Acid Reflux Disease: Find Out WHY You Have Heartburn
Heartburn, or GERD – gastro-esophageal reflux disease as it is known, is caused by the coincidence of two medical conditions. The first condition contributing to acid reflux disease is the backward flow of food and acid from the stomach to the esophagus. Nonetheless, the reflux does not always result in symptoms of acid reflux disease or changes in the organic tissues, and can happen in healthy individuals as well, when it is referred to as “physiologic gastroesophageal reflux”.
The second factor encouraging acid reflux is a malfunction of the LES, the lower esophageal sphincter. The LES is a circle of muscle acting as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach, measuring 3-4 cm, some two to three times thicker than the proximal esophagus. In cases of acid reflux disease, the stomach contents is pushed back into the esophagus because the LES does not shut properly. This is then called acid reflux disease, when symptoms of the disease then follow.
Heartburn is the burning sensation felt in the throat or the chest, when the contents of the stomach escapes back to the esophagus lining. The usual sensation connected to acid reflux disease is persistent (twice or week or more frequently) heartburn. Occasional heartburn can happen also. This is not necessarily a sign of acid reflux disease, as minor reflux can also happen to individuals in good health.
Some sufferers express a sensation of food that blocks, choking or constriction of the throat. It is the steady flow back of stomach contents against the esophagus that has this effect, causing a swelling of the esophagus due to scar tissue from histological degradation. Other patients of acid reflux disease may also experience pains in their chest or nausea, coughing, burning pains in the chest, hoarseness in the morning, continual earache, sinusitis, changes in their voice, or problems in swallowing (notably lumpy foods).
Acid reflux disease left untreated can have serious health consequences. These include constriction, bleeding, ulcers and spasms of the esophagus. When the acid from the stomach gets to the trachea as well as the upper esophagus, several severe conditions such as asthma, sinusitis and pneumonia can occur. Some patients can develop a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus, where abnormal shapes and colors of cells occur in the esophageal lining. This is an initial stage before esophageal cancer, notably in adults over 60 years old.
Surgery, medical therapy and holistic therapy are the three options for treating acid reflux disease. The latter includes diet and lifestyle modifications as well as use of specific herbal supplements. PPIs and H2 blockers are among the medical options in cases of acid reflux disease. While one can use prescribed medications or acid blockers like these, remember that the results are sometimes no more than temporary and that conventional medicine can lead to serious side effects. The use of surgery needs very careful reflection, as certain underlying problems, such as constriction and muscular contraction disorders, can be complicated.
From an overall point of view, GERD is an alarm signal pertaining to a significant imbalance internally that must be correctly resolved. For this reason, alternative medicine such as homeopathic remedies, herbal medicine, changes in lifestyle as components of a full holistic plan are clearly recommended for sufferers of acid reflux.
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