What is Acid Reflux?

Most suffering from GERD have a good experience with home remedies and medication, rare occasion are involved with acid reflux treatment with surgery. Did you know that Acid reflux is one of the most common Abdominal disease? According to the American College of Gastroenterology, over 60 million people experience heartburn at least once in a month and at least 15 million suffer from it every day!

So what is this ailment? In simple terms,

Acid reflux is a condition in which acid from the stomach flows back towards the esophagus, resulting in a burning pain sensation in the chest area. It is the burning sensation in the lower chest area that characterizes as the main feature of the acid reflux.

Complications and symptoms resulting from acid reflux are the most common complaints of the patients reported in United States Hospitals.

What is GERD?

Now that you know what acid reflux is, you must have come across another term known as GERD.

GERD is a medical terminology short for “Gastro-esophageal reflux disease.” Stomach in medical terms is known as Gastro or gastric.

GERD occurs when the stomach contents frequently flow back into the esophagus or in other words when acid reflux occurs at least twice a week

To help you understand the severity of the disease, doctors label GERD as a mild form when a person experiences acid reflux once a week. It is labeled as moderate to severe when symptoms occur at least more than twice a week.

GERD is not confined to any age group and can occur in children and adults. Though both health and sick experience reflux sometimes in their lives, research shows that people with asthma have a higher risk of developing GERD.

GERD can cause a lot of problems if not treated. High stomach acid symptoms reflux can damages the epithelial lining of the esophagus resulting in pain and inflammation. GERD may lead to Gastric Cancer if not treated for a long time.

Causes of Acid Reflux:

Acid reflux disease occurs when the acidic content flows up towards the esophagus resulting in heartburn. Usually, this can not happen. It happens when one muscle fails to work.

A ring of muscles is present at the junction between the esophagus and stomach known as the gastroesophageal sphincter. It stops the acidic contents from moving upwards from the stomach. Whenever this valve fails to work, acidic content enters into the esophagus resulting in a burning pain sensation in the lower chest area. This indication is called Heart-burn and has nothing to do with the heart.

Your diaphragm muscle is another body part that stops stomach contents from coming into the esophagus. It is a thin layer that separates the chest from the stomach. Sometimes an abnormality happens. The stomach bulges from the diaphragm muscle and enters into the chest area. The Diaphragm muscle remains lower than the stomach and cannot function. Acidic contents move from the stomach into the esophagus. This common condition in medical terms is known as Hiatus Hernia.

The acid stomach contains is the Hydrochloric acid. It is a strong acid that helps to break down food and also protects against harmful pathogens like bacteria and viruses.

The epithelial lining of the stomach is specially adapted to protect it from this powerful acid which may cause ulcers on other parts of the body, This epithelial lining os the esophagus is not, so whenever acidic content moves into the esophagus, it causes erosion of the esophageal walls.

Some people are more prone to acid reflux than others. The factors that put certain people at more risk of acid reflux include the following,

Risk Factors:

Eating large amounts of meals or lying down immediately after having a large meal

Obesity or Overweight

Irregular meal times such as having fast food in between the normal meal times.

Eating the types of food that cause acidity by increasing acid secretion in the stomach. Chocolates, onions, and spicy food can increase acid secretion

Excessive alcohol and tea consumption

Smokers have more risk than non-smokers

During pregnancy

Some drugs may cause acid reflux such as aspirin and ibuprofen

Diet and GERD:

In some people, there are certain types of food to avoid which aggravate the symptoms of GERD.

Common Dietary Foods Which Increase The Symptoms Include:

Spicy Foods

Chocolate

High Fatty Foods

Citrus Foods (like lemon, Orange)

Pineapple

Tomato

Onions

Garlic

Peppermint

Alcohols

Coffee

Tea

Soda

and Other Alcohol containing Beverages

Symptoms of Acid Reflux:

A Common symptom of acid reflux is heartburn. It is a condition of burning sensation which occurs in the esophagus and feels at the lower chest area. The word heartburn has nothing to do with the heart.)

It becomes worse whenever the person lies down or bends on any side. This burning sensation may last for a few hours and commonly occurs after eating or drinking.

The heartburn pain may also spread towards the neck and throat. In some of the cases, acidic fluid of the stomach may move towards the back of the throat resulting in bitter or sour taste.

