the potential cause and what actions need to be taken to remedy the problem.

Jill Seimer writes on diet issues at RefluxLife.com and reported on natural healing of heartburn from her experience dealing with acid reflux in her family.

Free Yourself of Acid Reflux Drug Addiction

Recent statistics from the US Department of Health and Human Services suggest that over seven million people suffer from severe acid reflux in the U.S. alone. It is estimated that over fifteen million Americans suffer from chronic heartburn, as well.

The incidence of acid reflux is greater in people over the age of forty, but it can affect anyone, even infants. Acid reflux affects people of every age, socioeconomic class and race.

Simply put, acid reflux occurs when stomach acid splashes up through the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) into the esophagus and throat. This reflux of acid can be the result of many things including diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, hiatal hernia, stress and even pregnancy. When this refluxed acid hits the tender lining of the esophagus, it causes a painful burning sensation in the chest and, or throat. Other symptoms include difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), hoarseness, asthma and dental erosion.

If left untreated, this condition can evolve into more severe and life threatening diseases like Barrett?s Esophagus, which is a precursor to esophageal cancer. In an attempt to avoid the more serious consequences of acid reflux, people are resorting more and more to pharmaceutical drugs.

There are three classifications of drugs which treat and acid reflux. The first of these are antacids, which neutralize the acid in your stomach and are at best only a temporary fix. They are loaded with harmful ingredients such as sodium and aluminum. The next group of drugs is called H2 Blockers. They reduce the amount of acid that the stomach produces and provide longer lasting relief than antacids. Finally there are the PPI drugs (proton pump inhibitors), which shut off the proton pumps in the stomach that manufacture hydrochloric acid.

PPI drugs should only be used for eight weeks, at most. It says so right on the package. Doctors certainly know this but allow if not encourage most patients to continue taking these drugs on a permanent basis.

PPI drugs actually shut down the pumps that produce the stomach acid necessary to digest and assimilate food. This is an essential function of our physical anatomy. Another point of concern is that stomach acid keeps very dangerous bacteria, which live in the stomach and intestines, in check.

There are, unfortunately, no studies that can determine the long term effects of these drugs. We do, however, know what the potential harmful side effects are and there are hundreds of them. They include: allergic reaction, back and chest pain, fatigue, fever, flu-like disorder, hypertension, constipation, GI hemorrhage, vomiting, tinnitus, anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, weight gain, arthritis, fibromyalgia syndrome, anorexia, depression, dizziness, impotence, insomnia, migraine, visual field defect, menstrual disorder, asthma aggravated, pharyngitis, acne, taste loss, fungal infection and Barrett?s esophagus ? just to mention a few!

The medical community would have us believe that drugs are the only answer to the problem of acid reflux. Doctors are not taught nutrition or natural healing techniques in med school. As a result they depend on prescription drugs to treat the symptoms of acid reflux disease. They unfortunately know nothing about how to cure the condition itself.

PPI drugs are very big business. Annual global sales for PPI drugs alone reached well over six billion dollars in 2002. One can only guess what those statistics are today. One can only imagine the extent of the damage these drugs are causing people all over the world.

I am happy to say that we are not limited to pharmaceuticals in order to rid ourselves of the acid reflux condition. There are many alternative techniques and procedures which can be employed to accomplish that end. As a veteran of the acid reflux drug battle, I am living proof that one can heal themselves of acid reflux by using what I call natural medicine.

When I found out that my doctor had exhausted all possibilities of helping me, outside of the PPI drug regime, I knew that I was on my on. I had to heal myself. To my surprise, through research and study, I found that curing acid reflux disease is really quite simple.

With a few modest changes in lifestyle and with the help of several natural remedies, one can absolutely win the battle against acid reflux without the use of drugs.

There are many natural ingredients found in any health store, which can help during the acid reflux recovery period. Herbs, such as marshmallow, slippery elm and bladderwrack have wonderful healing properties. Aloe vera, licorice and natural honey can sooth the esophagus and assist in the healing process. Chewing gum between meals actually neutralizes stomach acid.

