Acid Reflux Links With IBS

Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is an unpleasant condition in and of itself, as you know. Now imagine being afflicted with that AND irritable bowel syndrome -- being sick at both ends, as it were.

It seems too cruel even for a capricious being like Mother Nature, but it?s true. Many people find themselves suffering from both conditions at once, and there may be a link between them.

One theory is that when things are off-kilter in the stomach -- too much acid, for example -- the body tries to get rid of whatever?s in the stomach as fast as possible. This means sending half-digested food down south, and extra acid up north. Presto: IBS and acid reflux, all at once.

Another reason for the dual diagnosis could be obesity, at least indirectly. Obesity can cause acid reflux because the bloated stomach and gut area stretches the muscle that separates the stomach from the esophagus, thus allowing acid to bubble up. Furthermore, many obese people have a diet that puts them at risk of IBS through the nature of the foods they eat.

One theory holds that sometimes IBS manifests itself in a dilation of the transverse colon. The colon being stretched in this way could cause it to press against your stomach when it?s full of food, which could push acid up the other way.

A slightly weaker connection: Some researchers believe IBS can be brought on by stress, and while stress alone won?t cause GERD, it can cause people to drink, smoke and eat improperly, all of which can cause acid reflux.

However, some doctors believe that though some people do suffer from both IBS and GERT, the two are not necessarily linked. Someone may have hemorrhoids and tonsillitis, too, but that doesn?t mean they have the same cause.

Doctors point out that GERD?s cause is known -- a change in the barrier between the esophagus and the stomach, causing stomach acid to bubble up -- while the cause of IBS is a mystery. In fact, IBS may be caused by a variety of things, and effective treatment can differ from one patient to the next. Acid reflux, on the other hand, has fairly uniform treatments that work for most people.

The kicker is that some people?s methods of treating one make the other worse. For example, some people fear fiber-rich foods will exacerbate the acid reflux (which is true in some cases). But fiber will usually HELP with irritable bowel syndrome. For those unlucky patients, it may be a matter of choosing which disease is more tolerable and treating the other one.

Fortunately, this lesser-of-two-evils treatment isn?t usually necessary. In most cases, IBS and GERT can be treated without interfering with one another. And in some lucky instances, the same treatment will cure them both. For instance, many patients have reported that losing weight alleviated both conditions. Others have reported that an allergy to gluten turned out to be the reason for IBS and acid reflux, and eliminating it from the diet cleared everything up. If you find yourself with both ailments at once, trying an elimination diet may be the way forward.

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Acid Reflux. For further information on Acid Reflux please visit Acid Reflux or Acid Reflux Symptoms

Is This A Symptom of Acid Reflux?

We have all experienced it at one time or another. That burning, bloated feeling that accompanies a big meal. It is usually relieved by loosening your belt, or the top button of your pants. These symptoms are caused by indigestion. Certain foods can irritate the lining of your digestive track, and cause indigestion. It is not a frequent occurrence.

Sometimes that burning sensation creeps up behind your breastbone, accompanied by bloating, gas, nausea and a sour taste in the back of your throat. These are all symptoms of heartburn.

Any of these symptoms of acid reflux can occur individually, or all together. It is caused by the hydrochloric acid that your stomach uses to digest your food, backs up into your esophagus. When it happens occasionally, it is called heartburn. If it turns into a frequent occurrence, it is called a symptom of acid reflux.

When you swallow, your food passes through your esophagus, into your stomach. There is a muscle at the bottom of your esophagus that lets the food pass through, and then closes to prevent anything from escaping back up. This muscle can become weak for a variety of reasons, such as pregnancy, being overweight, stress, or as a natural event of ageing.

It also frequently happens in newborns. The muscle is not strong enough to seal the stomach. It is often called colic in babies, and they frequently outgrow the problem.

One study found that 57% of acid reflux sufferers also had a hiatal hernia that allowed the stomach acid to splash back into the esophagus, causing irritation and tissue damage.

If stomach acid makes it's way back into your lungs, it will cause you to be short of breath, and to suffer from asthma like symptoms. Repeated irritation of the lining of the esophagus will cause scarring and cell changes that can lead to cancer.

If you suffer from any symptom of acid reflux, or take antacids more than three times a week, it is time to contact your health care practitioner. Several good solutions to acid reflux can provide relief and prevent complications.

