Many people know they have heartburn but a common question in doctors offices today is just what is acid reflux disease? Acid reflux disease or GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) has become common in recent years. It is also termed GORD when spelled oesophageal. GERD occurs when gastric fluids flow back into and cause damage to the esophagus as well as the mucous membranes within.
In adults, heartburn is a major symptom of GERD. This is usually felt as a burning sensation behind the breastbone. Other conditions associated with GERD include esophagitis (an inflammation of the esophagus), difficulty swallowing and chronic chest pain. This chest pain can sometimes be misconstrued as heart disease and should not be ignored under any circumstances.
While occasional heartburn is commonplace, it does not necessarily indicate GERD. If you even think that GERD is possible, see your doctor immediately. Typical symptoms include hoarseness, voice changes, earaches, burning in the chest and nausea. GERD has also been linked to cases of esophageal cancer in older patients.
In addition, the presence of a hiatal hernia raises the risk of developing GERD.
In children, GERD may be very difficult to diagnose. Frequent spitting up, vomiting, coughing and respiratory trouble are good indicators of pediatric GERD. While there are other symptoms, a patient may have one or many of these symptoms. It is estimated that about 35% of all babies are born with reflux disease. Of these children born with reflux disease, most will outgrow it by their first birthday.
The first step in diagnosing acid reflux disease or GERD is taking a full history of the patient's symptoms. Tests may be done including a barium swallow, EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) or a 24-hour monitoring of the Ph levels in the esophagus. The EGD is a form of endoscopy and is only performed on patients with advanced or alarm symptoms.
GERD or acid reflux disease is caused by a failure of one or more of the components of the esophageal tube including the anti-reflux barrier (ARB), gastroesophageal valve (GEV) and lower esophageal sphincter (LES). In recent years, more focus has been placed on the GEV as it has been identified as the central point for controlling GERD. The GEV alone is capable of stopping reflux as has been shown in tests on cadavers.
Treatments can be non-invasive, pharmaceutical or even surgical in extreme cases. Many times the physician will suggest a lifestyle change. Some foods have been linked to the development of GERD. There are also a few self-treatments including not eating before bed and sleeping on the left side. These have been proven to lessen the effects of GERD in patients with post-bedtime symptoms.
Keeping all of this in mind, GERD is actually not an acid problem but a muscular weakness disease so the net time you are wondering what is acid reflux disease caused from, you can stop blaming the wrong thing. The weakening of the esophageal muscles causes the acid to back up into the esophagus. So if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please see a physician as soon as possible. It could save your life.
Acid reflux, sometimes known as GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease), is an irritating and sometimes hurting condition that occurs when acid and other materials in the stomach back up into your esophagus, creating a excruciating, burning feeling and sometimes causing permanent damage to the lining of the esophagus (the muscular tube that leads from your throat to the stomach).
The majority of times during acid reflux, food from the stomach stay in the lower part of the esophagus, where they can cause heartburn and nausea. Seldom, the stomach materials will reflux all the way into your mouth. But when this happens, the acid will cause a burning feeling in your throat, and you might find small, undigested pieces of food in your mouth.
What Causes Acid Reflux?
A defective lower esophageal sphincter is usually held responsible for Acid reflux. The esophageal sphincter is a strong rim of muscle that surrounds the lower end of the esophagus. When food is eaten, the sphincter contracts powerfully to drive the food into the stomach.
When the sphincter is not tough enough to force the food into the stomach, or when the sphincter does not push and simply relaxes, Acid Reflux occurs.
Other culprits connected with acid reflux consist of a hiatal hernia and a "weak" or "slow" esophagus that doesn't contract strongly enough to move the food to the stomach in a timely manner.
What Are The Symptoms To Look For?
There are many possible symptoms that a doctor will test for, since it varies among individuals. The occurrence and intensity of symptoms can also vary from occasionally to daily, and mild to severe.
One of the major symptoms of acid reflux disease is a burning sensation in the chest that occurs after intake of food. This sensation may last a few hours and become worse if one lies down after eating. The burning can also travel up into the throat area, and there might be a sour taste in the mouth. Occasionally, an individual will develop a cough or become hoarse as a consequence of this burning in the throat and chest.
If no treatment is sought to the point of damage to the larynx, respiratory problems may develop, scar tissue might build up in the esophagus causing swallowing to be difficult and medical treatment will be essential to prevent more damage.
How Is Acid Reflux Treated?
Medications are available to help ease the discomfort of acid reflux disease. However, for greatest benefit, doctors also suggest lifestyle changes. They include:
Weight Loss
Although the reasons are not clearly understood, overweight group tend to be more at risk for acid reflux disease as compared to people with normal weight. Research shows that losing just 10% of your body weight can ease the symptoms of acid reflux.
Abstention From Smoking And Drinking
Nicotine is thought to weaken the esophageal sphincter, as with Alcohol. Production of excessive acid might also be caused by the two.
Staying Upright For At Least 45 Minutes After A Meal
Straight away after eating, acid fills your stomach as it works to digest the foods you have consumed. Lying down during this time is most likely to cause the acid to flow into your esophagus. Gravity will help keep the acid in the stomach if you sit or stand upright.
Eat Several Small Meals A Day Instead Of Three Big Ones
More acid is needed if more food is consumed to digest it. Having numerous small meals is much easier on your digestive system, thus reducing the chance of acid reflux disease occurring.
Avoid Clothing That Is Tight Around The Waist
Tight clothing will force food and acid up against the esophageal sphincter. A damaged sphincter will allow the contents to flow back into the esophagus with unlikable results.
Avoidance Of Fast Foods
Nearly all fast foods are high in fat. More acid is produced due to Fatty foods, which can result in increased symptoms of acid reflux disease.
In addition, over-the-counter medications are available to ease symptoms. Histamine Receptor Antagonists, like Pepcid and Zantac, work by decreasing the amount of acid in the stomach. Mylanta and Tagamet, on the other hand, work to neutralize acid.
Finally, if the symptoms persist, doctors may recommend proton pump inhibitors such as Nexium and Prevacid. They prevent the discharge of acid into the stomach and intestines. Lastly, Reglan, a promotility agent, may be used to force the esophagus to empty more quickly and to speed digestion.
Both Lee Dobbins & Cindy Heller 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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