There are many simple things which contribute to the acid reflux condition which most people overlook; insufficient water consumption is one of them. Eating too rapidly and chewing food improperly is another.

Eating smaller, more frequent meals is helpful. Substituting Kukicha Twig tea for coffee makes the body more alkaline. Have fruit, like bananas and melons instead of cereal for breakfast. Snacks of walnuts, almonds and more fruit will keep you going throughout the day. At dinner eat lightly and at least two hours before retiring. You certainly don?t have to starve yourself, but try to stay away from those acid reflux ?trigger? foods.

It does take a new approach to life, in general, to heal a stubborn acid reflux condition. Think of it as an exciting challenge. You will feel so much better and your health will improve. It will have been worth the effort.

In a society where convenience sometimes takes precedence over common sense, pills have taken the place of ancient healing techniques and natural therapies. Drugs taken on a regular basis can be more dangerous than the illness itself.

Take command of your health and use natural resources to free yourself of those acid reflux drugs.

? 2006 Wind Publishing

For free recipes, articles and information, visit: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

Charles Stewart Richey is a self-educated expert on how to cure acid reflux disease by natural means. He has written an extensive report entitled, REFLUX GONE FOREVER, Natural Acid Reflux Remedies.

For free recipes, articles and information, visit: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

 

Remedies For Acid Reflux Disease - 7 All Natural Tips!

Acid reflux or GERD (gastroesophigeial reflux disease) is caused when stomach acid leaves the stomach and enters the esophagus. When this happens, a mild to severe burning sensation can be felt in the esophagus. Because of this uncomfortable burning sensation, the term heart burn was coined to describe this disorder.

The cells of the stomach lining are equipped to handle exposure to hydrochloric acid.These special stomach cells secrete large quantities of mucous that creates a barrier between the acid and the stomach lining. When functioning properly, the lower esophageal sphincter stops stomach acid from moving into the esophagus by creating a barrier between the esophagus and the contents of the stomach.

With GERD, the sphincter relaxes between swallows thereby allowing acid to escape into the unprotected esophagus. Unfortunately, the cells of the esophagus are not equipped to handle exposure to hydrochloric acid. Because of this, acid reflux can cause very uncomfortable burning sensations in the lining of the esophagus.

The safest approach to controlling acid reflux disease is to actively manage the factors that are know to cause acid reflux. Follow these tips to begin taking control of your acid reflux today!

#1 Work to maintain a healthy bodyweight. Obesity increases abdominal pressure which can force stomach contents into the esophagus, because of this it has been linked to acid reflux disease. Limit the amount of foods that you eat and add regular exercise to your daily routine. This will help you to maintain a healthy bodyweight.

#2 Avoid eating within 2 - 3 hours of bedtime. This will allow your body adequate time to digest the foods that you have eaten. Eating a large meal prior to bedtime will ensure that your body will be digesting the foods as you sleep. If your body is digesting foods and you are in a sleeping position, you are increasing the chance that stomach contents and acids will leak out into your esophagus.

#3 Limit greasy foods, chocolate, caffeine, garlic, onions, spicy foods and citrus fruit. All of these foods have been shown to increase occurrences of acid reflux.

#4 The choices that you make in your everyday life will have an impact on the frequency of acid reflux flare-ups. By limiting your alcohol intake and refraining from smoking, you will be eliminating two of the most common causes of acid reflux.

#5 Work to maintain good posture. Slouching, especially while seated, can allow your sphincter to relax. This in turn allows stomach acid to reflux into your esophagus.

#6 Avoid working out, bending, or stooping on a full stomach. If you are prone to acid reflux flare-ups, any type of movement on a full stomach is a bad idea.

#7 Elevate your head while you sleep. Lying down flat creates pressure in your abdomen. By elevating your head a few inches, you can alleviate some of this pressure. Try elevating the top portion of your bed by placing wood blocks underneath the feet of your bed.

