Hi,
It’s awhile since I have posted because I have been away in the
Since returning to
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.
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?
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.
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.
