Heal Your Heartburn with an Acid Reflux Diet

This is an article I received on acid reflux diets.

Acid Reflux, another term for heartburn, is a disease which is created by a simple imbalance of chemical make-up in the body--the attack of acid reflux in the esophagus when it is supposed to be in the stomach only.

The fact that Acid Reflux, the acid indigestion, affects not just adults but also infants and children, make it essential for everyone to be aware of its symptoms and how it can be prevented.

Since the Acid Reflux is triggered by various foods like chocolate, citrus fruits, spicy foods, including fried and fatty foods. Together with the time of day the foods are eaten and over eating which causes excessive weight. Therefore, the key to avoid the heartburning uneasiness brought by the Acid reflux also lies on the foods—a manage diet.

Truth in studies show that a specific food can head out acid reflux, so it is vital that everyone must take a careful observation of their eating habits.

Nevertheless, any person who is suffering from Acid Reflux needs a diet that would suit to treat the illness, the foods that should be taken and those which should not be.

Now, you might be wondering what could be the best diet to observe to avoid acid reflux, the heartburn-free recipes that are fitted to an Acid Reflux diet.

It was distinguished that drinking milk can be a speedy cure to alleviate acid reflux trouble. Although, milk produces an action and encourages discharge of more stomach acid, causing then acid reflux.

So, people affected by heartburn should follow a diet wherein they eat a small meal during dinner and follow it up with a small snack before they go to sleep, crackers for instance.

Likewise, they should make sure that they their meal are rich in complex carbohydrates. This includes breads, rice and pasta; this fixes the excessive acid in the stomach, hence, giving it an easy feeling.

Chew your foods well, do not rush on eating, 20 minutes for each meal will do. Extract all the nourishment that you can get in your food.

Along with the diet, it is also advisable to keep yourself in a straight position during and after eating, for least 45 minutes.

Remove from your diet high-fat foods, this will tend to stay in the stomach longer, with this, the stomach will be forced to produce more acids for digestion.

In addition, avoid eating large meals; this will also stimulate the stomach to produce more acids to digest them.

One the medical specialists’ recommendations is to add more plant protein in your diet, like beans and lentils, in this process the animal protein that you have taken will be replaced.

Also, try to observe in your diet the time you spend for eating, the amount of your meal, your relaxation when you eat, and how thorough you chew your food. It is advisable that you take several small meals in a day, than you take large meals regularly, for instance six small meals a day will do than having three large ones. The procedure is simply breaking up the meal.

If you want additional information regarding proper diet to battle Acid Reflux, you can visit a nutrition-oriented health care practitioner like a dietician, naturopathic physician, or nutritionist. They can give you accurate dietary schemes that will fit your private health needs and objectives. for more infomation on acid reflux you can visit my site at http://www.acidrefluxhealthcheck.com/

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Heartburn during pregnancy

Many women tend to experience heartburn symptoms when they are still carrying their babies. heartburn during pregnancy happens for several reasons.

One of these is that the placenta produces the hormone progesterone which relaxes the muscles of the valve which seperates the stomach from the esophagus. this valve is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and normally stays firmly closed only allowing food to pass while you are eating. When the LES relaxes it allows stomach acid and food to reflux back to the esophagus and throat causing heartburn the acid reflux symptom.

One more reason of experiencing heartburn during pregnancy is because the changes in the body and the development of the baby creates more pressure in the women’s stomach. This also allows stomach acid and contents to be forced passed the LES, and into the esophagus.

However, there are several lifestyle changes that a pregnant woman can do to lessen the discomfort and alleviate the heartburn symptoms. The following are good tips which help when treating acid reflux disease, and can be used when pregnant although they may not remove the heartburn totally:

• Avoid the food that triggers heartburn. Examples of this are chocolates, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, mustard, tomatoes and tomato based products, fatty foods, fried foods, and highly seasoned dishes. Try to refer to medical specialists to know the complete list of foods to avoid Acid Reflux. Also, for foods that you may take which contains little danger of causing heartburn.

• stop taking drinks that aggrivate acid reflux symptoms such as tea, coffee, and soda. the caffine in these drinks can inflame the stomach lining and too much can also cause the LES to relax and let the acid reflux back into the esophagus.

• Stay away from alcohol beverages. This, like caffeine tends to relax the LES thus, creating the same effect—triggering heartburn.

• Avoid eating large meals. It is suggested that taking numerous small meals throughout the day will be better.

• Avoid rush in eating your meals. Chewing food thoroughly will really help in avoidance of heartburn, so better take your time in eating.

• Rest for at least three hours after having your last meal before taking your sleep.

• A pregnant woman is advised to take more glasses of water a day, at least 8 to 10 glasses, though this must be taken not just during meals. Through this, the stomach will expand, and then the LES will be given more pressure, obliging it to open inappropriately. Hence, it is really recommended to drink more water and other fluids in between meals.

• When sleeping elevate the head of the bed for at least six to eight inches. Try to sleep with an elevated head and shoulders through a wedge pillow. Through this, the gravity will work as much that it will keep the acids in your stomach in their place—in the stomach, not in the esophagus. Try to consult physicians to gain additional knowledge on how to relieve nighttime heartburn.

• Don’t wear tight fitting clothes. Tightness around the waist and stomach will trigger heartburn as it causes uneasiness.

• When bending, do it at the knees, not at the waist. This will avoid in creating too much pressure in the stomach.

• Don’t slouch; rather sit erect in a relaxing chair.

• Maintain a sensible amount of weight, too much weight and fatness will give more stress in your stomach. As a result, this will force stomach contents throughout the LES and to the esophagus. Stay with your doctors guidelines.

• Avoid smoking. Doctors stated that smoking could cause several effects to a pregnant woman, much that it can add to the possibility of experiencing heartburn.

Some lifestyle changes may be needed. for further information on lifestyle changes click here.

Acid Reflux Addressed

Below is an acid reflux article I received.

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the medical term for “Acid Reflux” is defined as a condition in which food or liquid travels backwards from the stomach to the esophagus, it can create damage to the esophagus and is a chronic condition.

This disease strikes adult primarily, while infants and children can also be affected. It is normally brought on by eating certain foods, it can be on effect of pregnancy, and is also affected by taking a sleep right after eating a heavy meal. A large number of persons suffer from acid reflux at one time or another.

Heartburn or acid indigestion is another name that refers to acid reflux. Heartburn, is the major symptom of Acid Reflux in the esophagus, and is described as causing a burning uneasiness at the back of the sternum.

Acid reflux symptoms may include coughing, voice transformation, hoarseness, constant ear ache, or sinusitis. The complications brought upon by acid reflux may lead to esophageal ulcers or worse this can lead to esophageal cancer.

However, constant heartburn sensations do not necessarily mean that one has captured GERD already. The risk occurs when heartburn happened more than once a week. Heartburn symptoms more than once a week can possibly be a major contributor in developing GERD.

The usual cause of GERD is the increase in acidity or gastric acid production in the body, obesity, pregnancy, or tight-fitting apparels, these all can add to the problem. Yeast infections are also thought to be one of the causes that give GERD symptoms.

Another paradoxical cause of GERD symptoms is not enough stomach acid (hypochlorhydria). The valve that empties the stomach into the intestines is triggered by acidity. If there is not enough acid, this valve does not open and the stomach contents are churned up into the esophagus. There is still enough stomach acid to cause irritation to the esophagus which results in heartburn.

Meanwhile, there are already several treatments for GERD today, one of which is to have a balanced and healthy eating plan. And if proper diet fails to work, one can shift to medication therapy or surgery depending on your doctor’s suggestions. Below is a list of several different ways for Acid Reflux treatment:

• Proper Diet: One natural way to cure Acid Reflux is through change in eating habits. A good number of people affected by GERD found success in following an Acid Reflux Diet. By avoiding foods which can intensify heartburn such as caffeine, soft drinks, and tomatoes etc. Avoid eating two hours before sleeping; likewise, avoid lying down after taking meal. Stop smoking. These are some of the regular suggested changes in lifestyle which can prevent Acid Reflux Symptoms.