Whenever heartburn lasts for a few weeks, it is known as GERD. Other symptoms which appear along with heartburn include,

Other Symptoms of GERD include:

Difficulty in Swallowing

Breathing problems such as Chronic Cough, Asthma

Bloating

Bloody Vomiting

Blacken Stools

Hiccuping (repeating in seconds)

Weight Loss

Erosion of Teeth

Bad Breathing (halitosis)

Acid Reflux Treatment Advisory:

The treatment advised by the doctor may include the following,

Medical Acid Reflux Treatment

Most commonly Proton Pump Inhibitors are prescribed such as Omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole

H2 receptor Blockers such as Cimetidine, and Fomatidine

Over the counter treatments sometimes antacids are used such as Calcium carbonate.

Sometimes Alginate drugs are used such as Gaviscon.

Acid Reflux Treatment of people who have GERD is either Proton Pump Inhibitors like Omeprazole, Esmoprazole, or Histamine 2 receptor blockers like Cimetidine and famotidine.

Both Proton Pump Inhibitors and H2 blockers decrease the production of acid in the stomach, therefore, reducing the potential for causing damage to the esophagus.

Although these are the safest acid reflux medications and effective, but in some cases, these are not appropriate for acid reflux disease due to their side effects.

For instance, they can cause problems in absorbing nutrients that may lead to malnutrition syndrome.

Home Remedies For GERD:

There are a lot of home remedies that may help in preventing or reducing symptoms of GERD and also several changes in lifestyles may also reduce or relieve the symptoms of the GERD. Natural acid reflux remedies has been proved to be efficient for a long run .

A few lifestyle changes help to reduce the symptoms of GERD:

Quit Smoking

Lose Weight

Meal Prep for acid reflux – Best breakfast meals

Chew gum after a meal

Avoid lying down immediately having a meal

Avoid Food and Drinks which increase the severity of heartburn

avoid wearing a tight dress

Practice relaxation techniques like Yoga

Prescription Drugs for Acid Reflux

Prescription is required when heartburn occurs more than twice a week. Medicines that best respond at this stage for heartburn are prescribed on a daily basis rather when the person feels the heartburn.

Most people at this stage do not have to take medicine daily for a long time; it becomes normal in a few days.

Histamine-2 (H2) Blockers:

H2 blocker prescription relieves MILD heartburn and helps to treat acid reflux, especially if never taken before.

Histamine in H2 blockers stimulates acid production, particularly after taking a meal. So the patient is advised to take H2 blockers 30 minutes before meals. They are sometimes prescribed at bedtime to suppress nighttime acid production.

Most Common H2 blockers prescribed include:

Cimetidine

Famotidine

Nizatidine

You should know the side effects of these drugs because in some conditions these are contraindicated.

Proton Pump Inhibitors(PPI):

Prescription of proton pump inhibitors depends on the cause of acid reflux. PPIs are prescribed to block acid production more effectively and for a longer period of time than that of H2 blockers.

Some common Proton Pump Inhibitors:

Omeprazole

Esomeprazole

Dexlansoprazole

Pregnancy and GERD

Pregnancy can increase the risk of acid reflux. In case you have GERD, symptoms may become worse after you become pregnant.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause the relaxation of esophageal muscles. Due to growing fetuses, the stomach pushes upwards. Altogether this increases the risk of pushing the acidic contents of the stomach back into the esophagus.

To minimize heartburn during GERD, pregnant women should have frequent small meals. Medicines advised by the doctor (such as omeprazole) are safe during pregnancy. Make sure you do not take this medication without the prescription of a Gynecologist.

Drinking Alcohol and GERD

Some drinks worsen the symptoms of GERD. When someone drinks alcohol or alcoholic beverages frequently, their chance of having acid reflux increases.

Depending on the lifestyle changes you prefer, a low to moderate intake of alcoholic along with medication (such as a proton pump inhibitor) may stop the trouble of heartburn. Please know that you cannot take the medication with alcohol, before or after it as it can cause serious side effects.

What Can I drink For Acid Reflux?

There are many other drinks you can have to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux treatment. Although these are not a part of treatment but help to reduce the heartburn.

These drinks include:

Herbal Tea (Green Tea)

Low Fat Milk

Plant-based Milk

Fruit Juices

Smoothies

Pure Drinking Water

Coconut Water

Does Milk Help Acid Reflux?

Milk helps relieve heartburn as it acts as an antacid. You should; however, keep in mind that it comes in different varieties. Whole milk contains fats whereas, other milk varieties such as low fat to skimmed contain little to no fat.

Whole milk contains fat that can increase the symptoms of acid reflux instead of reducing it. Milk without fat helps to reduce heartburn and acts as an antacid.

If you feel heartburn at any time of the day, have a glass of plain cold skimmed milk without any additives or sugar.