Gerri Stone publishes information to help you find Relief from acid reflux at http://www.StomachSolutions.com.

Acid Reflux Symptoms and Treatment

 Acid reflux (also known as GERD or heartburn) is a common condition -- Over 60 million Americans experience it at least once a month.

For some, acid reflux is a temporary phenomenon experienced only when eating too much, or eating particular types of food e.g. spicy foods. But for many others, acid reflux can be a painful and persistent condition.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux occurs when the lower oesophageal sphincter (that normally closes after swallowing to prevent stomach contents from escaping) malfunctions and allows stomach acid to travel up the oesophagus. When this occurs, a painful sensation is felt.

What are the Symptoms of Acid Reflux?

The symptoms of acid reflux are a painful burning sensation in the upper chest and/or regurgitation of acid into the mouth. Some patients will even develop nausea although this is less common. Although often called heartburn, the pain should not be mistaken for that associated with a true heart attack or cardiac arrest which would be accompanied by tightness of and pounding in the chest, weakness and feeling faint.

What are the Treatments for Acid Reflux?

Fortunately there are many treatments available for acid reflux.

Antacids are usually the first port of call for many acid reflux sufferers. For short term and infrequent attacks of acid reflux, these provide much needed temporary relief. However, as a long term solution they are not suitable and alternatives should be sought.

Any sufferer of regular acid reflux should keep a diary of everything they eat and drink. Over time, patterns can be established and many people report elimination or reduction of acid reflux symptoms after changing their diet accordingly to eliminate problematic food or drink.

If dietary changes have little or no effect, there are various families of drugs that are available over the counter and on prescription.

PPIs, or proton pump inhibitors, are often prescribed and successful drugs. These work by inhibiting production of the stomach acid that causes acid reflux. They have relatively limited side effects. H2 blockers are a different family of drugs that have the same effect but work in a different way. For the vast majority of long term acid reflux sufferers, PPIs and H2 blockers are a successful drug therapy. Some people, however, fail to respond to treatment with PPIs and H2 blockers and their only option are more radical drugs known as promotility agents. Unfortunately, these can have very severe side effects and are therefore rarely prescribed.

Lastly, for those who fail to respond to drug treatment, or simply want an alternative to the daily inconvenience of taking drugs, surgery is an option. New techniques are constantly being developed, some of which include procedures such as Enteryx Procedure, Stretta Procedure, Nissen Fundoplication and Endocinch. Your doctor will be able to give you more advice on these surgery options.

For more information and in-depth analysis of the treatment of acid reflux, visit Acid Reflux Treatment.


acid reflux diseaseandy casasantaWhat is acid reflux disease?

Acid reflux disease can and often is mistaken for heartburn. But the heartburn symptoms of acid reflux disease usually occur 2 or more days a week for at least 3 months and can damage your esophagus. At the top of your stomach is a muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which normally opens and closes allowing food to enter. It also prevents the acid in your stomach from backing up into your esophagus. The trouble begins when the LES opens at inappropriate times, allowing acid from the stomach to get into the esophagus, where it doesn't belong. Acid reflux disease can also lead to more serious medical conditions that may require hospitalization. Acid reflux in the throat can cause sore throat. If acid reaches the mouth, it can dissolve the enamel of the teeth. Millions of people have the disease and suffer from its most common symptom - frequent and persistent heartburn. Acid reflux disease can be treated and controlled.


How do you get Acid Reflux?

Factors contributing to acid reflux include fatty foods, cigarettes, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, obesity, pregnancy and delayed stomach emptying. Obesity and pregnancy increase pressures within the abdomen (body trunk), pushing the stomach contents back into the esophagus. Some patients have stomachs that empty their contents into the intestines very slowly.

How serious is Acid Reflux?
The lining of the esophagus may become ulcerated and can result in narrowing, making swallowing of food and, sometimes, liquids, painful and difficult. In people with esophagitis, there may also be an increased risk of cancer of the esophagus.

How long does Acid Reflux last?
Acid reflux can last several months or longer if not treated.

How is Acid Reflux treated?
Antacids are medicines that are commonly used to treat acid-related symptoms, like heartburn or indigestion, and work by neutralizing acid in the stomach. However, they are not usually recommended to treat the frequent heartburn suffered by people with GERD.

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