• Another easy way to treat GERD is to elevate the head of the bed. These holistic type therapies, the combination of prevention of food two hours before sleeping and the raising of the head of the bed, have a great chance for a patient to gain a 95 percent acid reflux relief. The raising of the head of the bed is suggested to be in the range of 6 to 8 inches or 20 cm.Using this method the backflow of gastric fluids will be hampered.

• Drug Treatment: Drugs reduce the secretion of gastric acid. Such drugs like famotidine and omeprazole inhibit stomach acid production and Antacids counteract and neutralize the stomach acid.

• Surgical treatment: Nissen fundoplication, is the standard surgical treatment for Acid Reflux, it is used usually when acid reflux medication has failed. First carried out in 1951 by a surgeon called Rudolph Nissen and hence bears his name. The function of this operation is to tighten the lower esophageal sphincter, the spherical bond of muscles that opens and closes to let food pass into the stomach, as well as stop Acid Reflux symptoms into the esophagus. This procedure is also to repair any hiatal hernias which are one problem that can cause heartburn.

Acid reflux medication- My holiday changes

Hi,

It’s awhile since I have posted because I have been away in the UK for a couple of weeks and have not been near a computer. I went, knowing that I would be eating and drinking quite a bit so I did not mess about with my acid reflux medication. I just doubled the dose back to the 20 mg of Omeprazole that I used to be on before my doctors cut it to 10mg and I must say I never had any problems with acid reflux. I did not have a sniff of heartburn the whole time I was away and I ate and drank what I wanted. I wish I could return to the happy days of ignorance when I did not know that taking the acid reflux medication can be bad for you long term.

Since returning to Cyprus I have reverted back to only taking the medication when I know in advance that I am going to upset my stomach with the wrong food or drink and of course I revert to the usual lifestyle changes that are required to keep acid reflux at bay. Of course this does not work all of the time and I often get heartburn with things like cereal and bread so I just take normal antacids on those occasions or if I want an instant cure I take bicarbonate of soda in some water. This seems to neutralize the acid immediately but it does not last too long and I have never looked at the side effects you can get by taking too much bicarbonate of soda. So if anyone out there knows of any problems with taking it I would appreciate hearing from you.

I also practice positional therapy when in bed by raising my head and torso to stop acid rising into the esophagus but wish I had the luxury of an electrical adjustable bed which is a lot easier to use and much more comfortable.

Links between Inflammatory bowel disease and acid reflux.

Two digestive problems are among the fastest growing medical problems in the western world.

Acid reflux disease (GERD) of which I suffer and Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are both very debilitating and have a great impact on your day to day lifestyle.

The way we live has a lot to do with both of these diseases and lifestyle changes are needed to combat both.

While acid reflux disease attacks the upper GI tract mainly the esophagus inflammatory bowel disease is a condition that affects the large intestine but can also be found in the small intestine.

Crohn’s disease is the main form of Crohn’s disease and in a lot of cases requires surgery to remove part of the gut. In some cases parts of the intestine have to be removed again and again.

Although there are no studies to link IBD directly to acid reflux disease many people who suffer from one also suffer from the other. Statistics have shown that someone who suffers from IBD is more likely to have upper GI problems like GERD. It stands to reason that someone suffering from one type of digestive problem can mean the rest of the digestive system may not be functioning correctly.

When we eat or drink our bodies release digestive juices into the stomach and the small intestine reabsorbs this liquid. But in the case of Crohn’s disease sufferers if part of the intestine has been removed they are in danger of becoming fatally dehydrated whenever they eat or drink and have to have fluid pumped into the bloodstream through a catheter. While in the case of acid reflux disease because the acid is not absorbed it is more likely that reflux will occur causing severe heartburn and damage to the esophagus.

Both problems can be controlled to some extent and if someone has both problems a special diet for Crohn’s disease can usually be just as beneficial for there acid reflux.

I have written more information about this on my article Links between Inflammatory bowel disease and acid reflux.

Lifestyle changes for acid reflux

If you suffer from acid reflux disease there are a few basic lifestyle changes you can make to alleviate heartburn symptoms.

Probably your diet will have a lot to do with how much stomach acid you produce. There are certain foods like peppermint chocolate, tomatoes which will give you problems. Acidic foods like pineapple, ad oranges are another problem. Also on the list of do nots are alcohol, coffee and fatty foods.

Foods you can eat include most vegetables and I find I never have problems with potatoes especially jacket potatoes.

But changing your diet is only part of what you do. You should also not eat large meals. Try to cut down on the size of the meals but eat more often if you are still hungry. Also chew your food. The digestion starts in the mouth so the more you chew your food the better. Also the saliva in your mouth will start to break down the food even before it reaches your stomach.

Other things to do include not lying down after a meal especially at night before going to bed. At bedtime you should eat at least 2 to 3 hours before lying down as acid reflux is at it most potent when you are asleep and unable to clear the acid from your esophagus.

Another thing to do at night is to elevate your head and torso. There are a number of ways to achieve this. You could prop up the end of your bed, but there are better ways. Wedge pillows are specially designed to help you sleep at the correct incline. Bed wedges can be placed under your mattress and inflated or deflated as desired. There is of course the electrical adjustable bed which can be also be raised and lowered as you desire. Because you spend quite a lot of your life in bed this may be a great option not only for acid reflux but for your comfort in general.

Other lifestyle changes include loosing weight which will reduce pressure on the stomach. Wear loose fitting clothing will also do the same thing. Smoking is another problem which helps promote acid reflux.

If you suspect that you are suffering from acid reflux you should always see your doctor for advice and tests. He will probably put you on a course of medication to alleviate your severe heartburn symptoms but you can still help yourself with lifestyle changes.

A week in the life of an acid reflux sufferer

I’ve been having a really hectic week and have been using a combination of acid reflux medication and more natural cures all week to try and curb my acid reflux.

My week started with a fishing trip on a boat. I did not take any medication for this but also did not eat any food that sets off my heartburn before the trip.

Next day (Saturday) was a football and rugby world cup semi final day so I had my Proton pump inhibitor that morning because I knew I would be spending the day in the pub.

Sunday was spent out on my friend’s boat so no medication was required but again I ate only food that I know does not set off my acid reflux. Avoiding fatty foods, caffeine, and the other usual suspects meant a good day was had without any sign of reflux. Of course the acid reflux medication taken the day before was still probably working as well.

Monday was spent with friends who where going home to the UK so medication was required.

Tuesday was a shopping trip to Ikea in Nicosia, no medication required.

Wednesday saw more friends departing to the UK, medication required.

Thursday was a party at our friends who live only a couple of doors from us, this needed lots of drugs to combat the heartburn.

Friday was a quiet day which gave us a chance to return to my normal acid reflux diet and no medication.

Saturday afternoon was spent with friends returning to Saudi Arabia and the evening was the rugby world final another big day and I had to take my Proton Pump Inhibitor.

Sunday we went on a bus trip to Nicosia race course. I was not sure about this on as we were on a coach without a toilet and no stops so the beer had to be curbed. I decided not to take anything and just watch what I ate. This turned out ok and I did not have any acid reflux symptoms.

Today we seem to be free from holiday makers and so I can get back to my diet in earnest.

But by planning ahead I have been able to only take the acid reflux medication on the days I really need it and then switch to my acid reflux diet on other days. It is much better and safer that taking conventional medication every day.

Acid reflux and holidays do not mix

The last few weeks have been very busy here in Cyprus and not very good for my acid reflux. There have been plenty of friends out on holiday so again much eating and drinking.

One friend has just received a container of household goods from the UK and we have been working on that. Of course every 10 minutes a beer is required to quench the thirst an it really has not been good and bouts of heartburn have been regular occurrences.

We have also helped the same friend put his new boat in the water and again every time we have gone onboard it had to include a good amount of beer. I really will be glad when all the holiday makers go home although I could try to say no to the beer (maybe not). Just have to take more acid reflux medication.

Not only is the reflux bad but my diet is also suffering and it seems I am putting on weight again. Gaining weight also does not help the acid reflux or health in general, so the vicious circle starts again.

