Does Your Morning Coffee Cause You Pain or Discomfort?
Emily Clark

Does your morning coffee cause you pain? Are you frustrated when a night out dining with friends ends in discomfort instead of relaxed conversation? Do you carry antacids with you every day?

Heartburn is more than just a nuisance. It can detract from enjoying a meal, force you to change your routine and hang over your every decision - what to eat, what to drink, when to lay down.

What is this monkey on your back and how can you find relief?

WHAT CAUSES HEARTBURN?

Heartburn occurs when the acid content of the stomach makes its way back into the esophagus. A burning sensation and even a bitter taste are experienced by heartburn sufferers.

If you are suffering more than twice a week you may have acid reflux disease - also known as GERD. Why is this important?

Not all heartburn is caused by GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease). Occasional heartburn can be caused by a variety of factors but if you have regular episodes there are things you can do to help.

WHAT CAN I DO?

If you have regular heartburn the first thing you should do is stay away from regular use of antacids. Antacids can relieve the pain of occasional heartburn, but because they are designed to neutralize the acids in your stomach they can cause the stomach to create MORE acid - a cycle called acid rebound. Some medications can also cause diarrhea or constipation or even increase the risk of food poisoning by inhibiting the growth of good bacteria.

Watch out for trigger foods such as caffeine, alcohol, citrus, chocolate, minty, spicy or tomato-based foods as well as fatty or fried foods, onions or garlic.

Being overweight or smoking also increases the risk of GERD and lifestyle changes may help to control the symptoms.

Activities such as lying down after a meal, bending forward, lifting heavy items or eating large meals can bring acid reflux on. Avoiding these activities after a meal, eating smaller portions and raising the head of your bed several inches may help.

Some natural products such as orange peel extract are being researched for their abilities to curb heartburn.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Anyone. But it should be noted that pregnant women, children, overweight individuals and smokers are all likely candidates.

Young babies have immature digestive systems. National Digestive Diseases (NDDIC) says that most children outgrow GERD by the time they are one year old. However, because the symptoms are painful precautions like frequent burping and keeping the infant upright for 30 minutes after eating can reduce the occurrence.

Older children may have to take similar precautions in diet and activity as adults. You should always consult your doctor when you suspect GERD to avoid future complications.

Being overweight or pregnant increases the pressure in the abdomen. 25% of pregnant women experience heartburn at some time during their pregnancy.

If you suspect GERD it is important to contact your doctor as there can be harmful side effects of persistent heartburn including scaring of the esophagus, asthma, erosion of the teeth and even increased risk of esophageal cancer. Frequent, persistent heartburn can also be a symptom of other serious conditions and should be checked on by a professional.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

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Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

Presented by Symptoms of Acid Refux Disease

Acid Reflux/Heartburn - Simple Steps to Relief
by: Andrew Kelly

You’ve seen the advertisements: Acid reflux is a horrible disease that can
cause damage to the oesophagus and lead to cancer. Are these claims realistic,
or simply exaggerated to sell over the counter medications? The fact is that
doctors don’t even agree on the causes, treatments, and long-term risks related
to heartburn, so you can believe what you want about the ads.

Heartburn is the uncomfortable feeling resulting from acid reflux, or GERD,
gastroesophageal reflux disease (try saying that out loud a few times). It can
feel like a burning sensation (hence, the name), but can also feel like pressure
in the chest, which is why it is sometimes confused with feelings associated
with heart attacks.

Acid reflux occurs when the muscle between the stomach and the oesophagus
gets weak or relaxes at the wrong time. The result is that the stomach contents,
including the acid, move up into the oesophagus. Because the oesophagus doesn’t
have the protective lining that the stomach does, the acid literally burns the
oesophagus.

What Works?

Several non-prescription drugs may be effective for mild to moderate acid
reflux, such as antacids, which neutralize stomach acids. These include
well-known over the counter medications such as Tums and Rolaids. Another option
is H2 receptor antagonists, which reduce the production of stomach acids. These
include Axid AR, Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, and Zantac 75. Pepcid complete is the
only of these that combines an antacid with an H2 receptor antagonist. Which is
the best treatment? One study found that Pepcid complete performed better than
either an antacid alone or an H2 receptor antagonist alone.

Prescription drugs prescribed to treat acid reflux are called proton-pump
inhibitors. These include Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix.
While these are equally effective, one study did find that Nexium may heal
esophageal sores faster.

Presented by Symptoms of Acid Refux Disease

Technorati Tags: acid, reflux, acid reflux

About The Author

Andrew Kelly keeps you up to date with the latest Acid Reflux/Heartburn
relief tips and strategies. Learn simple and effective methods to help stop the
burning. To recieve your free info please click this link: href='http://www.acidrefluxfree.com' target=new rel='nofollow'>www.acidrefluxfree.com

Thousands of former sufferers have cured their heartburn WITHOUT drugs, pills or prescriptions already, and you can too! In 97% of cases, heartburn problems really can be corrected, without drugs, exercise or some crazy diet for the rest of your life. And the solution is fast and simple! Click Here!

