Acid Reflux

I can assume that since you’re reading this you’ve at one time or another experienced heartburn or acid reflux. Heartburn is kind of the catchall term for acid reflux, reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). While heartburn can be mild for a great many of us, for others it is extremely painful.   

Acid reflux is also called gastroesophageal reflux.  It is considered a disorder where the acidic juices of the stomach flow back (reflux) into the esophagus.  The stomach walls are made to withstand the acids that are produced by digesting foods.  The esophagus, which is the tube that passes food from the throat to the stomach, has a very thin lining to it.  This lining does not have the protective strength of the stomach intestines.  So when you have stomach acid reflux into the esophagus it makes the lower section of the esophagus painful and irritated.  This painful inflammation is called reflux esophagitis.

The esophagus is usually sealed from the stomach by a valve known as the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, also called LES.  This valve only opens when food passes into the stomach from the esophagus.  There are a few conditions that make the valve work incorrectly.  These factors range from eating large meals, drinking caffeine based drinks, eating acid causing foods… to taking drugs like morphine, meperidine, nitrate heart medications and adrenergic drugs.  The LES also becomes relaxed when foods like peppermint and chocolate are eaten.

Those of us with reflux symptoms have many simple and effective Acid Reflux Remedies to choose from to alleviate the pain.  I would say the easiest and most effective acid reflux treatment would be to keep a close eye on the type of foods you eat in your diet.

An Acid Reflux Diet is something that you should seriously consider doing for yourself.  The heartburn diet would be a good starting point for a reflux diet.  And these are only a few things that can help you to ease the reflux disease that you suffer from. 

Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms do vary.  They can range from your typical heartburn to cramping, excess salivation, shortness of breath, difficult or painful swallowing, fluid or vomit being inhaled into the lungs and other conditions.  While acid reflux is painful, frequently occurring gastroesophageal reflux can lead to esophageal reflux, which is a more serious condition known as reflux esophagitis, esophageal narrowing and esophageal ulcer.  The most serious acid reflux condition is Barrett’s syndrome.  With Barrett’s syndrome a change in the lining of the esophagus leads to acid reflux cancer or more formally known as esophageal cancer.

Acid reflux can occur in anyone.  The main sufferers of acid reflux are those who are obese, experience repeated vomiting, have nasogastric tubes, and have a history of hiatal hernia or scleroderma.  Acid Reflux and Pregnancy for women is also very common.

Acid reflux disease can be diagnosed and treated so that the reflux symptoms can be relieved.  A gastroenterologist will take x-rays of the patient.  The patient will drink a barium solution and lie down so that their head is lower than their feet.  An esophagoscopy examination is taken.  Here a flexible viewing tube is inserted into the patient’s esophagus for a closer look.

There are many other acid reflux treatments, and there’s no time like the present to start trying them.  They include Medications for Acid Reflux, a natural cure for acid reflux, a Wedge Pillow for Acid Reflux, and many others to help you in your acid reflux relief. You should always consult your physician before you start any kind of acid reflux treatment.  This is especially true for those with severe acid reflux because you could have an adverse reaction to acid reflux medications, acid reflux remedies, or to an acid reflux alternative medicine.

If you find that your baby frequently spits up and/or vomits then you may have an acid reflux baby. on your hands. You should consult your physician to have them diagnosis whether or not your baby is suffering from infant/baby reflux. Acid reflux disease in infants is not that common, but for the most part they grow out of it as they get older. I feel for the parents who have a Baby With Acid Reflux because of the pain their newborn goes through on a daily basis.

If you’re like me and don’t want to spend your valuable time in front of the computer reading website after website about heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, etc… then you should consider relying on a single source of information. During my research I came across several publications that have consolidated all of the good information related to curing my heartburn and acid reflux. I highly recommend you take a look at them. For your convenience I’ve rated them myself and you can review them by click here heartburn relief.

Acid Reflux Symptoms

There are several kinds of digestive diseases, but the most common is acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) also known as heartburn. There are many acid reflux symptoms that an unsuspecting acid reflux sufferer might experience. These reflux symptoms will likely help someone indicate whether they have acid reflux or not.

The most common reflux symptom someone will experience is the burning sensation in the digestive tract near the chest and in the throat. They can even experience reflux symptoms of hoarseness, sour or bitter taste, acid in the mouth. Coughing and wheezing are also known symptoms of acid reflux. Acid reflux causes many sufferers to lose countless hours of sleep every night as well, which is known as nighttime acid reflux.