Hopefully everything will be back to normal soon and we can get back on track and try some more natural cures for acid reflux. That is until Christmas which can be one of the most stressful periods for acid reflux sufferers. But that’s another story.

I must find a different cure for acid reflux

Things here in Cyprus are slowing down after the influx of tourists for the summer holidays and it should be better for us poor sufferers with acid reflux disease. But with the weather cooling down slightly the opposite is happening. A lot more friends seem to visit just after the summer and also lots of our friends who have been back in the UK to avoid the very hot summers out here are returning. What has this got to do with acid reflux you might ask, and the answer is that we seem to be doing a lot more entertaining, eating and drinking at the moment. This puts a lot of pressure on my trying to loose weight, and eating foods which do not give heartburn, also of course there is a lot more drinking to be done. If I am not careful the acid reflux will return with a vengeance.

The other problem is the sport. The football season has started and I have to go down the pub to watch my team ( Newcastle). Then there is the rugby union world cup, the European football qualifier games, a must drink situation also down the pub. Then there is also the cricket 20/20 at the moment. All have to be watched and celebrated down the pub. I can tell you it takes its toll.

To get over all this revelry I have to cut down on the amounts of food I take and up my doses of acid reflux medication just to survive.

Roll on the end of the football season when I can have a rest. Although that’s when the summer tourists start to arrive and it all starts again.

Must find a different cure for acid reflux.

Acid reflux- Things which work to bring heartburn relief

More than ever we see advertisements and information that tell us about the effect of acid reflux, the damage it can cause and the complications that can occur which may lead to cancer of the esophagus. Are these claims exaggerated and scaremongering or are they true. The problem is that there are so many causes of acid reflux disease (GERD) and the treatments you can use are also wide and varied. There have been many tests on the long term effects of heartburn and they also are not conclusive and many of the results disagree with each other.

The main symptom of Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is heartburn. It can be excruciatingly painful as the acid burns the lining of the esophagus or it can be just mildly discomforting, a burning sensation in the chest. It can also feel like pressure right through the chest and into the back and can be mistaken for a heart attack.

Acid reflux usually occurs due to a weakening of the Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) a ring of muscle between the stomach and the esophagus which is supposed to stop stomach contents from re-entering the esophagus. Another cause can be if the LES muscles relax at the wrong time allowing reflux. The result being that acid from the stomach can enter the esophagus. The lining of the esophagus has no protection from this and will literally burn. When this happens often the lining becomes scarred and can lead to further problems if not kept in check. So what can be done to prevent this?

Acid reflux medication

The main way we fight acid reflux is through acid reflux medication. You can buy antacids over the counter Rolaids tums and Maalox are but a few you can choose from. They work by neutralising the acid in the stomach. The problem with them is that there effect only lasts about one hour and you need to take more if the acid persists. This is ok if you only have mild bouts of heartburn occasionally. However people with GERD have heartburn regularly and need something stronger.

The next type of tablet you can take are called h2 antagonist receptors. Histamine is a chemical which stimulates the production of acid in the stomach. The histamine attaches to receptors on the stomach lining which stimulates the acid producing cells into secreting acid. H2 antagonists block the receptors and are very effective in stopping acid production but not for healing the inflammation of the esophagus. They last for up to 12 hours and are best taken about 20 minutes before a meal. Some to choose from are Zantac, Tagamet, and Pepcid.

The newest and strongest drug specifically designed for digestive problems are called Proton Pump Inhibitors PPI,s. These drugs are prescription drugs and are usually given by your doctor when you have been diagnosed as having GERD. PPI,s work by blocking the production of Gastrin a hormone produced in the stomach that also stimulates the cells of the stomach lining to produce acid. They are very effective and will stop stomach acid production from 24 hours and over. They are also very effective in healing the inflammation of the esophagus causes by reflux.

If you do not want conventional medication there are many natural cures for acid reflux available and coupled with lifestyle changes can be very effective in combating GERD on a daily basis.

Natural treatment for acid reflux

Almost everyone diagnosed with acid reflux disease takes the easiest solution which is either over the counter antacids or medicine prescribed by there doctor. Although these methods are very good for a while, they do bring problems and may be not the long term solution you should be after.

Another way is using natural cures for acid reflux. They are not as easy as just popping a pill and take more effort but in the long term they can have better results at healing the cause of acid reflux and not just treating the symptoms.

Herbal remedies for acid reflux have been around for a long time but also a change in what you eat and the way you eat it can also be very effective.

• First supplement your diet with a lot of alkaline foods. Soft foods such as eggs, soft vegetables and fruits, whole grain breads (with no nuts or seeds), breakfast bars made from whole grain, rice, potatoes, soy milk and a whole lot more are good.
• Things to avoid are carbonated drinks, alcohol, chocolate, peppermint, coffee, spicy foods, fried foods, tomatoes and tomato based sauces and citrus fruits.
• You should eat small amounts every two to three hours as opposed to three large meals a day which produces more acid and is harder to digest.
• Drink plenty of water between meals which helps dilute any acid produced.
• One drink that naturally soothes and heals any inflamed tissue is Aloe Vera. About 40 to 60 mg a day taken first thing in the morning is very beneficial.
• Another natural healing agent is honey. Take a spoonful before meals in the beginning and then take a tablespoon when you feel heartburn symptoms returning.
• Liquorice root is very good for the stomach and can be taken as a tea or in a tablet form
• There are a variety of supplements that can also help. Look for ones that contain slippery elm and marshmallow.
• Another great drink for soothing the lining of the esophagus is cabbage juice. A glass per day is recommended.
• A table spoon of Flax oil two to three times a day is also excellent for the digestion or you can sprinkle flax seeds into meals such a salads.
• Another drink that is beneficial is Chamomile tea for soothing the digestive tract. Drink two cups daily.

Some other recommendations are; - loose weight. Being over weight adds pressure to the stomach which can promote acid reflux. Stop smoking, and do not wear tight clothing which also adds pressure to the stomach. Eat slowly and chew your food. Digestion is important and starts with chewing your food correctly. Do not lie down after meals and do eat early before going to bed. Leave about three hours for your food to digest properly.

Eating the correct alkaline foods will keep your body in balance and is healthier in the long term.

Please feel free to comment if you know of any other or better natural cures for acid reflux.

So what are the most common causes of Acid Reflux?

Here is my latest acid reflux information.

The cause of acid reflux disease is quite complex and cannot be pinned to just one symptom. In many patients there are multiple causes but not all patients have the same ones. It is quite common for different patients with GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) to have entirely different causes. You would think that excess stomach acid would be the main problem but this is only found in a small number of patients.

The main cause of GERD is found to be problems with the lower esophageal sphincter or LES for short. The esophagus is the muscular tube that extends from the throat and connects to the stomach. The esophagus is part of the upper gastro intestinal tract that delivers food from the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus is constantly in use; every time we swallow the esophageal muscles rhythmically push the contents down into the stomach. At the base of the esophagus there is the LES, a ring of muscle where it connects to the stomach.

The LES acts as a valve constricting and closing off access to the stomach, and works in conjunction with the esophagus. When we swallow the LES opens for a short time to allow the contents of the esophagus to enter the stomach. It then should close firmly to prevent any stomach contents from refluxing back up. If you suffer from heartburn it is because the LES has allowed stomach contents to somehow pass back into the esophagus. These contents contain acid and burn the lining of the esophagus which is where the pain comes from. For patients with GERD acid refluxing is pretty common and largely due to defects of the LES.

One of the problems is when the LES muscles are weakened, and this will decrease its ability to close off properly which will allow stomach acid to reflux. The second problem is abnormal relaxations of the LES muscles called transient LES relaxations. They are abnormal in that they do not work in conjunction with the esophagus when we are swallowing and happen at anytime. They can also last for much longer than normal up to a few minutes at a time. This allows acid reflux to take place easily and more frequently. After meals when the stomach is distended is usually the time when transient LES relaxations take place.

