Acid Reflux Explained

What is GERD?  It is now quite common to hear the terms acid reflux or GERD.   It is very likely that you or someone you know suffers from Gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD or acid reflux. But what exactly is it?  I found this great article that gives an excellent overview.

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It sounds like some horrible disease from ancient times, but it is actually more common than you would think. The result of a weakened muscle in the lower esophagus, Gerd occurs more frequently at night. This is due to the heavier meals we eat in the evening and going to bed on a full stomach.  GERD diets are a necessity.

When the muscle in the esophagus gets weak, it allows acid from the stomach to creep into the esophagus. This is what causes the pain and discomfort of Gerd. This problem can become so bad that liquid from the stomach can actually enter the breathing tubes. When this happens, the symptoms may be a deep cough, hoarseness and you may even have difficulties breathing.

Many people have often felt as though they were having a heart attack because the pain was so intense. This is when it is time to find a solution to Gerd to stop making your life miserable. One of the main culprits is the food you consume on a daily basis. In order to reduce the incidence of Gerd, you should take a look at the following foods that are known to contribute to this problem.

* Fried foods
* Milk
* Citrus/especially juices
* Chocolate
* Tea or coffee
* Oils
* Fast foods
* Candy
* Butter
* Creamed foods

This is just a partial list of the many food and drinks found to cause the onset of Gerd or worsen it once you are already experiencing problems. The best way to find out what foods trigger your attacks is by trial and error. This is not pleasant, but it is basically the only way to know for sure.

Rather than the foods you are eating, try some of these as a substitute and you may find they help to reduce the times when you experience the symptoms of Gerd.

GERD diets consisting of eating lean meat, turkey, fish and chicken are easier on the stomach. The use of bread made with lower fat content can help. Try not to use oils at all. Fried foods are going to worsen rather than help Gerd sufferers. If you must eat desserts, try to eat ones that have low or no fat.

Soups that are either low or no fat versus the regular soup will make a change. Yogurt is a good choice and if you are going to drink milk, it should be skim or at least 1 or 2% milk. When it comes to fruit, bananas, berries, apples, melons and pears are a good choice.

The way you eat can be a contributing factor as well. Instead of eating large meals, try eating smaller meals several times a day. This allows time to digest the food and move it out of the stomach. Instead of a big meal sitting there with acid churning, it will have already gone.

There are other factors that will contribute to Gerd, such as wearing clothing that is restrictive. Being overweight is another. Even bending over after you eat can cause an onset of Gerd. However, the main way you will control this problem is by following GERD diets, watching the foods you eat and learning which ones cause problem for you.

Some people do not realize the spitting up babies are famous for is actually a form of infant acid reflux. Just the common conception that babies usually spit up after being fed is looked upon as a normal thing. In fact, they may actually have acid reflux. This is a normal problem for many babies from birth to about three months. There are a few things to look for when trying to determine if this is the case with your baby.

Signs of Infant Acid Reflux

Do they spit up numerous times? Do they seem irritable after eating or during feedings? If they are not eating well this may be another sign of acid reflux. This may happen other times rather than just at feeding time. They may spit up when they cry or cough. Normally the problem will go away by the time the baby reaches a year old.

*For more information on Acid Reflux In Infants And Children, CLICK HERE*

Sometimes spitting up is just a result of eating too much and too fast. Babies sometimes gulp their bottles and this can cause air bubbles to become trapped in the esophagus. When this happens the air bubbles can push the milk up and out and drown you and him in spit up. This can be cured by feeding him smaller amounts before burping him. Another way of preventing spitting up is to hold the baby in a different position when he is eating.

When It Is More Serious

If you are concerned with the baby’s weight gain or if he does not want to eat, this would be the time to take the baby in for a check-up. If he is spitting up excessively or projectile, this is another concern. If the baby spits up fluid that is either brown or green you should contact your doctor. Naturally, having difficulty breathing, fever or diarrhea are symptoms that should be checked by your physician.