Hopefully these tips will help you to take control of your acid reflux disease. If you implement them today, you will be on your way to feeling a difference tomorrow!

Did you find these tips helpful? For more information on controlling heartburn and acid reflux disease visit: http://heartburn.free-fit.com

The Acid Reflux Blues ?An Easy Antidote

The real antidote to acid reflux, gerd, heartburn and indigestion has to do with what we eat, how we eat, where we eat and when we eat. This may sound a little too simple, but it is not. Everyone is different; therefore people have to approach eating in different ways.

There are many foods and beverages which trigger heartburn. Not all of these affect everyone in the same manner. For instance, I have difficulty digesting raw bell peppers, but I know others who cannot eat raw tomatoes, but have no trouble with raw bell peppers. Ironically, I can eat fresh raw tomatoes all day long and not have gerd. So anyone who makes blanket statements regarding this subject has got it all wrong.

Through trial and error, we all discover what we can and cannot digest with ease. There are, however, some foods that cause problems for anyone who is susceptible to acid reflux. Any food or drink that causes the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) to relax should be consumed in strict moderation. The LES is a ring of fibrous muscle which separates the esophagus and the stomach. When this muscle relaxes, acid and pepsin can splash up from the stomach into the esophagus and throat, thereby causing acid reflux.

The hydrochloric acid in the stomach is very powerful. It has been compared to the acid in a car battery, but it is a necessary part of our physical anatomy. It constitutes the initial stage of the digestive process. It not only breaks down the food we eat but keeps potentially dangerous bacteria which live in the digestive tract in check. This is the reason that drugs which stop the acid pumps from functioning are potentially dangerous. These drugs are called proton pump inhibitors (PPI drugs). They interfere with the digestion and assimilation of food and allow the overgrowth of bacteria.

Eating jagged foods like crackers or corn chips can cause little lacerations to develop in the esophagus and LES. Then later consuming acidic foods like spicy over cooked tomato sauce can exacerbate the problem. This scenario is typical of why many people have acid reflux to begin with. It can easily be avoided.

Foods and beverages, like chocolate, caffeine, fried foods, tomato products and alcohol, can cause the LES to relax and should be avoided until the esophagus has had time to heal.

How and where we eat is very important, as well. Chewing food properly is essential to correct digestion. Saliva in the mouth is actually very alkaline in nature. It acts as sort of a lubricant to assist the teeth in grinding food to a fine pulp, making it easier to digest. When I was a little boy, I had an elementary school teacher who constantly reminded me to chew my food twenty-two times before swallowing. She said that if I didn?t I would have indigestion. At the time, I thought she was crazy, but she was right on the money.

Eating slowly in a relaxed atmosphere is also crucial to good digestion. When we eat too fast we don?t chew properly forcing crude clumps of food into a shocked and traumatized stomach. This is certainly a perfect way to insure a good case of indigestion. People who grab meals on the run are the worst offenders and I think you will find many of them at fast food restaurants. Unfortunately, they are teaching their children to do the same.

Finally, there is the important consideration of when you eat. It?s a proven fact that eating several small meals, spaced throughout the day, is far healthier for the digestive system than the traditional ?three big meals?. Eating too much at one time is one of the biggest causes of acid reflux and also contributes to unwanted weight gain.

Last but not least, I must mention the most relevant antidote to the acid reflux condition; never go to bed with a full stomach. If we want to avoid acid reflux, we must allow at least two hours after eating before lying down. Three hours would be even better. This, of course, means that a late night bowl of ice cream in bed would be strictly taboo.

So you see, the real antidote to the acid reflux blues is not so much about ?what to do?, but about ?what not to do?. It is not about drugs, surgery or even doctors. The natural cure for acid reflux is all about common sense.

? 2006 Wind Publishing

For free recipes, articles and information, visit: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com
Charles Stewart Richey is a self-educated expert on how to cure acid reflux disease by natural means. He has written an extensive report entitled, REFLUX GONE FOREVER, Natural Acid Reflux Remedies. For free recipes, articles and information, visit: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com.