Another factor that can contribute to acid reflux is a hiatal hernia. Many patients with a hiatal hernia also have GERD but as we said at the beginning this symptom is not always present with patients who suffer from acid reflux disease. Also there are quite a number of folk with a hiatus hernia who do not have GERD. It is not known for certain how Hiatal hernias develop although it may be through bouts of coughing, retching, or lifting heavy objects. It could also be a weakness in the muscles lining the stomach. Having a Hiatal hernia can reduce the pressure the LES exerts an allow stomach contents to reenter the esophagus. A hiatus hernia can also protrude through the diaphragm and distort the LES therefore allowing reflux to occur.

Another problem can be with the contractions of the esophageal muscles. We have already said that the food we eat is propelled to the stomach through the esophagus through muscle contractions. This action is called peristalsis. Sometimes this wave like tightening and relaxing of the esophageal muscles die out or are too weak for food to reach the stomach. This can reduce the clearance of acid contents from the esophagus and can be worse at night when lying in bed due to the effects of gravity. This inability to clear acid from the esophagus is found frequently in patients who suffer severe acid reflux.

One more problem is slow emptying of the stomach. Slower emptying of the stomach after a meal prolongs the distention of the stomach when reflux is more likely to occur.

Patients with acid reflux disease can suffer from any one or all of the problems mentioned. You should consult your doctor if you suspect you are suffering it and he will probably prescribe some form of acid reflux medication.

Treating Acid Reflux naturally

I have had another weekend of eating and drinking and have not suffered from heartburn. By planning ahead and knowing I was going out for food and drink I took my acid reflux medication in the morning on the days I was going out. But today I am back on the straight and narrow and am back off the medication. I hope by this method I can stop acid reflux symptoms before they happen.

To treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, GERD for short one of the easiest ways is with lifestyle changes. This is what I am doing at the moment and it seems to be working. By changing your routine, mainly what you eat and the way you eat it the results can have major benefits to the amount of heartburn you get.

One of the many changes and easiest of changes to your routine is at night. Due to the effects of gravity acid reflux does the most damage at night when we lie down. In a lying position it is much easier for stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus. And in addition due to the effects of gravity the refluxed contents can flow further up the esophagus and even into the throat and mouth. I know in the past when this has happened to me I feel like I am choking and this can last for many hours. So the possibility of acid reflux doing damage is much greater at night.

One thing you can do to combat this is with positional therapy by elevating your upper body in bed. You can either put blocks under the bed at the headboard end, or you can purchase a wedge pillow which will also elevate you. Another method is with what is called a bed wedge which is placed under your mattress and can be inflated or deflated automatically to elevate you to the correct position. Another more luxurious but also more costly item is an electric adjustable bed. But because we spend about 1/3 our lives in bed this may be a good solution for some people. By using one of these methods you are raising the elevation of your upper torso and taking gravity out of the equation, and not just raising your head.

Also at night you should eat at least 2 to three hours before going to be to allow your food to digest. This is also the same during the day when you should not lie down after a meal.

Other small changes to your eating habits should include eating smaller meals which helps your stomach digesting larger meals takes much longer and produces a lot more acid. Also chew your food properly before swallowing as the digestion starts in the mouth.

Eating on the run and under stress also contributes to acid reflux. Try to avoid fast foods which are high in fat and processed foods. There are quite a few foods that are known to aggravate acid reflux. Try to avoid them. Examples are chocolate, citrus fruits peppermint, drinks like caffeine irritate the stomach lining and alcohol stimulates acid production. You can try antacids for a while although they are effective for only a short while, but they do stop the production of stomach acid. But they should not be taken on a frequent basis as they do have side effects.

Other lifestyle changes you can include if they apply are taking some exercise, loosing weight, not wearing tight clothing, and stopping smoking

If you have heartburn or acid reflux on a regular basis you should see your doctor. They will be able to determine whether you have GERD or not, and can provide you with the appropriate action to take. They may even know a few natural cures for acid reflux.

Main acid reflux cause

My diet has gone a bit haywire this week, with meals to attend with birthdays and people leaving Cyprus to return to the UK. On those days when I knew I was celebrating I took my acid reflux medication. On other days I have stuck to my plan of not taking any medication and trying to eat the food which I call acid reflux diet food, which seems to not produce the same amount of heartburn.

It is usually not the amount of acid we produce that is the biggest contributor of GERD although it does have some bearing on the matter. The main problem is keeping the acid in the stomach and for that we have the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to than. Or in the case of us people having acid reflux disease it is a defective LES which is the main cause.

As we should already know the Les is a ring of muscle between the esophagus and the stomach which acts as a valve. It opens when we swallow to allow food to pass into the stomach, and is then supposed to shut off tightly to stop any contents of the stomach returning to the esophagus and cause heartburn.

There are a number of ways that the LES becomes defective. Transient LES relaxations, hiatus hernias, weak muscular contractions of the LES, defective esophageal contractions, and slow emptying of the stomach all contribute to GERD and you could have any number of these which will contribute to you getting acid reflux. I already have an article about these acid reflux causes so I won’t dwell on if further.

However there are some things which can contribute to these problems that we can do something about, including changes to our diet, exercising, relieving stress, stop smoking, loose weight, do not wear tight clothing, do not lie down after a meal, you can also try herbal remedies. The list goes on.

The thing is you can do a lot for yourself without having to rely on acid reflux medicines to relieve heartburn.

If you have tried everything and none of it works then you could also look at surgery as an option. The success rate acid reflux surgery is pretty high.

natural cure for acid reflux

Lost another kilo on the diet this week, which is great as you do not feel like you are actually dieting. In fact I can eat as much as I want as long as it is the correct food for that day. It is still working well for my acid reflux and I am not taking much medication at all. I really only take the acid reflux medication if I know I am going out for a drink or a meal, which is doing something different to my diet. That’s when I know I will get heartburn if I do not take precautions.

Heartburn medication stops the natural function of the stomach. By reducing the acid it can affect your health in the long term.

Anyway I have found some more naturals remedies for acid reflux to help rebalance the stomach to the way nature intended.

Grapefruit: - using only organic grapefruit. Grate the rind and spread it onto a flat tray using all of the skin and allow it to dry. Place it in a storage jar. When you feel the first signs of acid reflux, eat a few strands of the grapefruit rind. Test how much you need to settle your stomach.

Cinnamon: - Cinnamon has been used throughout the ages for a variety of medical conditions because of its antiseptic effect. It is used in remedies for colds and flu and it has the ability to combat an acidic stomach. Toast and butter some raisin bread, sprinkle cinnamon on the bread, and add a touch of cardamom. One way to fight acid reflux starts the digestion process in the mouth so chew the bread slowly. Let the digestive juices in the mouth do their work in breaking down the food before it reaches the stomach.

Another natural cure uses slippery elm, mace and nutmeg: - these three items are notorious in fighting stomach complaints.

Slippery Elm bark can be found in most health food shops and is one of the most effective herbs for reducing stomach pain and irritation it protects, and coats the mucus membranes of the stomach and intestinal tract. Not only does it help to absorb excess stomach acid and help it mix better with food, it soothes and heals irritation along the entire digestive tract.

Use a pinch of nutmeg and mace with one teaspoon of slippery elm. Mix with water to make a paste. Boil 11/2 pints of water and add it to the paste. Mix and let cool. Drink about ½ a cup at a time.

Natural remedies can give you relief from heartburn pain when take correctly.

I have not tried any of these remedies but they are definitely on my list to try so that I can completely stop my prescription heartburn medication.

Heartburn symptoms

This week I have not been doing so well with the diet. The good news is that I have not put on any weight. I have not lost any but that was to be expected. The bad news is that because I have not been very strict with the dieting my heartburn symptoms have come back quite quickly.

Yesterday I had a couple of beers and because I have not been taking my acid reflux medication I had heartburn ½ hour later. I compounded the problem because I could not be bothered to have any proper food and warmed a tin of tomato soup to eat. The problem is tomatoes are very acidic and that intensified the problem and made the acid reflux twice as bad. Determined not to take any medicine I drank water instead and suffered for about four hours before it finally started to abate.

