Acid reflux disease, which is also known as gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD, occurs when the liquids in the stomach regurgitates back into the esophagus. The acid, pepsin, and bile from the stomach liquids can cause great damage to the esophagus, resulting in an extremely painful sensation for the victim.

Unfortunately, acid reflux disease and its effects typically last for the rest of your life after you first begin to experience symptoms. What did you do to bring on acid reflux, and how will it affect you in the future? Understanding the causes and the effects of acid reflux are just as important as managing the condition.

The Causes Of Acid Reflux

Understanding the causes of acid reflux disease is important since it could help you to prevent this painful condition. There is not one simple cause for the condition, but rather it is usually a combination of factors that results in the disease.

The lower esophageal splinter is one contributing cause of acid reflux disease. The primary function of lower esophageal splinter, which is located where the esophagus meets the stomach, is to open when food is being passed from the esophagus to the stomach, but to remain closed the rest of the time. Abnormalities in this function could result in GERD.

A hiatal hernia also contributes to the presence of GERD. When a hernia is present, this means that there is a closed off sac in the stomach. This sac traps acid and can make it easier for acid to regurgitate back into the esophagus.

The contraction of the esophagus, which is intended to push stomach liquids back into the stomach, can cause GERD to develop if it is not functioning properly. The dysfunction of the emptying of the stomach can also have a similar effect.

The Effects Of Acid Reflux

GERD can have many negative effects, and they typically do not go away after the symptoms of GERD have begun. Thus, they can only be treated, not cured.

Some common effects of acid reflux disease include regurgitation, heartburn, and nausea. The condition can also lead to more serious side effects if gone untreated.

Managing GERD

Acid reflux disease cannot usually be cured. However, after it is diagnosed, there are some precautions you can take to make the condition more manageable.

• lifestyle changes
• taking anti-acids
• pro-motility drugs
• foam barriers
• surgery (if the GERD is bad enough)

If you can manage GERD and its symptoms, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to live your life to its fullest.

You hear the term “acid indigestion” so frequently in television and radio advertisements that you probably feel as if you are expert on the topic. But do you really know what it is and when to see a doctor?

What Is It?

Acid indigestion is a twin to heartburn, but they are slightly different, as all twins are. Heartburn’s burning pain feels as if it’s behind your breastbone, around where your heart is, while indigestion’s pain is located in the pit of the stomach, which is in the middle of your torso.

With heartburn, you feel the uncomfortable burn of digestive acids up in your throat and even in your mouth. With acid indigestion, the acid stays in your stomach and only sometimes will you feel burning all up your esophagus.

So, what is your body doing that creates the pain of indigestion? Your stomach is making far too much hydrochloric acid, which normally secretes out of the walls of the stomach’s cells.

A little hydrochloric acid is normal and safe in the stomach – without it, you wouldn’t be able to break your food down into energy. But too much damages the stomach. If do not try to do something about your acid indigestion, you will most likely get an ulcer.

What Are The Causes?

There are many causes of acid indigestion, known technically as hyperchlorhydria. It is most likely that it is caused by a combination of factors instead of just one substance or event that could be avoided.

It is hard to avoid developing acid indigestion, but it is possible. Here are some of the causes currently thought of as starting your stomach on the road to indigestion:

• Too much alcohol: Alcoholic drinks make the stomach produce far too much acid than it needs to. Cut out, reduce or highly water down your drinks.
• Too much food: And eating the wrong kinds of food can trigger acid indigestion. It is best to have smaller, more frequent meals, eat a wide variety of foods and cut down on processed foods, animal fats and junk food.
• Not enough exercise: Exercising will not only get rid of any excess weight, but will help your body digest its food more efficiently.
• Too many medications: Some over the counter and prescription medications can irritate the stomach and give you acid indigestion. Even if you take too many antacids, you may wind up triggering an acid indigestion attack.

When To Go To The Doctor

If you have acid indigestion more than three days a week for two weeks, see your doctor.