As is often the case the name of the disease differs depending on the country, in the United Kingdom it is Gastro Oesophageal Reflux and in the United States it is Esophageal Reflux Disease. Gerd or gord is the cause of heartburn which is common amongst all people and causes upper abdominal pain and discomfort.
The pain in the throat which is such a feature of acid reflux comes from the stomach acid and pepsin which is forced up the esophagus. The lining of the esophagus has no protection against the acid and is irritated and can become ulcerated and even digested by the acid and pepsin. Symptoms can be varied and can be mild or very bad, in the latter this can cause bleeding and sometimes perforation of the esophageal wall. Gerd is very common and becoming even more so - mainly due to the increase in obesity and the increased pace of life. Go back 100 years and your ancestors probably wouldn't have recognised the disease.
Sufferers of acid reflux are often overweight and have a characteristic pear shape which indicates too much fat tissue in the abdominal cavity. The more fat, the more the organs are compressed. When the pressure in the stomach builds up, it can only go up the oesophagus! This is especially so when lying down or bending down.
One thing is obvious, weight loss is essential for sufferers of acid reflux to alleviate the pain. Easier said than done!
Unfortunately the esophageal problems aren't the whole story for many pain sufferers, fluid from the stomach can also rise to the mouth. A fluid can can enter the mouth, if this contains acid or bile it is known as acid brash which is extremely bitter, the other option is water brash due to over production of saliva. You may also experience pains in the middle of the chest and find it very hard to and painful to swallow even well chewed food.
Going to the Medic may not bring the help you crave, as the things which are prescribed are often antacids, acid suppressants or anti digestion remedies.
In medical circles the DeMeester scale is used to assess the severity of acid reflux. If a high score is seen your Doctor will arrange for a Barium meal followed by an xray, or an edoscopy could be the best decision.
There is lot more to discuss on acid reflux pain which will be dealt with in future articles, in the meantime try to lose weight, slow down and eat regular meals at set times and also try out some of the suggestions shown above.
Causes Of Acid Reflux Symptoms
Acid reflux is basically a condition in which acid from the stomach travels up to the esophagus, therefore posing a risk for esophageal damage. Pain can be felt in the throat, center of the chest behind the breastbone, or abdomen. There are several causes to acid reflux pain and these include certain foods, stress, and gastrointestinal problems.
Acidic Foods - Certain foods can cause heartburn symptoms, as they can be highly acidic. For instance, citrus fruits like lemons and oranges are already very acidic in nature and so add to the accumulation of acid in your stomach. Furthermore, fatty foods make it hard for your stomach to digest, and so the stomach reacts by producing more acid.
Eating Habits of a Person - It's not simply the certain foods you eat that cause acid reflux, it's also your eating habits. Eating heavy meals a few times in one day can cause acid to build up during the long hours before each meal. You should therefore reduce portions while eating more frequently throughout each day. You should also avoid eating right before bedtime as lying down encourages acid to slide up into the esophagus.
On the other hand, chest pains may occur if you have gastrointestinal problems caused by acid reflux. These can cause pain that resemble hear pains that make some sufferers think they're experiencing a heart attach. Because acid can reflux into the esophagus, the areas around the esophagus such as the breastbone can also be affected. Chest pains are often treated with antacids.
How To Identify Pain Caused By Acid Reflux
Acid reflux patients may experience epigastric cramping, soreness in the abdomen/upper abdominal pain, stomachache, heartburn, sore throat, painful coughing, and chest pain. If you also find yourself waking up in the middle of the night because of pain or experiencing pain every time you bend your body and lie down, you are most likely to have acid reflux.
Conventional Treatment For Pain From Acid Reflux
Taking Antacids - Conventional treatment for acid reflux symptoms usually involves antacids and acid reducers. Antacids are mainly used to neutralize acids in your stomach and can often treat symptoms fast. On the other hand, acid reducers like H2 blockers are mainly used to weaken the actual source of acid production in the stomach, but may take longer to relieve pain compared to antacids. However, both antacids and acid reducers may be prescribed as a combination treatment for fast and effective relief.
Natural Treatment For Pain From Acid Reflux
The best natural treatments that can relieve acid reflux pain would include special diets (i.e.: alkaline diets), avoiding acidic foods, and light exercises. Special diets often utilize alkaline foods to counteract with the excess acid that's "eating away" your stomach. Sometimes, simply avoiding acidic foods can ease acid reflux discomfort. Doctors may also recommend some light exercises to make it hard for acid to travel to the esophagus.
However, there may be some treatments may not relieve acid reflux pain immediately or may take longer to take effect. The point here is really to treat symptoms and the condition itself. For instance, there is treatment that reduces pain as well as heals damage caused by acid reflux. Speak with your doctor before taking any treatment.
Both Harry Heys & Richal Peyton 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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