Fortunately, acid reflux has some special characteristics that indicate whether someone has reflux or not. These characteristics involve specific activities that should be avoided; such as avoid lying down or bending over, while other individuals have difficulty when eating.

Others, however, have tried physical activity like exercise to be rid of acid reflux but unfortunately, even exercise can not ease the symptoms. Most likely, use of antacids can be helpful and can actually ease the acid reflux symptons. Many people new to acid reflux mistaken the symptoms of acid reflux as a heart attack.

Acid reflux disease symptoms can happen to all ages including infants and young children. Acid reflux in infants is common, but this condition usually fades in time while young children can develop acid reflux like other adults. Usually in adults, acid reflux is caused by poor diet, lack of physical activity, and even lifestyle.

The silent acid reflux type is a difficult one to diagnose because the reflux sufferer isn’t even aware that stomach acid is traveling up and down their esophagus. They don’t experience heartburn or the other typical symptoms of acid reflux.

A lot of reflux sufferers will go for the quick and easy relief by using an Acid Reflux Medicine. While these do work to relieve the reflux pain, there are other reflux remedies like natural or homeopathic that work well.

There are other factors that could also cause acid reflux symtoms. These factors are most common during pregnancy because women in this stage have increased hormone levels and in sense, the stomach is being pressured due to pregnancy. Also, obesity, overeating, some beverages and medications, and particular foods are also factors that can cause acid reflux.

A person who thinks he or she has acid reflux should learn more of the symptoms caused by it. In this way, individuals can identify this condition and take certain precautions to prevent possible occurrences due to acid reflux. For a fact, the best way to avoid acid reflux or heartburn is through prevention. By doing so, individuals will be able to avoid occurrences of acid reflux and at the same time, have a healthy lifestyle.

Most often, acid reflux is caused by inappropriate diet, therefore, have a proper diet and nutrition to help eliminate your acid reflux symptoms. A patient with acid reflux can lead to a more serious condition that could cause more problems even in the respiratory system due to continuous coughing and loss of breath. If acid enters this area, it can be damaging, therefore, learn the acid reflux symptoms to avoid a more serious problem like espohagitus or Barrett’s Disease.

If you’re like me and don’t want to spend your valuable time in front of the computer reading website after website about heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, etc… then you should consider relying on a single source of information. During my research I came across several publications that have consolidated all of the good information related to curing my heartburn and acid reflux. I highly recommend you take a look at them. For your convenience I’ve rated them myself and you can review them by click here heartburn relief.

Acid Reflux Remedies

Acid reflux remedies come in all shapes and sizes. There are natural acid reflux remedies, which consist of natural everyday foods. There’s also the acid reflux herbal remedy. The herbal remedies consist of things like teas, herbs, and spices.

Acid reflux home remedies are probably the simplest remedies to follow. These remedies include things like don’t wear tight clothing, don’t lie down after you eat, etc… There are some uncommon reflux home remedies that people concoct. These are typically created because they work for that particular individual and shared with the heartburn/acid reflux community.

Many acid reflux sufferers also use homeopathic remedies for acid reflux. Schuessler Cell Salt is one that I’ve seen mentioned in a forum that cures acid reflux.

Below I go in a little more detail about each type of acid reflux remedy.

Natural Acid Reflux Cure

As I discussed above natural acid reflux remedies are everyday foods. Those foods are things like pickle juice, water, garlic, tbsp Distilled White Vinegar, RAW Carrots, etc… Honey is also a great acid reflux cure. If you have my heartburn ebook then you can find what type of honey is considered the best on page 80.

Acid Reflux Herbal Remedy

The acid reflux herbal remedies can be found in health food stores. You want to look for things like fennel, devils claw, cumin, etc… There are specific ways you use each of these herbs, which you can find on page 88 of my heartburn ebook. There are some very interesting herbs listed in the book and some of them can be just added to the food you make on a regular basis.

Homeopathic Cure For Acid Reflux

I’m not very familiar with the homeopathic remedies for acid reflux, but from what I’ve read they seem to be good acid reflux remedies for those who use them. I suggest you do some additional research if you decide to use homeopathic remedies for your acid reflux. Also consult your physician before you start taking these.

Acid Reflux Home Cure

Like I stated above these are the easiest forms of acid reflux remedies to follow. I listed a few above, but a couple others are stay away from fatty foods, caffeine, stress, chocolate, etc… Of all the home remedies for acid reflux I would say making a lifestyle by creating an Acid Reflux Diet provides the best bang for the buck.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to check with your physician before starting any acid reflux remedy.

