Pain Management: Hiatal Hernia or Acid Reflux? - How to Cure Both

Acid Reflux - Hiatal Hernia

The Hiatal Hernia - Acid Reflux has been called the "great mimic", because it mimics many disorders. A person with this condition can get such severe pains in their chest that they think they are having a heart attack. They may think they have an over acid stomach because they will regurgitate stomach acid after they eat, or their stomach may hurt so badly they will think they have an ulcer. This is just a sampling of the symptoms that may occur from this disorder.

We always recommend that you see a medical professional to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong.

What is a Hiatal Hernia?

When you swallow, your food passes down a long tube known as the esophagus into the stomach. This tube must pass through a muscle known as the diaphragm, which is located near the bottom of your rib cage.

This opening in the diaphragm, which permits the esophagus to pass through, is regulated by a sphincter muscle (or "valve"), which relaxes and opens, when we swallow, to permit the food to pass through the diaphragm and into the stomach. This sphincter or valve closes to prevent stomach acid from coming back up into the throat.

A hiatal hernia-acid reflux occurs when the top of the stomach rolls or slides up into this opening and becomes stuck there.

Naturally, when part of the stomach is forced up into the diaphragm the sphincter muscle cannot close properly.

Thus, stomach acid may travel back up into the esophagus causing burning sensations (heartburn), esophageal spasms, inflammations and ulcers. (known as the Acid Reflux)

Your diaphragm is a muscle. The diaphragm has three large openings for passage of the aorta, esophagus, and vena cana. When you don't use your diaphragm to breathe, it weakens, and becomes flaccid.

This allows your stomach to be pushed through your diaphragm by gas pressure in your digestive tract in what is known as a hiatal hernia. The resulting pain is often confused for the onset of a heart attack.

A flaccid diaphragm most often results from chest breathing or shallow breathing.

The digestive tract has a series of one way valves to keep food material moving in the correct direction: the esophageal valve in the esophagus, a sphincter muscle valve between the esophagus and the stomach. The pyloric valve between the stomach and the small intestine, the ileocecal valve between the small intestine and the large intestine, and the Houston valve in the descending colon.

When one or more of these valves malfunctions, pressure from gas in the intestines may force food material to back up, pushing stomach acid into the esophagus.

The interesting discovery that we made with our studies in kinesiology was the relationship between these valves and the diaphragm muscle.

The valves generally do not malfunction as long as the diaphragm muscle remains strong and in balance. Once the diaphragm muscle weakens one or more of these valves may malfunction leading to a hiatal hernia and/or acid reflux.

Once the causes of mock heart attack (hiatal hernia) and acid reflux are properly identified, the preferred treatment becomes apparent. Both conditions can be corrected by doing diaphragmatic breathing exercises that both strengthen the diaphragm muscle and force the stomach down and out of the diaphragm.

Technique in Practicing Using The Diaphragm

1. Place your hand on your stomach When you take an in-breath your stomach goes out. 2. When you release your breath your stomach goes in.

This may be difficult to do at the beginning. To practice, you can lie on your back and put a book on your stomach. Concentrate with your in-breath pushing the book up and letting it fall when you release your breath.

This exercise can be done on the spot in whatever position you happen to be, standing, sitting, or lying down.

What I have discovered is that when I went to bed at night and did not feel very well, I would put my hand on my stomach and concentrate when taking an in breath to push my stomach out and feel it relax when I let my breath out. I would do this slowly.

The ultimate answer is learning to breathe with your diaphragm all the time. This involves regular practice of diaphragmatic breathing, and a continuing consciousness of how you are breathing.

As you continue this over a period of time, diaphragmatic breathing will become automatic.

A further benefit of diaphragmatic breathing is improved airflow into the lower parts of the lungs and better oxygenation

Once again we have found that helping your body to heal itself through muscle and energy balancing often provides satisfactory results in the long run.

Proper diaphragmatic breathing is important for our overall well-being. Proper diaphragmatic breathing assists us to properly oxygenate our body, particularly during physical exercise, reducing chronic fatigue due to shallow breathing.

It also helps us to maintain proper muscle tone in our diaphragm. This in turn helps us to hold our abdominal organs in the proper position and to reduce abdominal and chest pains. This is often helpful after eating to reduce gastronomic distress.

