Acid Reflux – lifestyle Changes Can Help Cure GERD

It is natural to get heartburn occasionally. It can be somehow unpleasant, but usually it's nothing to worry about. However, if you get it regularly, it might be caused by acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux is known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD. It is a state of chronic abnormal reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. It is caused by the dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This sphincter is located at the opening of the stomach and it is a small ring of muscle. When it is not closed as tight as it should be, acid from the stomach will leak into the esophagus, causing this burning sensation. With time, it can corrode the lining of the esophagus causing ulcer and increasing the likelihood of esophageal cancer.

Watch out for the following symptoms because it means that you might have GERD:

-Persistent and frequent heartburn - This is the most obvious symptom, as well as the most common. Usually acid reflux sufferers experience heartburn several times a month. Oddly enough, some do not have heartburn at all.

-Acid Regurgitation - It is often reported that there is regurgitation of acid into the back of the throat, and sometimes all the way into the mouth for people with GERD. It might be accompanied by food from the stomach but not all the time.

-Persistent cough - Some sufferers develop a dry cough. When certain nerves in the lower esophagus are stimulated by the stomach acid it usually causes dry cough. But it can also be caused by acid irritating the throat.

-Choking sensation - It feels like a piece of food is stuck in the throat while in fact there is none.

-Croakiness or wheezing - When damage is done to the throat or esophagus, it will cause this sensation. It occurs usually in the morning. Besides, GERD can aggravate existing asthma.

Acid Reflux Treatment

You should definitely talk to your doctor if you have some of the symptoms above. If you are diagnosed with GERD, your doctor can prescribe some medications known as proton inhibitors. You can also try herbal remedies that can help in many cases. Surely enough, some lifestyle changes can provide relief without resorting to any medication. These include:

-Stop alcohol and tobacco consumption - They can make the symptoms of acid reflux worse. More acid is actually produced by the stomach when alcohol is consumed and the LES gets relaxed so more acid leaks. Smoking has the same effects; in addition, it causes saliva reduction, which provides a natural defense against refluxed acid.

-Weight loss is a must - Excess weight can make GERD worse because it increases pressure on the abdomen.

-Know what food to avoid - Stay away from fried and fatty foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, and spicy foods. Get into the habit of eating smaller meals to reduce abdominal pressure.

-Raise the head of your bed - When you're laying flat, acid escapes the stomach. That's why you might feel heartburn at night more than any other time. Sleeping slightly inclined can help. Also don't eat and sleep immediately.

It can be painful to have acid reflux but it can be cured with minor lifestyle changes and some medications.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux Disease - The Top 7 Things That Could Answer Your Question

If you are currently asking yourself the question - "Do I have acid reflux disease?" then it is time to investigate this painful and rather life changing condition to work out whether or not it is time to visit your doctor.

There are a few symptoms that are commonly associated with digestive diseases and conditions such as GERD and acid reflux disease and if you are noticing one of more of these symptoms, it is perhaps time to visit a medical professional that can better diagnose your symptoms. Home or self diagnosis will not get you the treatment that you will need so the only way to be safe and healthy is to visit your doctor.

Among the main symptoms of acid reflux disease, you may notice the following:

1. Heartburn. This is commonly described as a rather painful burning sensation within the chest area and can go as far down as the stomach and as far up as the neck

2. Pain in the chest, either constant or a nasty stabbing pain

3. Regurgitating food back from the gullet into the mouth

4. Trouble when swallowing both liquids and food

5. Sore throat and hoarseness when trying to talk

6. Erosion of the teeth and gums caused by the acid reaching the mouth

7. Asthma (This is normally due to the acid that is travelling where it should reaching the area around the lungs or throat)

These symptoms can happen all at once or in stages and all of them are very uncomfortable to have to deal with. They have the ability to seriously interfere with ones life and even lead to days taken from work as sick and not being able to leave the house due to the painful nature of the heartburn.

For those that have not suffered from heartburn, this can be one of the most painful things to ever have to go through and also one of the most difficult things to explain.

The symptoms of acid reflux disease can continue for many months and even longer, getting more and more painful as the time goes if it has not been treated in the correct manner.

Acid reflux Treatment can take the shape of many things from medication that your doctor may have prescribed for you to massive lifestyle changes that can make the difference between painful symptoms of acid reflux disease to bearable ones.