Acid Reflux Disorder Defined
Most people experience a burning sensation in the chest
and/or stomach on occasion after eating. The cause of this is
attributed to the stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) backing up
into the esophagus.
The question that many people have is, how does one know if
they are experiencing something that is not normal? Although
occasional distress related to acid reflux is common and
'normal' in most cases, it is when this occurrence happens on a
regular basis that there should be cause for concern. Sufferers
of Acid Reflux Disorder feel this discomfort on a regular and
frequent basis.

Normally, food enters the stomach through the lower
esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is located on the upper
right side of the stomach. The LES is like a door or gate. It
opens and closes. In normal circumstances the LES closes and
remains closed as the stomach wall muscles contract
rhythmically to mix food with hydrochloric acid and
enzymes.
In a person with mild Acid Reflux Disorder the LES does not
close firmly enough to prevent the acid and food from rising up
into the esophagus. This leads to an irritation of the lining
of the esophagus. If the Acid Reflux Disorder is more severe,
the LES may be at least partially deteriorated from repeated
exposure to the acid. In such cases the patient will experience
pain more often.
Symptoms include mild to severe 'heartburn', characterized
by a burning pain behind the sternum. If this feeling extends
to the throat, the resulting damage can lead to laryngitis. If
the acid and food enter the lungs, pneumonia can result.
There can be various causes for the lower esophageal
sphincter not functioning properly. Very often other health
issues are involved, including: allergies, gallbladder
problems, enzyme deficiencies, hiatal hernia, stress and
ulcers. Certain foods and beverages are also culprits. Very
often physicians recommend the avoidance of particular foods
and beverages. This includes foods in this list: coffee,
alcohol, citrus fruits, fatty or fried foods, chocolate, spicy
foods and/or tomato based foods.
Although a single cause of Acid Reflux Disorder has not been
identified, one major logical cause is overeating. Even worse
is overeating and lying down soon afterward. That will increase
the pressure differential between the esophagus and the stomach
- leading to increased stress on the LES. Other possible causes
and/or contributing factors include lack of exercise, genetic
predisposition, and high fat diets (which remain in the stomach
longer).
If you experience discomfort as described in this article
you should visit your doctor. Only a qualified physician can
determine if you are merely suffering from occasional heartburn
or if in fact it is Acid Reflux Disorder. Mild cases of the
disorder are often "treated" via lifestyle changes. More severe
cases may require medication and in the very extreme cases
surgery may be an option.
There is an excellent resource called "Stop Acid Reflux
Now!" that goes into great detail about this issue, as well as
provides remedies that can reduce and actually eliminate acid
reflux altogether. I have personally used these techniques with
success. You can also get a free newsletter that contains
much more information and tips just by going to
Stop Acid Reflux
Now!
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