Another important feature of the Barhydt basic balances is that they always drive the body-mind toward equilibrium (or balance).

A person cannot harm himself or herself by doing these balancing exercises. Just do the exercise if you feel it may be helpful; it generally takes just a few seconds in any case. This makes basic balancing exercises appropriate for self-help.

Another benefit I have discovered when I learned to breathe using my diaphragm is that I can eat most anything like tomato-based foods (ketchup, spaghetti sauce), citrus fruits, mint, and even chocolate within moderation.

Visit http://www.Lovinglife.org for tips and tools for stress management and pain management. Visit my blog at http://www.lovinglifehealth.org Dr. Elizabeth Barhydt, A Muscle Stress Specialist on How To Relieve Stress, Pain and Learning Blocks Emotionally and Physically without Drugs.

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.

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.

Getting Relief From Acid Reflux Symptoms Through Adjusting Your Sleeping Postures

You may find it extremely disruptive experiencing acid reflux symptoms in the night. However, your symptoms appear to come on more often when you are sleeping. If you are wondering why this is so; well, the reason is that your sleeping postures are causing more acid to back up to your esophagus. This usually happens when your head is not propped up enough. Not having a good night of sleep can lower the quality of your life. You not only have to deal with your pain in the night but wake up feeling exhausted and depressed, thus giving your day a poor start.

Luckily there are products in the market to help address this issue. One such product to reduce your acid reflux symptoms in the night are specially designed pillows. A solution to correcting your sleeping postures would easily have been for you to sleep with multiple pillows. However, if you have tried this, you would have found it difficult to keep to this position the whole night without moving and having all your top few pillows falling off. So this means that you basically end up with just using one pillow, a position that is likely that puts you at risk of developing acid reflux symptoms in the night.

Specially designed pillows such as jumbo pillows can keep you wedged up when sleeping. These pillows have stronger bases and come complete with foam at the bottom so that you would not find it easy to slip off them.

Another great invention is bed raisers which can be used at bedtime. You may think about using bricks or books to accomplish the task of raising the bed. However, add your own body weight to the bed, you may well end up hurting yourself since your bed is propped up in not a very stable manner.

Bed raisers can be used as a better alternative to using your bricks and books. Bed raisers are placed under the upper legs of your bed and can be adjusted to raise your bed at an angle. You may adjust this angle just enough for you to prevent having to experience acid reflux symptoms in the night.

You can find the specially designed pillows and bed raisers at major departmental stores. These items should be located in the bedding section. You can also purchase them over the web and are usually not all that expensive.

There is no doubt that such interesting inventions exist to help people who are seeking relief from their acid reflux symptoms. You should seriously consider these options if you wish to sleep through the night without getting any disruptions any more.

Acid reflux symptoms can be easily treated with diet and lifestyle changes. For more information and resource, please visit this site here at www.treat-acid-reflux.com

Acid Reflux Can Fool You - It Might Really Be a Heart Attack or Vice Versa

Pain radiating from your chest or surrounding areas can be frightening! The first thing you probably think is that you've had a heart attack -- but that's not necessarily so. You may be having an acid reflux attack instead. Acid reflux causes burning sensations in the chest and throat which can easily be confused with heart pain.

The symptoms of heart pain and acid reflux are similar, but there are some differences. However, don't take a chance with your life! Seek medical care at once if you experience any symptoms that could be related to a heart attack.

There are some distinguishing characteristics you might want to keep in mind, but don't resort to being your own doctor. With that firmly in mind, here are five ways in which heart attacks and acid reflux symptoms differ:

1. A strong feeling of pressure accompanies most heart attacks. The pressure could also be a powerful squeezing sensation. If you are having a heart attack, you may experience a lot of pain or just this feeling of pressing and squeezing. With heart attacks the pain or discomfort will usually go on for more than 10 minutes. If the pain or discomfort rapidly subsides, it probably is not related to the heart. However, you may be having symptoms of angina and that requires medical care as well.

2. If the pain is largely centered around your throat, it is probably due to acid reflux. The burning discomfort is probably the result of stomach acids that have backed up into your esophagus.

3. With heart conditions exercise can be followed by chest pain. This is not usually true of acid reflux since physical activity seldom makes acid reflux act up.

