One of the two methods used in treating an acid reflux case is the modifications that one has do make in his life. When having acid reflux, the changes will have to be permanent, because one you have had acid reflux, this condition will not go away. So treatment in acid reflux cases actually means treating the symptoms and preventing or treading the damage done by acid reflux. The first modification that you have to do when suffering from acid reflux is not to eat anything three hours before you go to bed. This change is very useful because it lets your stomach empty and the levels of acid decrease. Furthermore, if you suffer form acid reflux you should start to eat lighter meals more than four times a day. This method will also help reduce the acidity of your stomach. There are also foods and drinks that you should cut out from your eating/ drinking list if you want to treat acid reflux. Fatty or spicy foods, tomatoes, citrus fruits and mints are some of the main foods you should not eat when having acid reflux. Caffeine, carbonated drinks and alcohol must also be cut off the list. They can irritate your esophagus more, especially when suffering from acid reflux.
Other changes in your lifestyle must also be made when you are an acid reflux patient. When you are lying, your stomach contents have the tendency to come up. Therefor, elevate your bed almost six inches high and also try to stand up straight, thus reducing the pressure on your stomach.
If your baby is the one that is suffering from acid reflux, the changes in his/ her life must be done as well. Although, these changes may appear very simple to you, they will do a world of good. Thy to hold your baby in the upright position almost 30 minutes before feeding him/ her. If spitting is one of the symptoms of acid reflux that your baby has, then feeding him/ her less more frequently will help manage this acid reflux sign. Many doctors will also advice you to thicken the baby' s formula if he/ she has acid reflux. Rice or some other formulas found in the drug stores are indicated. This will actually decrease your baby' s amount of vomit, but this will not stop acid reflux. You should also change the position of the bed if your child is suffering from acid reflux. The head of your baby' s bed should be elevated.
An amazing new device developed by Endogastric Solutions Incorporated, the EsophyX, is set to revolutionise the treatment of Acid Reflux Disease or GERD. This new device is expected to change the lives of many patients who until now had anticipated having to take heartburn medication for the rest of their lives. This treatment is a major advancement in the evolution of surgery for acid reflux.
Normally the stomach contents are retained in the stomach by a valve called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter or LES for short. This valve opens to allow food to pass into the stomach when swallowing, and then closes to prevent the contents from re-entering the esophagus.
The stomach contains acid which is used as part of the digestive system to break down food before passing it into the small intestine. The stomach acid is very corrosive but is not a problem when everything is working correctly. However if for some reason the stomach contents are regurgitated (flow back into the esophagus), which is not equipped to deal with this, the result is painful and uncomfortable. The acid burns the esophageal lining which is when we get heartburn.
Most people suffer heartburn on occasion but if it happens on a frequent basis this turns to GERD which is a chronic illness. The main cause of acid reflux is when the LES is weakened or damaged or if you are suffering from a Hiatus Hernia any of these can prevent the sphincter (valve) from closing properly thus allowing the acidic contents of the stomach to backflow into the esophagus. In some cases the valve is completely absent.
The condition can lead to chronic inflammation of the esophagus and further complications can arise and lead to major damage. In severe cases if left untreated a precancerous condition called Barretts Esophagus, where the cells of the esophagus change may occur and cancer of the esophagus could follow.
The LES is a ring of muscle between the stomach and the esophagus and can be affected by several abnormalities. If the muscular contractions of the LES are weak it allows stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus. A second problem is abnormal relaxation of the LES called transient LES relaxations, they are abnormal in that they do not occur when swallowing and can last for a number of minutes, and this can be brought about by certain foods, with smoking being another contributing factor. A third problem is when a Hiatal Hernia is present. A Hiatal Hernia is when part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm. It can alter the position of the diaphragm and stop the LES from closing correctly.
GERD is on of the most common diseases in the western society and in the US alone over 60 million people experience heartburn at least once a month. GERD is more frequent as we get older and 60, with most patients having excellent relief from acid reflux although some still require taking medication for reflux to some degree.
Some of the problems that can arise from surgery include ‘gas bloating syndrome’ where, if the surgery is too tight this can lead to cramps and some pain. Another potential problem can be pain or difficulty in swallowing, another is the inability to burp or vomit.
This brings us to the latest technology EsophyX the newest and most effective treatment for GERD. This pioneering new system developed by Endogastric Solutions Inc.uses trans-oral endoscopy techniques. Thus the instruments are passed through the mouth to the stomach using an endoscope
This clever device allows Gastroenterologists and Surgeons to mould what is essentially a new valve using a small section of the stomach tissue. The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic but involves no surgery; instead, an endoscope – which is a long tube with a camera attached – is passed via the mouth into the stomach, the stomach is inflated with air to allow room for manoeuvre then the EsophyX is passed via the mouth, establishes the correct position, and reduces any hiatal hernia if one is present. Then special tools construct a new anti-reflux barrier valve using tissue from the stomach and also uses special fastening technology to position the valve at the correct angle.
The new valve is a flap of tissue 3 to 5 cm thick at the base of the esophagus and will prevent stomach acid reflux; this flap of tissue is then stitched into place. There is no surgery or incisions involved and there are no permanently implanted objects used. Also using EsophyX does not have the adverse affects associated with conventional surgery. The procedure takes about thirty minutes and is done under local anaesthetic and does not involve further hospitalization.
By using this method the cause of GERD is treated at the source, unlike medication which only relieves the symptoms, and usually patients can lead a normal life free of acid reflux medication. In a follow up on patients preliminary results show that 92 of the patients had still not taken any medication.
Using Esophyx the company are trying to accomplish something that Laparoscopic Nissen failed to do, which is to bring mainstream acid reflux treatment to the general surgical and interventional gastrointestinal market.
Endogastric solutions have been testing the EsophyX and improving the Endoluminal Fundipulation procedure since June 2005 The EsophyX™ received approval for commercial release to 40 leading European centres during 2006.
Both Groshan Fabiola & Raymond Harper are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Groshan Fabiola has sinced written about articles on various topics from Woman Menopause, Medical Condition and Health. Visit it if you are looking for great information on ,. Groshan Fabiola's top article generates over 6120000 views. to your Favourites.
Raymond Harper has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux. Raymond Harper has suffered from Acid Reflux Disease for over ten years. In the quest to find out information and alternative cures he developed a web site www.acidrefluxhealthcheck.com to document all his findings about heartburn, hiatus hernia and GERD,. Raymond Harper's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.