What Is An Acid Reflux?

GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or commonly known as acid reflux, is a chronic condition wherein the esophagus gets inflamed and irritated due to the stomach’s acidic contents that backflow towards the esophagus passing from the lower esophageal sphincter. 

Acid reflux is more common among adults, yet, children as well as infants, can be likewise affected.  The specific cause or causes of an acid reflux is not yet really known, however, some things prove themselves to be relevant of acid reflux occurrence.  These factors are lifestyle, medications, diet, eating habits, medical conditions, pregnancy, or lying down immediately after a meal.  Any of these can stimulate acid reflux.

A person’s lifestyle is a contributing factor to this disease in a way like being an alcoholic or a smoker.  Too much intake of caffeine and nicotine is harmful.  Obesity and slouching or poor posture is another.  You may think some of this sound irrelevant, but the fact remains that in one way or another, these affect acid reflux condition.  Theophylline medications such as Tedral, Marax, Hydrophed, Quibron, and Bronchial are among some medications that can cause acid reflux.  With these include another types like the calcium channel blocker, antihistamines and nitrates.   

Fatty, spicy, fried and greasy foods are to be avoided if you do not want an acid reflux incident.  Chocolates and onions too are not apt for that acidic stomach.  Other foods are tomatoes and those with mint flavorings, caffeine-rich drinks and acidic fruits like those juicy citrus.  A simple activity as eating can lead to GERD as well if one is not too careful, especially to those who had been experiencing minor symptoms of the disease.  Eating large amount of meals and food ingestions right before bedtime is definitely not advisable.  Also, some medical conditions are among the disease’s contributing factors, and these are pregnancy, obesity, hiatal hernia and diabetes.

The most obvious symptom of one having an acid reflux is heartburn.  Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest area, particularly at the back of the breastbone.  Usually, the burning pain starts at the upper portion of the abdomen, and then spreads towards the neck area.  It can last up to two hours and generally becomes worse right after eating.

Following heartburn, other reported symptoms are regurgitation, bitterness within the mouth, hoarseness, wheezing, dry cough, and throat tightness as if some chunk of food is entrap.  In cases of young children, symptoms include some respiratory problem, coughing and vomiting.

An occasional heartburn does not altogether mean one has GERD.  The risk arises when heartburn sensation is persistent enough to happen several times in a week.  This can possibly be a GERD and a visit to a doctor may be needed.

Meanwhile, variations of treatments are now accessible to minimize, if not eliminate, symptoms and causes of GERD.  To start with, eating right and healthy is the basic course of treatment.  If natural methods do not prove to be effective, medical treatments may be imposed.  For more serious cases, a surgery is recommended. 

To ensure your health, consult a medical professional.  Do not attempt to put matters into your own hands.  No matter how uncomplicated the symptoms may appear, remember that severe cases start at a facile stage.  Never take things, particularly your health, for granted.