4. After you've eaten a meal, if you experience pain -- that's probably the result of acid reflux or heartburn and not a heart attack.

5. If pain or a tingling sensation spreads from your chest to nearby parts of your body -- such as your shoulders, neck, jaw and arms -- those symptoms may be telling you you're either having a heart attack or angina.

Whenever you experience any discomfort or pain in your chest or surrounding areas, you need to take that as a serious warning signal. Don't ignore the warning, but seek medical care as soon as possible.

Help yourself to a more energetic life with health tips for you. Patricia Wagner writes about a .variety of ways you can be healthier at http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com

Number 1 Acid Reflux Diet Tip - Eat Frequent, Eat Small

Diet does not really directly cause acid reflux. But acid reflux can be aggravated by the food and drinks we take. Hence to look for a cure for acid reflux, we also need to create a good acid reflux diet plan that helps to ease the condition. And the number 1 tip we are going to learn today is to eat frequent, small meals instead of less frequent big meals.

There are 2 ways to carry out this step. You can either eat smaller and more frequent meals in a day, or avoid eating a big and heavy meal in a day. A lot of people, especially those who are always busy in work, tend to skip meals and eat 1 big meal at a time. This can perhaps be a tough habit to stop. Just try to remember this key point that may help you to keep your diet in check: eat when you are hungry and stop eating when you feel comfortable.

By constantly remind ourselves with this point, we will start to eat smaller sized meals over time. And by eating smaller meals we get hungry sooner and ends up eating more often, which is what we want to achieve. Keep your stomach full is not ideal if you have acid reflux condition. A stomach that is full is more like to have an acid reflux attack that cause stomach acid to flow into the esophagus, resulting in heartburn.

Hence eating more often and smaller amount at a time is particularly helpful for people with acid reflux. Smaller, low fat meals do not stay in the stomach for a long time and move more quickly into the intestines as compared to large meals. The shorter the time for food to be in the stomach reduce the chance for acid reflux to occur.

Also large meals are not welcomed because it put more pressure on the stomach, especially the esophageal sphincter and cause it to open easily. Once the sphincter opens, it will give the stomach acid a chance to splash up the esophagus. Researchers have confirmed that the large volume the food takes up in the stomach can easily induce an acid reflux attack.

So, start making this first change to your acid reflux diet plan by eating frequently and eating smaller meals each time. This is not only good for acid reflux, it is also good for health. A heavy meal in the afternoon always makes one feel sleepy right? Stay tune for more food tips to acid reflux.

Click for more top and latest info on Acid Reflux Diet or visit http://acid-reflux.greenhealthinformation.com.

Christopher Wen is the webmaster for greenHealth information site where he provides articles, news, and remedies to current health issues we faced in our everyday life. Check out his blog at http://greenhealthinformation.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

10 Nuggets about Acid Reflux.

1. Acid reflux is common and increasing in the developed world. A Gollop Poll in USA reported that 44% had symptoms on a monthly basis. GERD is higher in whites and the obese. There is also a higher prevalence in people aged 60-70 years. It is rare in blacks. It is also lower in Eastern countries. In India it is 7.5%, Malaysia 3% and China 0.8%. It is suggested that this incidence will increase as these countries introduce Western diet higher in fats.

2. Lifestyle change is an important aspect of treatment of acid reflux. Some patients show marked improvement after losing only a small amount of weight.

Obesity increases abdominal pressure and affects the lower esophageal sphincter(LES). Large meals distend the stomach and adds pressure on the LES. Certain foods affect the sphincter. Avoid or comsume in moderation, food such as fats, coffee and alcohol.

3. Antacids neutralise acids in the stomach. This reaction raises the pH and is likely to relieve heartburn or other symptoms of reflux. Trials, however, show that antacids will not heal esophagitis.

The antacids commonly used are magnesium hydroxide, magnesium trisilicate and aluminium hydroxide.

4. Acid Suppressant drugs should be used if lifestyle changes and antacids are ineffective. The first group introduced are the H2-receptor antagonists such as ranitidine. Side effects from this groups of drugs are rare.

The newer proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole and lansaprazole are more effective than H2-receptor antagonists. They are safe and long term use has shown no ill effects. They are so effective that most GERD patients that were unresponsive to ranitidine were effectively treated with omeprazole.