These symptoms may be indicative of a condition called GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is a little more serious than normal reflux and can result in the baby not gaining weight, being irritable due to pain and constant spitting up. When an infant is born, the muscle that is supposed to stay closed unless you are swallowing is not fully developed. It may not stay closed and the contents of the stomach come up into the esophagus. This can cause spitting up. When the muscle matures, this should stop.

Another problem that can occur is called pyloric stenosis. When this happens the valve that allows the stomach contents to empty into the small intestine does not function correctly. Since regular acid reflux does not keep your baby from growing normally, if you see signs to the contrary, it is time to seek medical help. This is a very good indication that the problem is something more serious than infant acid reflux.

No one knows your baby better than you do so if something seems out of the ordinary, this is when medical attention should be sought. The healthy baby will spit up and be irritable occasionally, but when you notice other symptoms that are not in the range of being normal, your best bet is to schedule an appointment with his doctor. The sooner he receives treatment, the happier he will be. On rare occasions, the problem may require medication or an alternative treatment. Either way, it is better to be on the safe side.

*For additional information on Acid Reflux In Infants And Children, CLICK HERE*

Acid reflex is the most common typo for acid reflux.   Synonyms include baby reflux, infant acid reflex, and baby acid reflex.

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If you haven’t suffered with it, chances are someone close to you has experienced Acid Reflux GERD.  Frequently known as heartburn, this is a condition in which the acid in the stomach backs up into the esophagus.  This can cause temporary discomfort, easily relieved for some all the way up to extreme pain and can cause esophagitis (damage to the throat).  So, how do you know if this is what you are suffering with, and what can you do to relieve symptoms of acid reflux GERD? (more…)

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Acid Reflux, also known as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is a very common ailment, afflicting millions of people all over the world. While there is no consensus on exactly what causes acid reflux disease symptoms or what is the best remedy for acid reflux, everyone can agree on one thing- it is an extremely unpleasant condition to have.

The symptoms of acid reflux include a pain in the center of the esophagus (the familiar symptoms of “heartburn”) and in some cases, difficulty swallowing. These symptoms of acid reflux tend to be worse at night, especially after a heavy evening meal. Acid reflux is not an especially serious disease, but it is certainly one that no one wants to have.

If you only suffer from the symptoms of acid reflux once in a great while, this is probably not serious – everyone has a touch of heartburn from time to time. When people talk about acid reflux disease, they generally mean cases where the symptoms of acid reflux recur often, usually being quite severe. An occasional bout of heartburn, however, is probably nothing to get too worried about.

If you suffer from the symptoms of acid reflux disease, then you know how painful and irritating it can be. Thankfully, there are some things which you can do to stop acid reflux now and make your acid reflux episodes less frequent.

One of these ways to lessen the symptoms of acid reflux is to avoid foods which tend to trigger symptoms. These foods differ from person to person, but the most common ones are acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits and so on. Other common triggers are fried foods, alcoholic beverages and coffee. The best way to determine which foods are giving you trouble is to keep a  “food diary” and track what you ate and when you had symptoms of acid reflux. If a particular food causes acid reflux episodes repeatedly, you’ll want to eliminate it from your diet. By simply avoiding the foods which are triggering your symptoms of acid reflux, you’ll avoid suffering from this problem less often.

Your posture also plays a role in acid reflux. If you tend to recline after eating, this makes it much easier for stomach acid to work its way into the esophagus (this is what is responsible for heartburn). Remember what your parents always told you and make an effort to stand up and sit straighter.

You can also prevent some acid reflux episodes by simply taking a walk after your meals – this stimulates digestion and allows you some time where your esophagus is not in a good position for the symptoms of acid reflux to appear.

By following these simple tips and adopting healthy lifestyle habits like a good diet and regular exercise, you’ll be able to avoid suffering the symptoms of acid reflux as often – and of course, you’ll enjoy better health overall, which is never a bad thing.

Find out how an acid reflux sufferer, fed up from repeated debiliting bouts of acid reflux, stood up to the uncaring drug companies and discovered guaranteed relief in the most surprising place.