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.