Because I am trying to wean myself off the tablets I am going to have to experiment with different natural remedies for acid reflux in the hope that I find something that will do the same type of job as my medication, but without the side effects. Because of the damage the stomach acid does to my esophagus and also because acid reflux disease can lead to cancer of the esophagus something has to be done.

If you have the same problem then sometimes you have to give in and take the medication. This morning I decided to take my Omeprazole. This is one of the most powerful types of acid reflux medicine. It is one of a type of drug called a Proton Pump Inhibitor which stops the formation of acid in the stomach. After researching it I have found that it can be quite dangerous when taken over a long period of time as the balance of your stomach is such that it is supposed to produce acid. When this is stopped it upsets the whole function of the stomach and digestion.

I always have in the house another type of drug, Zantac, which is not quite so strong but the effects can last up to 12 hours when taken. Zantac is from a type of drug called a histamine antagonist of H2 antagonist. They are quite powerful but should still not be taken frequently over a long period of time.

The third option I keep handy are antacids which are an over the counter medicine which you can take for heartburn. They neutralize the acid in your stomach. They work very fast but the effects do not last long. So you have to take a lot more if you have acid reflux on a regular basis. They are made usually from calcium carbonate or Aluminium hydroxide but both again have side effects if taken over a long period of time.

If you want to maintain the chemical balance in your body it is best to look for a natural cure which has fewer or no side effects. There are many types of natural remedy and different foods that will combat your acid reflux but still maintain you in good health. I just have not found the one I want yet. It’s too convenient for me just to take my normal medication. When I find the one I want I’ll let anyone interested know what it is here on my blog.

Cure Heartburn

Are you one of the growing number of people who has to carry antacids with them at all time because of the increased number of acid reflux incidents you are getting? Are you wondering if there is another way to cure heartburn without the antacids?

Acid reflux disease is on the increase in the modern world, and the biggest problem is with the lifestyles we lead. Although problems with the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is the main cause of acid reflux disease other factors also apply. The food we eat, lack of exercise, and stress play a large part.

If you think that popping antacid pills is the answer then fine, but there are a lot of other things that you can do to help yourself. Changing your diet and the way you eat is one way of alleviating acid reflux symptoms. By eating a healthy diet and with the correct choice of food may be all you need to avoid heartburn symptoms starting.

One of the first things to do is try to avoid acidic foods like oranges pineapples and tomatoes. Also try avoiding high fat content in your food which increases acid production.

Choose lean cuts of meat and avoid deep fried chicken and burgers. Other things to avoid are cream style or fried vegetables, butter sour cream and ice cream which are also high in fat. Coffee and alcohol should also be avoided as much as possible, although the jury is still out on whether coffee will cause acid reflux. (Debates are still raging on this one).

The old wives tale of drinking milk is not correct. Milk actually increases the amount of stomach acid secreted and although it may feel better for a short time your acid reflux will increase if you drink milk.

Foods you can eat include most vegetables, boiled and jacket potatoes have been particularly good for my own acid reflux. Some fruit including apples and bananas are also good, as are egg whites, fish and Soya products. If you want to eat cheese you should choose feta, goats and low fat cottage cheese.

The aim is to reduce acid producing foods and foods that are hard to digest. Hard to digest foods stay longer in the stomach and in trying to digest it more digestive enzymes are required, therefore more stomach acid is produced.

Your eating habits also play its part. Eating too fast and large meals also cause heartburn symptoms. You should take your time and chew you food properly, as this is where the digestion process starts. Enzymes in you saliva start to breakdown the food before it enters your stomach. Eating smaller meals on a more regular basis exert less work on the stomach and less acid is produced to digest the food. With large meals the digestion requires a lot more acid and takes a lot longer to move from the stomach into the duodenum.

Never lie down after a meal, and at night you should eat at least 2 hours before going to bed. Lying down after a meal allows the food to reenter the esophagus due to gravity and this is when most acid reflux occurs.

Elevating your head and torso using a wedge pillow will also significantly decrease the amount of night time acid reflux. And if you want that little bit of luxury buying an electrically adjustable bed is a great way of reducing night time acid reflux.

Problems with acid reflux medication

The last few days I have been not quite sticking to my diet properly and have started to get frequent bouts of acid reflux again. This has led me to taking my medication all week and further looking at what problems acid reflux medication can bring by taking medication over a long period. What I have found is quite scary.

The stomach normally controls the amount of acid we produce naturally and adjusts to accommodate what we are doing. If we take in the wrong food or eat improperly i.e. eat to fast or not chew our food correctly, it upsets the balance of our stomach and also the functions of the valves which control the movement of food both into and out of the stomach.

Digestion works when certain conditions are triggered in the stomach. The normal level of the stomach has a ph level of approximately 3-4. A ph reading of 1 is very acidic and a ph reading of 8 is very alkaline. Normally when food enters the stomach it has a higher ph and this triggers the release of a hormone called Gastrin.

Gastrin is used by the body to maintain the amount of acid in the stomach and is released from cells called G cells in the lining of your stomach. When Gastrin is released it stimulates other cells called parietal cells which secrets hydrochloric acid (hcl) into the stomach, which is our stomach acid. It also releases a digestive enzyme called Pepsin. The hcl is an ideal working environment for the Pepsin to do its work in digesting food.

This process turns our food into the energy we require, but the Gastrin also stimulates the stomach muscles which send any waste product into the duodenum and on to the small intestine.

When you have acid reflux disease and take Proton Pump Inhibitors like myself you are in effect stopping the production of stomach acid. This imbalance of stomach acid means your stomach tries to compensate and produce more Gastrin which in turn tries to produce more acid which it cannot do, but the levels of Gastrin starts to rise. The Gastrin levels in patients, who take Omeprazole the same drug I take, have been measured to be 2-4 times the baseline level after 2-4 months.

Producing high levels of Gastrin can lead to a condition called hypergastrinemia. This is a well-recognized cause of a severe disease known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a rare disorder that causes tumors in the pancreas and duodenum and ulcers in the stomach and duodenum. Up to half of these tumors can be malignant and lead to stomach cancer.

By blocking the production of stomach acid before or after eating with drugs, the G cells that produce Gastrin believe there is not enough acid production and so keep producing more Gastrin. Therefore the long term use of acid reflux medication like Proton Pump Inhibitors can put you at risk of stomach cancer.

This is a sort of vicious circle as treating acid reflux disease or GERD is needed and is long term. But using conventional medicine, which was great in my own case for a while now has an added worry that it could create an even worse disaster if I stay on it long term. The alternatives are to either look at natural cures for heartburn and acid reflux or look at having surgery.

Acid Reflux tips 3

I am still benefiting from the diet I started in regards to my acid reflux disease. The heartburn attacks are noticeably down. Te amount of medication is under control also, I am only taking my acid reflux medication when needed if I feel heartburn symptoms unlike before which I took on a daily basis whether I had acid reflux symptoms or not.

So if you are suffering daily I highly recommend that you change your diet and see where it takes you.

There is not one thing that you can pinpoint that will cause heartburn. It maybe your diet or a weakness in the muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve that opens and shuts to allow food into the stomach), hiatus hernia is another problem. Other problems can be poor digestion, pregnant women also suffer because of the pressure in the stomach from having a baby, stress and food allergies can also affect your acid reflux.

One of the easiest things you can do to help is to drink plenty of water, this helps dilute the acid, and drinking cabbage water will do the same but can also help to soothe the esophagus.

Another good natural remedy is Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root or DGL for short. This is used to soothe damaged tissue in the esophagus and stomach. You can buy it in tablet form and should take two 400 mg tablets about 20 minutes before a meal and let them dissolve in the mouth.

I already covered digestive enzymes in my last article but I thought to tell say that maybe the enzymes that digest protein are not a good thing to take if you have a stomach ulcer.

Aloe Vera is also a great for soothing and healing damaged tissue. I already take Aloe Vera with Glucosamine and Chondroitin for my joints so it has the added benefit for me of healing the tissue after a bout of acid reflux.

Herbal remedies like taking slippery elm and marshmallow root tablets also help to reduce inflammation of the esophagus.