5. A complication of GERD is bleeding from esophigitis. This can lead to anaemia especially in children. Stricture is a distressing complication. It can cause pain and difficulty on swallowing. Barrett's esophagus, experts think, develop after damage to the mucosal lining by acid reflux.

6. Most infants reflux, and conservative measures such as thickened feeds help. Reflux generally subside before the end of the first year. In the past Barrett's esophagus was thought to be confined to adults but with the introduction of smaller fibreoptic endoscopes, more biopsies are done and Barrett's esophagus are being diagnosed in children.

7. Surgery for acid reflux is very uncommon since the advent of effective acid suppressant medical treatment. Today stricures are not common and there are only a rare few that do not respond to omeprazole as acid reflux treatment.

The commonest procedure is Nissen Fundoplication. Today laparoscopic fundoplication is popular.

8. Smoking makes acid reflux symptoms worse, especially in children. Nicotine relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter allowing acidic stomach contents to reflux up into the esophagus. In addition deposited nicotine in the back of the throat when swallowed is corrosive to the esophageal lining. Stop smoking if you have acid reflux.

9. Raising the head of the bed is an effective acid reflux treatment. It is useful for nocturnal acid reflux symptoms and reduces sensitisation that results in problems during the day. Tests have shown that adding additional pillows is ineffective.

10. Do not ignore your symptoms. Lifestyle changes may be all that is necessary to control your symptoms but if, in addition to over the counter medications ,your symptoms persist see your family doctor. If you have GERD, complications can be severe and the symptoms very distressing.




Dr.Phil Hariram is a retired General Practitioner. He has treated Acid Reflux for 27 years. Find out more about Acid Reflux at http://www.acidrefluxguru.com

Acid Reflux...

Antony WiltonWhen I was young, we had indigestion, now we discuss heartburn, acid reflux and that great mouthful known as gastro esophageal Reflux Disease (thankfully described as GERD)

Whatever you call it, if you are suffering from belching, gas or a bloated stomach lets consider the cause.

Its been a hard and stressful day at work. You race home, gulp down a quick meal and collapse into bed for a well earned rest....But wait.
Suddenly you experience a burning sensation in the top of your stomach.
You may belch and probably feel bloated.
This is the beginning of acid reflux, and can cause acid and stomach content to wash back into the oesophagus creating a burning sensation.

This is often an indicator that something is wrong in your digestive system.
When we eat or drink, the digestive process begins in the mouth with enzymes in saliva beginning the task by starting to break down the food to promote easy digestion.
The food continues down the esophagus, passing through a valve prior to entering the stomach where it comes in contact with stomach (hydrochloric) acid to further break down the food.
If the valve relaxes , or if an excess of acid is produced, acid may be forced back into the oesophagus causing the reflux or heartburn.

(Incidently, I recall cleaning cement from bricks with a commercial hydrochloric acid preparation which indicates the strength of this acid.!)

Occasional reflux is normal, but when it occurs regularly and disrupts daily life, it is described as a disease - Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD and can contribute to cancer where the stomach and esophagus meet.

If you are suffering from heartburn the first thing you should do is take a good look at what you are eating.
Over consumption of fatty foods and refined carbohydrates including biscuits, cakes and white bread can affect digestion and and cause reflux symptoms.
Other irritants include salt, spices, sugar, curries, coffee, fizzy drinks and alcohol.

Before you take drastic action to treat heartburn lets look at suitable supplements to aid digestion.
As well as supplements that contain digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid, there are a number of specific formulas to relieve indegestion.
these contain ingredients such as active herbs including Globe Artichoke Leaf, Gentian Root, Fennel Seed and Ginger.
These natural herbs have been used for years in treating stomach complaints.
Swedish Bitters is another possible treatment well recommended.
Probiotics such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidacterium lactis are beneficial for digestion by maintaining the friendly bacteria in the gastrointestional tract.

If you feel that you are not over indulging in any of these foods, and reflux symptoms persist, see your doctor, as untreated gastric reflux can damage the esophagus and even lead to cancer.
Doctors can now conduct an impedance pH test which determines whether your reflux is acid or not.
Antony Wilton is an Australian who has been investigating Acid Reflux treatment for a number of years.
His highly anticipated reports are regularly updated on his site
http://www.acidrefluxheartburn.com