If you’re like me and don’t want to spend your valuable time in front of the computer reading website after website about heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, etc… then you should consider relying on a single source of information. During my research I came across several publications that have consolidated all of the good information related to curing my heartburn and acid reflux. I highly recommend you take a look at them. For your convenience I’ve rated them myself and you can review them by click here heartburn relief.

Acid Reflux Pillow

Millions of acid reflux sufferers use a wedge pillow also known as an acid reflux pillow to help relieve their nighttime reflux pain. 

A pillow for acid reflux and positional therapy are the #1 suggested treatments to alleviate pain and problems associated with acid reflux.  By sleeping in an inclined position with a reflux wedge or pillow you’re using gravity to prevent the stomach acid from traveling back up through the esophagus. It’s dangerous to have repeatedly refluxed stomach acid sit in your esophagus while you’re asleep because it can lead to esophagitis.

Acid reflux is a chronic health condition.  Once the reflux starts it it will continue indefinitely unless you take action. While there are reflux treatments available the symptoms tend to occur often. These treatments typically require an acid reflux sufferer to endure a constant maintenance to control their acid reflux.

The human body is truly amazing because it has its own mechanisms to protect itself from the harmful effects of refluxed acids. One of those mechanisms is the saliva produced by the salivary glands found in the mouth. The liquid saliva contains bicarbonate, which when swallowed passes through the esophagus. These bicarbonates help neutralize the acids in your stomach, espophagus, and throat.

These natural ways of the body in protecting the esophagus against acid reflux are important for our survival. But the saliva generated by the salivary glands, swallowing, and gravity can only work when an reflux sufferer is upright in a standing position. When we’re sleeping in our bed at night, gravity doesn’t work in our favor.  Also, our saliva secretion is very limited and swallowing doesn’t even occur.  These are the reasons why acid reflux at night becomes more severe.  The esophagus sustains more damage because the stomach acids stay longer in your esophagus.

There are several ways to help reduce acid reflux during the night.  One of the easiest ways is to use positional therapy. This is a fancy way of saying to elevate your head and torso when your sleeping. Acid reflux pillows, which are readily available, are used to raise your body about six to eight inches. This elevated position provides the maximum effectiveness in holding back reflux. There have be many studies showing that the use of positional therapy with a reflux pillow, reflux wedge, or acid reflux bed significantly reduces acid reflux during the night. 

The Positional Therapy Pillow Co. is the manufacturer of a very good Acid Reflux Pillow called the Ultimate Adjustable Acid Reflux Pillow. Another Wedge Pillow for Acid Reflux is Medslant’s patented wedge design called the Acid Reflux Wedge Pillow. Both of these products are of very good quality and Medslant’s Acid Reflux Wedge Pillow currently has a 4-1/2 star Amazon.com rating.

If you have an Acid Reflux Baby then you should be glad to know that they have an acid reflux pillow for babies.  The wedge pillows for babies are basically a much smaller version of the reflux pillows for adults, but they’re just as affective.  As for children with acid reflux they suggest to use the positional therapy used for adults.  So a normal wedge pillow should be sufficient in helping your child sleep through the night acid reflux free.

I personally don’t use a pillow for acid reflux, but instead I raise the head of my bed with 6-inch blocks.  I tried this first because the blocks were very inexpensive compared to reflux pillows.  I suggest you try the blocks first and if that doesn’t do it then try an acid reflux pillow as well.  My heartburn ebook “The Heartburn Cure” would be an ideal suppliment in helping you conquer your heartburn, indigestion, or acid reflux.

If you’re like me and don’t want to spend your valuable time in front of the computer reading website after website about heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, etc… then you should consider relying on a single source of information. During my research I came across several publications that have consolidated all of the good information related to curing my heartburn and acid reflux. I highly recommend you take a look at them. For your convenience I’ve rated them myself and you can review them by click here heartburn relief.

Acid Reflux Medicine

Acid reflux medicine can play an important part in a reflux sufferers life.  In a normal digestive process, the partially digested food is forwarded by muscular movements from the stomach to the intestines. However, for some people, the stomach contents travel back to the esophagus from the stomach. This condition is known as acid reflux. 

Some common acid reflux treatment symptoms include heartburn, difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation, chest pains, dental erosion, hoarseness, asthma, dyspepsia, vomiting, and many others.  An acid reflux sore throat is also a very common symptom. 

