Seven Foods to Avoid with Acid Reflux

Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, is the pain and burning sensation that occurs after a meal. It is sometimes accompanied by gas, bloating and nausea.

Several commercial products will reduce the acid in your stomach and provide relief. Many people find a reduction in their symptoms when they determine what foods cause them discomfort, and avoid that food.

The first step in discovering what foods you should avoid is to keep a food diary. Simply keeping track of what you eat and when you have acid reflux will show you the likely irritant. There are foods that are commonly known to cause excess stomach acid, but each person has different triggers. You might find that you are only sensitive to a few foods, or to all the foods on the list.

Acid reflux can also be a side effect of some common medications. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist to determine if your medications could be causing your heartburn.

The top seven foods to avoid with acid reflux are:
Coffee,
Alcohol,
Spices used in foods,
Citrus fruit,
Fried and fatty foods,
Tomatoes,
Chocolate,

If you are prone to acid reflux, you should also avoid after dinner drinks, smoking, having a nap after eating, and any heavy lifting after a meal, such as taking out the garbage. By eliminating these foods and keeping a diary to discover your personal triggers, you will easily be able to find the foods to avoid to prevent acid reflux.

Gerri Stone.Find out why you have digestive problems,and how to cure them http://www.AcidsRefluxSolution.com

Acid Reflux - Part 1 - Introduction

Acid reflux occurs when one of two closures, or "sphincters," in the esophagus fail to remain sealed after food and/or liquid pass through them on the way to one's stomach. The two sphincters are located at each end of the esophagus. The first one is at the top, directly behind the larynx and pharynx. The second one is at the bottom, directly above the stomach.

There are two forms of acid reflux - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR). Either form can cause serious and permanent damage, including some forms of cancer, if not diagnosed and treated on a timely basis. Please read further in Parts 2 and 3 for some of the symptoms, tests for diagnosis and evaluation, and treatments commonly used to control this potentially devastating disease.

Should you discover that you have any of the symptoms, please seek medical help quickly so that you can minimize the risks of permanent damage.

For your convenience, see the following pronunciation key and a few definitions to assist with some of the terminology in the three parts provided:

Pronunciations:

Bronchi - bron'-ki
Dysphagia - diss-fay'-gee-ah
Endoscopy - en-dos'-cop-ee
Gastroesophageal - gas'-tro-ess-off'-ah-gee'-al
Gingivitis - jin'-jiv-eye'-tiss
Halitosis - hal'-ih-toe'-siss
Hiatal Hernia - hi-ay'-tal her'-nee-ah
Laryngitis - lair'-in-ji'-tiss
Laryngopharengeal - lair-in'-go-fair'-in-gee'-al
Laryngoscopy - lair'-in-goss'-cop-ee
Larynx - lair'-innks
Odynophagia - oh-din'-oh-fay'-gee-ah
Pharynx - fair'-innks
Trachea - tray'-key-ah

Definitions:

Bronchi - large tubes between the trachea and the lungs
Dysphagia - dysfunctional swallowing (see article 3 for further explanation)
Dysphonia - change in, weakness of, or cracking of one's voice when speaking or singing
Endoscopy - a procedure in which a tube containing fiber optic filaments and a microscopic lens is inserted into one's esophagus to assess and diagnose GERD
Gingivitis - a form of gum disease
Halitosis - chronic bad breath, frequently caused by illness and/or disease
Laryngoscopy - similar to the endoscopy, except that this is used to assess the condition of one's larynx and pharynx
Larynx - voice box
Pharynx - throat
Odynophagia - pain when swallowing (see article 3 for further information)
Sphincter - a band of muscle tissue which closes to prevent involuntary evacuation of material(s) from one's body Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Acid Reflux

Acid Reflux - Treating it with Medication

Of course, as with any medical condition, there are numerous ways of treating acid reflux, or to give it its full title, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Here, we will look at medication.

Antacids and Alignates

Antacids are generally available without a doctor's prescription and relieve the symptoms of acid indigestion and heartburn (dyspepsia).

The usual ingredients of antacids are magnesium or aluminium and they work by neutralising the acid produced in the stomach which is the cause of indigestion and acid reflux. This group often contain sodium alginate which forms a protective coating over the lining of the gullet and the stomach.

Proton Pump Inhibitors

Proton pump Inhibitors are drugs which shut down the system in the stomach called the proton pump. It is this system which produces acid in the stomach, the leaking of which into the oesophagus causes acid reflux.