To aid food digestion and promote good bacteria for the stomach you should take probiotics daily.

That’s all for now. Hope this helps.

acid reflux tip 2

I am again going without my acid reflux medication today. I can usually tell if my stomach feels acidy when I get up in the morning, if it does I usually take my medication before doing anything else. I have just eaten breakfast about ½ an hour ago and am waiting to see if there is any reaction from this before deciding if I need any other antacids. AT the moment its fine and it looks as though I will get away with it today, although that could change at any time.

Another natural remedy for acid reflux is chicory root. Chicory is quite a bitter herb which belongs to the same family as endive and escarole and is used to correct heartburn problems. If you can get hold of chicory root use about 1 ½ cups of the stuff and boil it for about 5 to 10 minutes. Let it cool to room temperature and drink it like tea.

Although I usually take medicine for my severe heartburn symptoms if you can get away without it it’s much better. Medicine will not cure acid reflux disease as it does not treat the cause of heartburn, but only treats the symptom. Your medication will stop acid production and is great if you have damage to the lining of the esophagus but a better way to control heartburn is with natural methods and dietary changes. Failing this surgery might be a better option.

In fact the newest method of treating GERD does not even require surgery but is done through an endoscope passed through the mouth and down the throat. There are no incisions made and you go in as a day patient and do not need further hospitalisation.

This treatment is called Esophyx and as this option is quite new I am waiting a while to see just how good it is then maybe I will go for this option myself.

I have written a full article on this on my website www.acidrefluxhealthcheck.com under acid reflux articles titled “New treatment to cure acid reflux”

Acid Reflux Tip 1

I am quite pleased with the way my diet is controlling my acid reflux at the moment. So much so that for two days I did not take my daily acid reflux medication and my heartburn never bothered me once. However the next day I did not feel so brave as I was meeting friends for lunch who I worked with in Saudi Arabia (which usually means quite a few drinks as well).

Lunch went well but it would have been a different matter if I had not taken my medication. This brings me to the saying you are what you eat. In terms of having GERD a lot of what you eat will set off the acid reflux. Also digestion has a big part to play in how much heartburn you will get.

As you get older your stomach losses the ability to produce the hydrochloric acid to some extent, which is so important in breaking down the protein you have eaten.

The process of digestion is pretty complex and different enzymes are used to break down the different components in your food. After the food is digested the body absorbs the nutrients that are produced and carries them through the bloodstream to different organs and cells and produces the energy you need.

However with the type of food we eat in the modern world a lot of it is hard to digest and it is this undigested food which can bring on bouts of heartburn which can lead to acid reflux disease, and some times we need a little help to aid our digestion.

Taking digestion enzymes is one way of aiding your ability to absorb your food and therefore the nutrients. Betain and Pepsin are such enzymes that when taken with your meals will aid your digestion. Papaya digestive enzymes which contains Papain is another excellent digestive aid and you can take about 500mg with your meals.

Bromelain is another enzyme that helps digest protein. It can be found in pineapples which support digestion and can reduce inflammation. Bromelain is also produced in a tablet form.

Natural foods like the vegetables in salads will also greatly reduce your acid reflux. Maybe that’s why I am not so affected over the last few weeks as the diet I am on involves eating lots of salads.

Heartburn home remedy

My diet is going well. At least I am sticking to it. Whether I loose weight is a different matter. However the benefits it is giving me in stopping acid reflux is worth the effort. I still have not had a bout of heartburn since I started. Tomorrow I will weigh myself to see if I have lost weight as well.

If you suffer from heartburn regularly like me you may have acid reflux disease. It’s best to go to your doctor for advice because if you are taking over the counter antacids frequently they can lead to other problems. Most antacids only bring brief relief from acid reflux and are emptied from your stomach quickly.

One of the problems of antacids is that quite a few of them are based on aluminium and tend to cause constipation. But a far greater problem is that aluminium has been associated with senility and Alzheimer’s disease.

Instead of antacids there are some natural cures for acid reflux that can be taken. Here is a mixture that can be taken as a tea.

Lavender, Peppermint and Aniseed Tea.

Mix together equal amounts of lavender, peppermint and aniseed. Boil 21/2 cups of distilled water. Add one tea spoon of the herbal mixture to a container/ thermos flask and pour the boiling water over the mixture. Let the tea stand for up to 5 minutes then strain the tea. You can add honey to the mixture if you want. Drink up to 8 oz of the tea in the morning and the same in the evening. This should give you relief from acid reflux.

Lavender is strongly scented and has enormous healing powers for the body. It is useful in reducing stomach acid and is a great aid for the stomach.

Peppermint is another strong healing aid for heartburn and stomach conditions. It is used for stomach ulcers and gas, aid in stomach distension and cramps, and aids digestion.

Aniseed or anise is a powerful herb which is beneficial for many things for the body and is taken for digestion. Two types of anise that should not be taken are star anise and caraway. Use only ash coloured green anise, sweet anise or European anise in the herbal mixture.

I hope this helps, and I will try to find some more natural remedies for acid reflux.

acid reflux diet

I have been unavailable for a couple of weeks so no posts.

My acid reflux has been in check for a little while, and the reason is my diet. I have known that I had to loose some weight for a while now as being too heavy can be a contributor to acid reflux. So I have started a diet, you know the one where with a red and green day and sins. I love the fact that you can sin.

Anyway I have not been on this diet for very long but it is noticeable that I have not had any bouts of reflux since I started. I am still taking my 10mg of Omeprazole my acid reflux medication, and usually this is not enough, but on this diet it seems to work.

So what is different at the moment? Well usually I start the morning with a biscuit or cookie and that’s before breakfast. Throughout the day I usually snack on crisps, nuts, ice cream etc and have a craving for French fries. So generally I eat a lot of junk food full of fats which I know is bad for anyone with acid reflux disease. I also usually eat a lot of spicy food, again not good if you suffer from GERD (Gastroesopagheal reflux disease. The correct name for acid reflux disease). Another thing I do is swamp everything in salt which I have been told is on of the main contributors to the disease.

So this diet lets me eat lots of food, any amount I want but it is the correct food. I am now eating plenty of salad, fresh fruit and vegetables and lean meat like chicken. There is a vast amount of other food on the diet like pasta, rice beans, pulses and lentils. In fact there is so much food I am actually eating more than I used to, but it does not seem to affect the acid reflux so no heartburn.

The other thing I am doing is drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol and drinks like cola, and I am also not adding any salt to my food.

I also seem to have a lot more energy at the moment I am putting that down to the diet as well. If this keeps up I am thinking of trying to stop taking my medication, so maybe I will try that on certain days to see what happens. If on those days I still do not get heartburn then maybe I have at last discovered a proper acid reflux diet.

I can only hope, can’t I?

Positional therapy for acid reflux

I am astounded that I have not had a large bout of acid reflux for a while. I must be doing something good at last. Maybe it’s because I am not eating too many large portions of food at the moment as the weather has really heated up here in Cyprus and I seem to drink more than I eat.

One of the problems I usually have is when I eat late. Sometimes I fall asleep after my last meal and do not practice what the doctors say in waiting two to three hours before lying down. When this happens I usually spend the night sitting up in bed.

However one of the best ways to avoid heartburn during the night is with positional therapy, or that’s what my doctor calls it. It involves no more than elevating your chest and head about six to eight inches when you sleep. I usually do this by using extra pillows, but this is not the best method and usually finishes with me having a restless night.

I have not bought any yet but there are specially made wedge pillows that are just right for the job. They give you the correct angle so that gravity can do its job and send any acid back into the stomach naturally.

Another way of elevating the bed is with a bed wedge. Instead of the wedge pillow a bed wedge is placed under the mattress. They can be inflated or deflated so that they raise the head end of your mattress if you need it, or if you feel you do not have acid reflux that night it will lie flat but can be inflated by remote control if needed through the night.

Another more expensive but luxurious way is with an adjustable electric bed. As you spend approximately 1/3 of you life in be it may be the best option for a good nights sleep.