If not properly treated, acid reflux can last for several months. But drug treatment can play an essential part in the treatment process of a patient.

Basically, acid reflux medicines inhibit the production or release of pepsin produced by the chief cells and hydrochloric acid produced by the parietal cells in the stomach. Other medicines may not totally inhibit the production but they neutralize the acid.

The most common acid reflux medications include the following:

Antacids as an acid reflux treatment are are used to neutralize the acids in the digestive tract and are primarily taken in for relief of mild symptoms, such as occasional episodes of indigestion and heartburn. They also act to incite the defensive mechanisms of our stomach by building up the secretion of mucous and bicarbonate. Most antacids can be bought over the counter even without a medical prescription. Moreover, these acid reflux drugs are one of the first to be recommended by professionals to lessen the pain brought about by heartburn or mild symptoms. The three basic ingredients of antacids are magnesium, calcium, and aluminum.

Another commonly used medicine for acid reflux is acid suppressants such as histamine blockers. Histamine blockers obstruct the production of stomach acids by alienating the actions of histamine. Histamine is a chemical in the body that promotes the production and secretion of acids in the stomach. Anti-histamines are available even without prescription and offer relief of symptoms in most of the patients with frequent acid reflux. Patients have to wait for 30 to 90 minutes for these drugs to provide acid reflux relief.  But their effect also lasts six to 24 hours. In cases of severe reflux symptoms, a patient may have to take two dosages a day. In some researches, histamine blockers have shown to improve asthmatic symptoms in those who endure from both acid reflux and asthma.

Proton pump inhibitors are also employed as a medication. They act to trim down the production of stomach acids by reacting with the cells found in the stomach wall which produce and release acids into the stomach. However, researches have revealed that the use of proton pump inhibitors poses some concerns. Side effects, although uncommon, include diarrhea, headache, itching, and nausea. Women with an Acid Reflux Pregnancy or breastfeeding mothers should stay away from these drugs and contact their physician if they feel the need to use them.

Another medication that is generally handled is the use of agents which protect the mucus lining in the gastrointestinal region. This kind of drug acts by attaching to an ulcer crater so that it will be guarded from damage caused by digestive acids. It is advisable for people undergoing acid reflux therapy with mild or moderate acid reflux conditions. Likewise, it has minor side effects, including constipation.  In some very severe cases an acid reflux surgery is required, but this typically occurs because the person didn’t do much in the way of acid reflux prevention.  In these cases an acid reflux doctor (gastroenterologists) would need to be consulted.

Enteryx acid reflux therapy had great potential, but was recalled because of patient injuries. Enteryx was effective in the management of acid reflux, as evidenced by the ability of acid reflux patients with a history of use of PPIs and other GERD medications to eliminate or significantly reduce use of these medications.

There is of course the herbal remedies for acid reflux that many reflux sufferers use.  I won’t get into those right now, but know that a lot of people believe in them.  You also have the acid reflux natural cure, which typically rely on a non acid reflux medication treatment as well as acid reflux foods to avoid. 

As the cliché goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, you can avoid having acid reflux or GERD by avoiding too much smoking and alcohol, and by eating less of spicy and greasy food. When taking NSAIDs, be sure you take it after meals. Lastly, avoid stress because it stimulates the release of the deadly acid.

My acid reflux cure is in the form of prevention.  I strongly believe in creating an acid reflux diet to overcome the symptoms of acid reflux. 

If acid reflux medicine is not something you want to try then I suggest taking a look at my 110-page book “The Heartburn Cure”, which contains everything you need to naturally conquer your heartburn, indigestion, or acid reflux.

If you’re like me and don’t want to spend your valuable time in front of the computer reading website after website about heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, etc… then you should consider relying on a single source of information. During my research I came across several publications that have consolidated all of the good information related to curing my heartburn and acid reflux. I highly recommend you take a look at them. For your convenience I’ve rated them myself and you can review them by click here heartburn relief.

Acid Reflux Diet

Below I’ve listed some foods that are considered to be acid reflux diet related foods. This list and the safe foods for heartburn can be used interchangeably because these foods that cure acid reflux do the same for heartburn. A reflux diet is one that tries to reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach, which is sometimes referred to as an acid reflux alkaline diet.

Even the mildest cases of Acid Reflux Symptoms can benefit from incorporating these foods into an acid reflux/heartburn diet. Remember the goal of all acid reflux sufferers is the pursuit of acid reflux relief in anyway possible, and an acid reflux diet should be the number one goal to accomplish that.

