Acid reflux is a common disorder that affects more than 7 percent of the American population. The disease generates symptoms such as heartburn, throat inflammation and pain, difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing. The symptoms of acid reflux have a pronounced recurrent character and they generally persist in time. Symptoms such as heartburn and chest discomfort tend to intensify at night or after meals.
Acid reflux involves regurgitation of the stomach's content inside the upper levels of the esophageal tract. The disorder is usually caused by acquired or genetically inherited physiological dysfunctions such as high pressure inside the abdomen or inappropriate activity of the lower esophageal sphincter (ring-shaped muscular valve that connects the esophagus to the stomach). Although inappropriate diet and unhealthy lifestyle greatly contribute to the occurrence of acid reflux, the disorder generally occurs on the premises of physiological abnormalities.
Obesity is a common risk factor of acid reflux disease. Due to increased abdominal pressure, overweight people are commonly confronted with acid reflux. However, recent studies have revealed the fact that even the slightest gain in weight can facilitate the occurrence of acid reflux. Medical scientists claim that people who experience difficulties in maintaining a constant weight are very likely to suffer from acid reflux.
Until recently, the connection between acid reflux and body weight was vague and in the absence of conclusive evidence, medical scientists could only speculate upon this matter. However, latest studies in the field have confirmed the existent theories regarding the involvement of weight gain in causing acid reflux disease.
In order to reveal clear links between acid reflux and body weight, researchers have calculated the incidence of the disease in women, judging by the BMI (body mass index) of the subjects. More than 10.000 women that participated to the study had to complete a questionnaire which asked if they have been confronted with acid reflux in the past. The women that participated to the study were also asked about the intensity, the frequency and the duration of their symptoms. Around 20 percent of the participants stated that they have suffered from acid reflux in the past. A smaller number of participants were still confronted with the disease at the date of the study. More than 50 percent of the participants claimed to have experienced moderate or intense symptoms of acid reflux disease.
The study revealed very interesting facts, as the incidence and the seriousness of the disease increased gradually according to body weight ratios. The women who had a BMI under 20 were 30 percent less likely to be affected by acid reflux disease than those who had a BMI above 20. Thus, the risk of acid reflux has proved to increase proportionally with BMI. Although medical scientists have disregarded aspects such as the age factor, the study clearly suggests the implication of weight gain in causing acid reflux disease.
Menopause and weight gain seem to go hand in hand. This is the usual grievance of many women from ages 40 to 50. These women complain they are having a hard time maintaining their present body weight. What's worse is that the weight accumulates more on the abdomen and not on the hips and thighs thus creating more problems for women.
Many women get shocked and frustrated with the drastic changes brought about by menopause. Weight gain is one of them. Even if they exercise and eat a balanced diet, they still fail in controlling those extra pounds that are added everyday.
It would be hard to accept but this is actually a natural phenomenon. The changes in hormonal levels in the body are responsible for the weight gain. These hormones that are likely to be affected are progesterone, estrogen, androgen, and testosterone.
Also, change in lifestyle is another reason for weight gain. Menopausal women often reduce the amount of exercise they do in comparison to their younger life and thus it leads to accumulation of fats in the body.
Women also tend to eat more in this age but the calorie requirements of the body gets decreased as a person gets older. The result thus is weight gain. Further, it is also believed that genetic factors also play a huge role in increasing weight in women after menopause.
Now the more important question is what should a woman do after menopause so that she does not gain much weight? The answer to this is very simple and indeed a regular weight loss methodology. However the only difference is that now you need to be more disciplined as well as careful about your health. Following are some of the age old but sure solutions to lose weight both after and during menopause.
A balanced diet will greatly help in maintaining your weight. You must avoid sugar and junk foods.
Secondly, do not use a crash diet for weight loss. This is a misconception that a crash diet can help lose weight. In fact a crash diet deteriorates your health even more.
Medical experts say losing weight in a short amount of time can lead to osteoporosis. Weight loss does not happen overnight. It is a gradual process.
Fourth, you should avoid taking some foods like alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. These foods exacerbate water retention and thus are not good for your body, even if you are in a healthy condition.
Regular exercise is also a better solution to your weight problem. You should try aerobics because it will burn excessive fats and will also increase your metabolism. You can also do weight bearing activities to successfully manage your weight. You can walk, run or swim or ride the bicycle but you should do it on a regular basis.
Both Groshan Fabiola & James Liow 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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