Anyway for more info on this you can visit my website www.acidrefluxhealthcheck.com

Acid reflux causes

I am having a pretty good week as far as my acid reflux is concerned. Not had to take any extra medication for about 5 days even on the lower dose medication that I am taking.

The cause of GERD is pretty complex. There are quite a few different causes of acid reflux disease and any number of them can be operating in an individual at various times. But also a person my have all the symptoms but never actually have heartburn.

Some people produce an excess amount of acid but this is actually not the main contributor of GERD. The main problem seems to be the Lower Esophageal sphincter (LES) which is the valve that opens to allow contents into the stomach, but shuts off to prevent the contents returning into the esophagus (normally).

In my own case the LES is not operating properly because I have a hiatus hernia which seems to prevent the valve from closing properly. But other people have different problems with the LES.

The LES is a ring of muscle surrounding the base of the esophagus where it enters the stomach. It is very active most of the time relaxing every time we swallow and then contracting to close off tightly preventing food returning. One of the problems is abnormal relaxations, called transient LES relaxations; they can happen when not swallowing and can last for a lot longer than the normal opening and closing, up to several minutes. This prolonged relaxation allows stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus causing heartburn.

A second problem with the LES is weakening of the muscle where the contractions are weak and are not strong enough to prevent reflux.

One other problem is esophageal contractions. When we swallow the muscles of the esophagus cause a ring like wave starting in the upper esophagus and travel downward to the lower esophagus contracting to push food etc into the stomach.

When this is defective food is not pushed into the stomach in people with GERD and the contractions are also too weak to push acid back into the stomach. This reduces the clearance of acid from the esophagus which is worse at night when trying to sleep.

More on my acid reflux medication

There is no one out on holiday this week in Cyprus that I have to entertain so I have reduced my dose of Omeprazole back down to 10mg. Omeprazole is the Proton Pump Inhibitor drug which I take to prevent acid reflux.

I have been digging around a bit further about what problems this acid reflux medication can bring and found that it is so good at doing its job that it may actually be too good at it. The Proton Pump Inhibitor stops the production of stomach acid which is one of the main ingredients in giving us heartburn and the onset of GERD, but in actual fact stomach acid is a needed and necessary thing.

Not only does the stomach acid break down our food for digestion, but it also kills off bacteria and other nasties in the food we eat. By reducing the production of acid in the stomach we allow bacteria to flourish in the GI tract. This in turn could lead to pneumonia if the bacteria is aspirated.

The powerful and long lasting effect of Proton Pump Inhibitors makes them one of the best selling drugs in the world. But another problem this makes is that it also inhibits the absorption of essential nutrients including calcium and folic acid.

Calcium is needed by the body for healthy bones and teeth so it should be supplemented so that you get correct levels into your body.

Folic acid is another nutrient that needs to be supplemented. The folic acid is needed by the body to utilize vitamin B12. Proton Pump Inhibitors interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12 because it is usually taken in through food and passed through the stomach when digested by stomach acid. It is thought that by drinking cranberry juice with your meals it increases the absorption of vitamin B12. Taking a supplement of vitamin B12 daily of up to 50 mcg will probably protect you against depletion of the vitamin.

My Acid reflux medication

My computer has been crashing on me so it’s been in the shop for over a week therefore no posts in that time. Just got it back so here we go.

Here in Cyprus where I am living at the moment holiday season has just started. There are many friends and family come out from now until the end of summer and it takes a great toll on anyone who suffers from acid reflux disease like myself.
I try to combat this sudden influx of extra food and drink that I indulge in by taking double the dose of the proton pump inhibitor I am on, upping the dose from 10mg to 20 mg a day. This works very well for me and I seem to tolerate everything throw at me while on this dose. I still curse the doctor who diluted my dose down to 10mg in the first place sending me back into a life of hell with daily heartburn problems.
My only concern is that the doctor reduced my dose of Omeprazole to reduce side effects. I keep reading different stories on this so am a bit bemused as to what the side effects are?
The normal side effects can include Stomach pain, gas, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and headaches. I have not suffered any of these symptoms and anyway they are easier to cope with than the pain of acid reflux.
So what else can go wrong? Well I have read that you can have an allergic reaction and will need emergency medical help if you have hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat. I also have not had any of these problems in the 10 or so years I have been on this acid reflux medicine. So what else can go wrong?
I have read a bit more and some more things that can go wrong if you overdose include blurred vision, drowsiness, fast heartbeat, and the normal sweating, nausea, headache, dry mouth, headache etc.
The point I am trying to make is that I have suffered no reaction at all with my acid reflux medication and my GERD has been in check until the doctor reduced my dose, so I am still in the dark as to what long term problems may occur if I was to take the 20mg of Omeprazole. If anybody out there knows the answer please let me know.

New Acid Reflux Treatment

I had quite a good weekend regarding acid reflux. That is I did not have any. It changed through the week though and I suffered for about 2 days before I had it under control. One way of doing this was to eat very little and drink lots of water. I could not eat anyway as it hurt too much.
Anyway I was reading some information Yesterday which was about a new procedure for heartburn. It does not involve any surgery and after it,s implementation 92% of the patients studied did not have to take their daily dose of acid reflux medication.

It is called EsophyX and is a device that enables doctors to mould a new valve inside the body using a small section of the stomach tissue which forms a flap valve to prevent the backflow of gastric juices (acid reflux) into the esophagus.

The procedure is done under general anesthetic, but the good news is that it involves no abdominal or internal incisions; the EsophyX device is used to perform endoluminal fundoplication (ELF). It involves going through the mouth to deliver fasteners in the stomach that create the flap valve at the junction of the stomach and the esophagus.

Patients who suffer acid reflux disease have usually lost the flap valve or the muscle is stretched and slack allowing the acid to reflux back into the esophagus.

This new procedure reduces Hiatal hernia, restores the correct angle where the esophagus enters the stomach and creates an astroesophageal valve.

The procedure only takes about 30 minutes and the results are similar to traditional surgery but do not carry the same risk of side effects, which can produce difficulty swallowing, persistent diarrhoea and bloating.

conventional medicine does not get to the root cause of the disease but this method can stop acid reflux by restoring the flap val;ve.

heartburn medication

Well I am back on my 10mg of acid reflux medication and guess what? I am again suffering heartburn. I am having to take antacids to supplement my normal acid reflux medication.
The trouble with antacids is that the effects only last a short time and you have to take more. This is fine if you only have minor heartburn symptoms on an infrequent basis. But keep in mind that antacids will not cure your heartburn and once you stop taking them the heartburn will usually return.

When you have acid reflux disease you are constantly producing acid and you would be taking antacids about once an hour to keep the symptoms at bay, but taking antacids on a regular basis has side effects.

Antacids are still the mainstay for fighting acid reflux despite the development of more potent medications. The thing with antacids is that they can be bought over the counter, and in some ways this is a good thing but in others it may be a problem in that you miss getting a proper diagnosis from your doctor.

Antacids are usually aluminium, magnesium or calcium based which can have different side effects. Because they neutralize the acid for a while but when the effects wear off the stomach tries to produce more acid called acid rebound which results in the overproduction of acid.

Aluminium based antacids tend to cause constipation, while magnesium based ones tent to cause diarrhea.

Another problem is that antacids may interfere with the absorption of other medication from the digestive system into the blood, so there should be a gap of about two hours between taking antacids and other medication. It may also impede the proper digestion and assimilation of food.

More on acid reflux medication

Well my acid reflux seems to be in check at the moment. The reason is that I have been taking double the dose of my Omeprazole medication, 20 mg instead of 10 for the last three days. It makes an incredible difference to me, so I really do not know why my doctor changed me from 20 mg to 10. On the 10 mg of acid reflux medication it is always touch and go whether I will get heartburn or not. While on the 20 mg dose it seems to completely stop the acid. I am going to have to find out why I should be on only the 10 mg dose?
The problem with taking medication as opposed to a more natural way of relieving the acid reflux is that they may have side effects, and when you read what the people who advocate the more holistic approach have to say about the medication they seem to think it is pretty dangerous. Another problem with the medication according to the holistic believers is that medication impedes the proper digestion of your food and also only treats the symptoms of heartburn but does not actually treat the cause. Therefore if you are on acid reflux medicine it is more than likely you will be on it for life. Not a pleasant thought I might add, but at least it is better than suffering heartburn everyday.