FruitsBananas, Fresh or Dried Apples, and Apple Juice
VegetablesBroccoli, Cabbage, and Carrots
MeatsLean Ground Beef, Skinless chicken breasts, and London Broil Steak
DairyFat free cream cheese, Feta or goat cheese, and Fat-free sour cream
GrainsCorn bread, Multi-grain or white bread, Bran or Oatmeal cereal, and Pretzels
BeveragesMineral water
Fats & OilsLow-fat salad dressing
SweetsRed licorice and Jelly beans

Like I stated in the heartburn foods article, this is not a complete list of foods that cure acid reflux.  While these are foods you should incorporate into your reflux diet, you should also be aware of the foods to avoid. Basically you want to avoid the type of foods that can trigger excess stomach acid. With these list of foods and others you can create some very tasty acid reflux diet recipes.

If you’re serious about creating an acid reflux diet then you should use these foods as a basis to start from. I’ll soon be writing an article listing some acid reflux diet recipes as well as an article on acid reflux natural remedies.

If you’re like me and don’t want to spend your valuable time in front of the computer reading website after website about heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, etc… then you should consider relying on a single source of information. During my research I came across several publications that have consolidated all of the good information related to curing my heartburn and acid reflux. I highly recommend you take a look at them. For your convenience I’ve rated them myself and you can review them by click here heartburn relief.

Acid Indigestion

What is Acid Indigestion?  Acid Indigestion is a term used to describe abdominal discomfort often associated with food intake.  Food that cause acid indigestion often cause a sour stomach or upset stomach.  Common acid indigestion symptoms are heartburn, feeling full, and burping.  People sometimes confuse acid indigestion with reflux, which is more commonly known as Acid Reflux.  An acid indigestion medical definition by medterms.com states it is “Excessive secretion of hydrochloric acid by the stomach cells. Medically known as Hyperchlorhydria. Sometimes used interchangeably with heartburn.”

It’s interesting to note that heartburn is an acid indigestion symptom and most of the time an upset stomach is a symptom as well. Heartburn as you may know is a burning sensation near the breastbone, which can last for as long as 2 hours.

If you occasionally have symptoms of acid indigestion then the majority of the antacids available today will provide you with the relief you need, but if you experience frequent and severe indigestion then this could be a sign of a more serious condition like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  If you do indeed have frequent heartburn or acid indigestion then I strongly suggest you see your physician.

A lot of people think of heartburn and acid indigestion as one in the same. This is not the case however as heartburn and indigestion are not the same. While the symptoms and cause of acid indigestion might be similar to those of heartburn, they are different. The treatments of both are often the same, but where things differ is that acid indigestion sometimes can cause heartburn, while indigestion can’t be caused by heartburn.

My definition of acid indigestion is simple.  Acid indigestion is that upset stomach and cramping you feel after eating something that doesn’t agree with.  Where heartburn is that burning sensation you get in your chest, which sometimes is preceded by acid indigestion.

As stated above, the most common cause of acid indigestion is related to food. Acid indigestion will typically follow a large meal, but even a small meal with a lot of spicy foods can give you an upset stomach and eventually acid indigestion. Here’s a brief list of the common causes of indigestion:

  • Eating a large meal
  • Any meal with a lot of spicy foods
  • Eating at irregular times
  • Going long periods between meals
  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Pick me up herbs and vitamins
  • Anti-inflammatory medications

A peptic ulcer can also be the cause of indigestion.  An ulcer occurs because the lining of the stomach wall becomes damaged, which becomes exposed to the heartburn acid in the stomach. Most of the time stress and anxiety are the cause of acid indigestion.

Acid indigestion is also very common in women who are pregnant. There’s not a whole lot that you can do other than keeping a close eye on the foods you eat and to wait for you baby to be born.

An acid indigestion home remedy can help some people with their indigestion relief, but do you want to know what the real acid indigestion cure is?  The acid indigestion remedy boils down to the food you eat.  You can pretty much eliminate acid indigestion/heartburn/acid reflux by simply making a change in your diet.  If you make a conscious effort to change what you eat then acid indigestion will be a thing of the past for you. 

If you’re like me and don’t want to spend your valuable time in front of the computer reading website after website about heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, etc… then you should consider relying on a single source of information. During my research I came across several publications that have consolidated all of the good information related to curing my heartburn and acid reflux. I highly recommend you take a look at them. For your convenience I’ve rated them myself and you can review them by click here heartburn relief.