Acid Reflux (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) is a very common disorder that involves the regurgitation of the stomach inside the esophagus. The disorder produces symptoms such as heartburn, throat inflammation and pain, difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing. Some people experience sporadic symptoms of acid reflux, which tend to intensify after meals and during the night. However, most acid reflux disease sufferers may experience ongoing, persistent symptoms. People who are confronted with acid reflux on a frequent time basis are very exposed to the development of serious complications such as Barrett's esophagus and even esophageal cancer. In order to keep the disorder under control and to avoid further complications, people with chronic forms of acid reflux need an appropriate medication treatment.
The treatment of acid reflux includes medications that normalize the stomach's production of gastric acid. Considering the fact that most cases of acid reflux involve overproduction of digestive fluids and pepsin at the level of the stomach, the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease is very similar to the treatment of ulcer or gastritis.
The most common medications used in the treatment of acid reflux are antacids. Although they provide rapid symptomatic relief for acid reflux sufferers, these medications also have some minuses. Antacids have limited action and they can only act to temporarily control the acidity of the stomach. Also, they are not strong enough to ameliorate acid reflux symptoms in more serious forms of the disorder.
Unlike other acid reflux medications, acid reducers (also known as H2 receptor antagonists or H2 blockers) have proved to be more effective in decreasing the intensity and the frequency of heartburn and other specific manifestations of gastro-esophageal disease. Strong acid reducers can only be purchased with medical prescription, while less strong types of acid reducers are also available in nonprescription forms. While the effects of antacids are diminished after only 2-3 hours, a single dose of acid reducers can prevent the occurrence of acid reflux during the entire day.
Acid reducers can be used either in short-term or long-term medical treatments. The most commonly prescribed acid reducer is ranitidine. This medication is effective in overcoming non-complicated forms of acid reflux disease. A 6-week course of ranitidine can completely eliminate the symptoms of acid reflux for most people with the disorder. For people with more serious forms of gastro-esophageal disease, doctors may prescribe cimetidine or famotidine. Acid reducers have mild side-effects that are usually perceived by people who follow ongoing treatment with such medications. Long-term use of acid reducers can produce headache, fatigue, vomiting, nausea, constipation or diarrhea. These side-effects disappear after reducing the dose of medications or after temporarily interrupting the treatment.
It is important to note that acid reducers aren't appropriate for all acid reflux sufferers. Patients with esophagitis or Barrett's esophagus don't usually respond to treatments with acid reducers. For this category of people, doctors may prescribe proton pump inhibitors, medications that temporarily block the stomach's production of gastric acid.
1.Acid reflux is very commonly referred to as heartburn. However its symptoms are more severe compared to a normal heartburn. Over 60million Americans or one fifth of the entire population suffer from acid reflux on a monthly basis. An astounding half of these sufferers experience the painful symptoms on a daily basis.
2.Acid reflux is commonly caused by the over-production of acid in the stomach and by the inability of the sphincter at the top of the stomach to stop the acid from travelling up the oesophagus. Although it is not curable, it can be easily controlled by eating a low-acid diet and by taking prescription medications.
3.Most sufferers experience the painful and uncomfortable symptoms during the night hours when in a horizontal position. This will can cause sleep disorders, tiredness and even mental health problems if left untreated. During the day, you can feel a sense of irritability, a lack of concentration and a general feeling of unhappiness.
4.As well as diet, habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol tend to aggravate acid reflux. As such, if you suffer with the condition on a regular basis, you should seriously consider leading a healthier lifestyle and monitoring your alcohol consumption. Smoking and alcohol have been found to have a relaxing effect on the sphincter at the top of the stomach and as this sphincter is already impaired in sufferers, this can cause much more severe pain than in normal people.
5.Obesity and generally being over weight can increase your risk to developing acid reflux. The fat around the waist and abdomen presses on the stomach, especially when lying down, and so the sphincter at the top of the stomach, and indeed the one at the bottom of the stomach that leads to the small intestine, become stressed and weakened. This can and often does result in stomach acid leaking in to the oesophagus and causing the symptoms associated with acid reflux. This also occurs in the last few months of pregnancy when the weight of the baby pushes on the stomach.
Not getting timely treatment can land you in worse trouble as the condition worsens. Your oesophagus can become damaged. You also increase your risk to developing oesophageal cancer. Thus, if you find yourself sufferring from acid reflux symptoms regularly, best is to visit your doctor before more complications occur.
Both Groshan Fabiola & Khim Lim 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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