These drugs are taken in the form of tablets or capsules, as a powder to be diluted in water or as injections and are used to treat stomach ulcers and a rather rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome as well as acid reflux.

Omeprazole and Lansoprazole are well known varieties of this particular type of drug although there are several others.

Side effects are rare although they can include diarrhoea or constipation, stomach pains, wind, drowsiness, dizziness and headaches. In unusual cases, a severe allergic reaction can result. My personal experience with Omeprazole was seriously raised blood pressure and severe head pain. However, replacing Omeprazole with Ranitidine and taking blood pressure reduction medication for a couple of weeks sorted out that problem.

H2-Receptor Antagonists

This group of drugs works by attaching to and blocking the H2 receptor area on stomach cells which, when stimulated by the naturally produced chemical, histamine, generates acid.

Ranitidine is the best known of this drug group, others being Nizatidine, Famotidine and Cimetidine.

Side effects are few but can display as diarrhoea, headaches, dizziness and tiredness. Loss of hair has been reported by takers of Cimetidine and with nizatidine, sweating.

Both proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor antagonists are used together with antibiotics to get rid of Helicobacter pylori infection which can cause stomach ulcers and duodenitis.

Warning: If symptoms of heartburn persist, consult your doctor. They could be indicative of something much more serious than indigestion. Never embark on a course of medication without consulting a doctor. Never take medicines prescribed for somebody else.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Acid Reflux

How to Calm the Raging Inferno of Acid Reflux

More than 60 million people suffer with acid reflux disease every week of their life. Acid reflux is a very unpleasant and annoying condition. It is not considered to be a severe condition such as acid reflux, unless it occurs over twice a week over a time span of several months. If acid reflux disease goes untreated for a prolonged period of time, it can cause permanent damage to the esophagus.

Acid reflux disease is caused by acid from the stomach washing back up into the esophagus repeatedly. This happens when the lower esophageal sphincter becomes weak and relaxed. The main cause of the relaxed esophageal sphincter muscle is high fat foods which have been shown in studies to temporarily weaken the esophageal sphincter muscle.

The most common symptoms of acid reflux disease are a burning sensations in the chest, a sour acidic taste in your mouth, sore throat, and bad breath. Usually laying down right after eating will make symptoms worsen. Many people suffering from acid reflux have found relief in positioning their bed in an upright position. They usually do this by putting 4 to 6 inch blocks under the 2 bedposts at the head of the bed.

The answer to most people who suffer with acid reflux disease is to reach for an antacid. These are o.k. for short term use, but reducing the acid in the stomach is not the answer. In recent research, results indicated that reducing the acid in the stomach can cause several other diseases. So, what can you do? When you have acid reflux you absolutely have to have relief- and the quicker the better.

To start with, you can use these tips to help wean yourself off of the antacids for good. Lifestyle changes can go a long way in helping keep the flames at bay. Things such as quitting smoking, drinking, and reducing stress will set you on the right road. Then, making changes in your diet is the best thing you can do to keep acid down in the stomach where it belongs.

The first thing to do is start eating foods that are high in fiber. Then make sure that you eat smaller meals so you wont overfill the stomach, causing sloshing of the fluids in the stomach up into the esophagus.

Eat more complex carbohydrate foods and lay off of the fried fatty foods. Last of all, but not least it will help you tremendously if you can start an exercising program.

The most common foods that are known for causing acid reflux are fried foods, caffeine, and alcohol. Smoking also causes the esophageal muscle to relax causing a problem for acid reflux sufferers.

There are even some medications that can cause problems for some patients with acid reflux disease.

Be sure to consult with your physician concerning interactions of medications he has prescribed. A physician administering an acid reflux treatment usually prescribes various drugs as a first line of defense.

The stomach is designed to be very acidic with a pH of 3.0 or less. When your stomach has the proper pH, it digests your food so that it is broken down into vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are absorbed. When the acid is reduced greatly in the stomach by antacids, it leaves too little acid for the functions in which it was designed for. Vitamins and minerals are severely depleted in cases where the patient continues over long periods of time to consume antacids.

Herbal supplements have rapidly gained popularity over the past decade because they are safe and affordable solutions for chronic health problems. Herbal supplements are a natural and effective solution for revitalizing your health. There are several herbs that are well known for alleviating heartburn. One of my favorites is a very refreshing drink- ginger tea. As always, consult your physician before taking any treatment of any kind.

Sign up for free monthly newsletter at- http://www.AlternativeHealthReporter.com Natural herbal remedies with an amazing 365 day guarantee. http://www.AlternativeHealthReporter.com