This increase has a lot to do with our modern lifestyle, so this means that there are steps people can take to control symptoms. Being overweight is one of the causes behind this problem, and with the numbers of obese people climbing each year, it is understandable that the cases of chronic heartburn are piling up. Stress is a big problem too, as it leads to behaviors that make reflux worse.
It is a good idea for someone with heartburn acid reflux to understand the difference between an occasional nuisance and a problem that needs medical attention.
Almost everyone will have a bout of heartburn or two at one point or another in their lifetime. This happens when eating spicy foods or perhaps when someone has been drinking a lot of coffee and has forgotten to eat. Many of the foods that promote excess acid production can cause problems for anyone on occasion. Normally this is harmless and goes away with a simple over-the-counter medication and is forgotten about. Occasional sufferers never wake up at night with pain, and they never have any of the secondary symptoms.
Those who are diagnosed with GERD have a different story to tell. The main thing they feel most of the time is the burning that is associated with the acid production, and when that acid leaks up into the esophagus and throat, it hurts.
When this is happening, there may be damage to these tissues as they are not capable of handling that acid. There are many times when someone with GERD feels like they have a lump in their throat, or they may experience a sore throat on a regular basis. They will probably find that they are also waking up many times during the night. Sinus problems are sometimes a secondary symptom that points to problems with acid reflux.
There are other secondary symptoms that indicate a case of acid reflux might need medical intervention. They may seem unrelated, but when you add them to the more common and obvious hearturn symptoms, they are an indication that medications might be needed.
These might include a sore throat in the morning and even a feeling like there is a lump in throat or it is closing up. A person with GERD might feel tired each day from waking up many times in the night with pain and other symptoms. Once all of these fall into place, it will be obvious that something is wrong and damage from acid escaping into the esophagus may have occurred.
These symptoms are hard to deal with, but there is a lot of hope for anyone who has heartburn acid reflux. There are medications that can help reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach. These are called proton pump inhibitors. They stop the production of acid so that the tissues that have been damaged have a chance to heal. These are only needed for about two months and healing should be complete.
Add a change in diet and stress management to that and these together can greatly help with many of the heartburn acid reflux symptoms.
Acid reflux disease often occurs on the premises of physiological abnormalities at the level of the gastro-esophageal tract. In most cases, the disorder occurs due to poor functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter (muscular valve that normally shields the upper esophageal lining from stomach gastric acid), or increased pressure inside the abdomen. However, the occurrence of acid reflux is strongly influenced by diet, eating patterns and lifestyle.
One of the most common symptoms of acid reflux is heartburn. Described by acid reflux sufferers as a radiating pain or pronounced discomfort inside the chest, heartburn occurs due to inflammation of the esophageal tract. Although people who suffer from chronic forms of acid reflux disease may always perceive this symptom, heartburn tends to intensify after meals and during the night. On the premises of a weak lower esophageal valve or low pressure inside the esophagus, acid reflux sufferers commonly have nighttime heartburn. In the case of people with pronounced physiological abnormalities at the level of the gastro-esophageal tract, heartburn intensifies when lying down, as the stomach's content can easily reflux inside the upper levels of the esophagus. Late meals can also cause heartburn by stimulating the stomach's production of digestive fluids.
Another explanation for nighttime heartburn is the absence of swallowing. During sleep, the reflex of swallowing is inhibited. This may facilitate the occurrence of heartburn, as swallowing clears the esophageal tract of stomach acid, while saliva acts to neutralize the undesirable effects of digestive fluids. Saliva contains bicarbonate, a substance that helps in normalizing the stomach's production of gastric acid.
Apart from being very frustrating, perturbing the sleep of acid reflux sufferers, nighttime heartburn is also very dangerous. Intense heartburn indicates that large quantities of stomach acid are pushed inside the esophagus, thus causing serious damage to the lining of the upper esophageal tract. People who suffer from frequent nighttime heartburn are exposed to developing serious complications such as Barrett's esophagus.
In order to prevent the occurrence of heartburn during the night, acid reflux disease sufferers should make a few lifestyle improvements. Firstly, people with acid reflux should avoid eating right before going to bed. Also, acid reflux sufferers should avoid eating fatty foods, chocolate or citrus fruits at dinner, as they stimulate the production of gastric acid. Furthermore, people with acid reflux disease should also abstain from alcoholic beverages or cigarettes late at night.
A good method of preventing the occurrence of nighttime heartburn is to maintain the head and the thorax in a slightly elevated position during sleep. You can do this by using extra pillows.
Medications can also help in preventing the occurrence of nighttime heartburn. Doctors recommend using a combination of antacids and acid reducers (H2 blockers). These two types of medications should be taken together in order to maximize their effects. Antacids provide rapid symptomatic relief, while acid reducers will prevent the occurrence of heartburn during the night.
Both Kathryn Whittaker & Groshan Fabiola 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.
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