I think my next job will be to find out what the side effects of taking the medication are.

Acid reflux medicine

Today I will be watching my football team playing down the pub so I have to get my acid reflux medication right. I have taken double the doze of my usual morning tablets Omeprazole, and I am really watching the kind of food I eat which sets off my heartburn. I should be eating what I call acid reflux diet food all the time but have fell by the wayside on that front over the last 5 years or so. As I know there is no proper cure for acid reflux disease, unless I have an operation I try to keep it in check with the medication without making massive changes to my diet. I know this is wrong but taking the tablets is the easy way out rather than changing my entire lifestyle. In the future I may have to rethink this strategy as I know that changing my diet and cutting down on alcohol is probably better in the long term.
There are three main types of acid reflux medication that I know of and I keep a supply of all of them at hand.

Antacids are the usual types of acid reflux medication most people take for heartburn but the effects usually only last for an hour or two. I keep these at hand all the time and use them when I require a quick fix.

The next type of medication which where developed purely to combat acid reflux are called histamine antagonists or H2 antagonists. They work by inhibiting the production of histamine which stimulates the acid producing cells to secrete acid. They are brilliant leap forward from just taking antacids and the effects last for about 12 hours. They are usually taken at least 30 minutes before a meal so that they become active after eating when the production of stomach acid is at it,s highest.

The third and best, also the newest for of acid reflux medication specifically made for the job are called proton pump inhibitors or PPI,s. they shut off the acid more completely and one tablet will last for up to 24 hours. I take mine first thing in the morning and usually it will last until the next day.

acid reflux symptoms

I went out for a meal last night with friends, had a good time until I went to bed that,s when the acid reflux disease kicked in. Spent most of the night propped up on pillows gagging. So what are the symptoms of acid reflux? Below is an article I found on the subject.

Acid reflux symptoms are mostly the same as general heartburn. Sufferers will experience a burning, stinging or similar sensation in their breastbone area. So what are the symptoms that set acid reflux apart from regular heartburn?
While acid reflux can also be caused by structural abnormalities, so it is set apart from infrequent heartburn symptoms that nearly everyone experiences at some point in his or her life, many of the same paths of treatment can be used to alleviate or stop acid reflux symptoms altogether.

One of the first areas to consider are the foods that you eat. While you may find it time consuming to keep a food diary, the information that you discover could play a big part in controlling your acid reflux.
First, simply write down everything that you eat and the time at which it is eaten. When you have a bout of heartburn, refer to your food journal and see which foods you had eaten right before the symptoms showed up.
You may be able to stop your heartburn suffering simply from avoiding the foods that tend to trigger your acid reflux symptoms. I would try to rule out food culprits before turning to acid reflux drugs.

Though many acid reflux and heartburn drugs are touted to alleviate some core, underlying issues to stop heartburn symptoms, they are primarily about the same thing that most pharmaceutical drugs are about: treating symptoms.

Ran out of space again. I have a better article on acid reflux symptoms on my website.

Acid reflux diet tips

Today my heartburn is not too bad, however it is the weekend and I am going out for a meal. I have pre- empted the acid reflux by taking a Zantac as well as my usual morning medicine and I have also take a couple of antacids so hopefully I should be ok tonight.

I have come across this article below on diet tips so hopefully it should fit on the one page.

Acid Reflux Diet Tips
No matter what type of acid reflux you suffer from, and no matter the underlying factors to your own particular struggle with heartburn, a change in diet can have remarkable effects upon your management of acid reflux.
There are some foods that seem to encourage heartburn in many people. Among these are general categories such as spicy, high fat and dairy foods. Chocolate, tomatoes and herbal supplements are also known to bring about heartburn like symptoms, particularly if ingested shortly before bedtime.
If you recognize particular foods that seem to affect heartburn, you may find that eating them in the morning instead of closer to bedtime will alleviate your symptoms of heartburn. When eaten during time of wakefulness and activity, the body is better able to contain stomach acids used to digest the food we have eaten.

Many people suffer from heartburn primarily at night time and have found relief by raising the level of the head of their bed. Though simply adding layers of pillows doesn’t have the same effect, raising the entire head end of a bed by at least twelve inches has been shown to lessen heartburn symptoms.

If you still are suffering from acid reflux and diet modification doesn’t seem to help, you should consider seeing a doctor in order to rule out the possibility of structural abnormality or other factors contributing to your acid reflux symptoms.

Managing acid reflux disease

Acid reflux disease if left unchecked is very unpleasant and in some cases can be life threatening so here are a few things you can do to help which I will cover in more detail later.

Eating smaller meals, elevating the head of your bed and drinking more water have all been shown to have good effects for coping with and managing acid reflux and related conditions.

Though there are a number of heartburn medications on the market, I strongly advise you to find simple solutions, such as avoiding certain foods, before you start medicating the problem. When we treat the symptoms of a disease and do nothing for the underlying causes, it’s only a matter of time before the condition has additional symptoms.

So let’s work with our bodies and do our best to ingest foods that help us and avoid ones that exacerbate our various conditions or concern areas. Start eating a little healthier, and chances are you’ll notice a difference for the better, no matter how mild or severe your version of acid reflux is.

What is acid reflux ?...part 2

What is acid reflux part 2

Sometimes acid reflux is a physical problem, where the lower esophageal sphincter does not effectively contain the contents of the stomach, and some cases where a hiatal hernia is a factor.
The most common symptom and complaint of those suffering from acid reflux is heartburn, which feels like a burning, stinging or even ripping type of pain around the breastbone area. Other symptoms include difficulty swallowing and changes in mucosal linings of the throat. In extreme cases sufferers may develop esophageal ulcers or scarring.

In order to diagnose the condition, patients may be given a barium mixture to drink. This will help show the structure of the esophagus, sphincters and stomach in order to determine a good course of treatment.
Sometimes endoscopy is used to better examine the esophagus, stomach and relating portions of the body. The patient will usually be sedated in order to ease relaxation.
No matter which course of treatment you and your doctor decide to pursue, there are many types of food that tend to be more likely to trigger acid reflux symptoms. Avoiding or decreasing your intake of these foods may help to alleviate the situation.

Acidic, fatty and spicy foods tend to promote gastroesophageal reflux. Coffee, alcohol, vitamin C and calcium supplements are gastric acid stimulants. If you ingest these things, it is best to do so during the day or periods of increased activity. Just before bedtime would be the worst time.
Chocolate and peppermint, onions, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are known acid reflux stimulants. Milk and dairy items should be avoided at bedtime.

Run out of space again

What is acid reflux ?...part 1

I had acid reflux last night so sat up in bed most of the night. Took my Omeprazole tablet 10 mg this morning and it did no good. I had to take some antacids which helped for a while but the heartburn came back again. I have finally taken a Zantac and am waiting to see if that helps.
Found this article below. (hope it will fit into one post).

What Is Heartburn/Acid Reflux (Or ‘Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease’)?
Heartburn is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus felt just below the breastbone caused by stomach acid entering the esophagus. However you should not get heartburn that often but if it occurs more than say twice a week it can mean you may have Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease commonly called GERD. Obviously you need to see your Doctor to confirm the diagnosis.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is a condition where the liquid contents of the stomach flows back up and enters the esophagus (or refluxes). GERD is a chronic condition and once you have this it usually lasts your entire life. The regurgitated liquid contains stomach acid and pepsin which is an enzyme produced by the stomach to digest the proteins in the stomach from your food. Reflux can also contain Bile which has flowed up into the stomach from the Duodenum this is the part of the small intestine at the lower part of the stomach. However the acid is believed to be the component most likely to cause injury such as inflammation and damage to the esophagus. Treatment can help to heal the damaged esophagus but if treatment is stopped it usually does not take too long for the symptoms to re-appear and treatment for acid reflux usually has to be continued for life.

Page will not take all of the article will split it into different parts