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Information
by: D Ruplinger

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is the medical term for what most
people refer to as acid reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal is a relatively new term for acid reflux disease. It has
been used for approximately the past 20 years. Before that it was just referred
to as heartburn. But heartburn is just one of the symptoms of GERD. Some of the
other symptoms of GERD are regurgitation, hoarseness or laryngitis, the feeling
of a lump in the throat, coughing, bad breath, asthma, difficulty swallowing,
and water brash. Some people with GERD do not have any symptoms at all.

What happens to cause GERD? It starts with acid in the stomach washing back
up into the esophagus repeatedly, which happens if the lower esophageal
sphincter becomes relaxed.

Some foods and beverages can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax.
This is not an all-inclusive list but some of the most common are: chocolate,
licorice, peppermint, fatty foods, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol.
Barbiturates, calcium-channel blockers, Diazepam and Sumitriptan are some of the
medications that cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and allow acid
back in to the esophagus.

Lifestyle changes can be very effective in helping to control GERD although
over- the-counter medications, prescription medications, and possibly surgery,
may also be necessary. Some of the lifestyle changes that may help control GERD
include: losing weight if you are overweight, avoiding high-fat foods, not lying
down right after eating, not eating large heavy meals (i.e. don’t overstuff
yourself—especially on fatty foods), and stopping smoking if you are a smoker.

GERD can be a difficult disease to diagnosis. That is because of the wide
range of symptoms people can experience and the complication of some people not
experiencing any symptoms at all. It is easier to diagnosis if a person is
experiencing the classic symptoms of GERD which are heartburn and regurgitation.
In some cases a physician will not do tests right away but will first prescribe
over-the-counter or prescription medications to see if they clear up the
symptoms.

If the medications do not take care of the symptoms then a physician will
likely do one or more of the following diagnostic tests: x-rays with a barium
swallow, an upper gastrointestinal x-ray series, an upper endoscopy, an
esophageal manometry, or a 24-hour pH probe. The reason physicians may try
over-the-counter or prescription medications before running tests is because
some of the tests, such as the upper endoscopy and pH probe are invasive, and
because of the costs of some of the tests.

After diagnosing GERD, a physician will recommend lifestyle changes such as
the ones mentioned earlier in this article to help control the GERD, and
depending on the severity will recommend over-the-counter medications or will
prescribe a stronger medication by prescription. The medications may need to be
continued indefinitely because over half of all people who stop taking their
medications after getting their symptoms under control have a recurrence within
a year.

If the medications do not alleviate the symptoms, surgery may be needed.
Surgery is also an alternative to having to take medications indefinitely. A
procedure called a “Nissen fundoplication” is the type of surgery typically done
to relieve GERD. In the surgery the upper part of the stomach located near the
esophagus, called the “fundus,” is wrapped around the lower esophagus. Doing
this strengthens the barrier function of the lower esophagus, thus preventing
gastreosophageal reflux and repairing the main irregularity that occurs in
people suffering from GERD. The surgery is usually done laparoscopically. It is
considered a safe surgery (but remember any surgery carries risks) that
typically gives good results.

Thousands of former sufferers have cured their heartburn WITHOUT drugs, pills or prescriptions already, and you can too! In 97% of cases, heartburn problems really can be corrected, without drugs, exercise or some crazy diet for the rest of your life. And the solution is fast and simple! Click Here!

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D Ruplinger is a featured writer for target=new rel='nofollow'> http://www.acidrefluxhq.com. For more information about acid
reflux and GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) visit href='http://www.acidrefluxhq.com' target=new>http://www.acidrefluxhq.com.

Thousands of former sufferers have cured their heartburn WITHOUT drugs, pills or prescriptions already, and you can too! In 97% of cases, heartburn problems really can be corrected, without drugs, exercise or some crazy diet for the rest of your life. And the solution is fast and simple! Click Here!

An Introduction to Acid Reflux Disease
Seth Miller

 

Acid reflux disease, also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, afflicts millions of people. Many suffer from an occasional bout with heartburn, but acid reflux disease, as a diagnosis, should only be made if the heartburn causes impediments to your lifestyle due to severe, chronic discomfort over prolonged periods of time. Usually, if you suffer from heartburn 2 or more times per week for at least 12 weeks, there’s a good chance that your diagnosis would be GERD. Unfortunately, no one knows exactly what causes acid reflux disease, but there is an ample amount of information available at your doctor’s office and on the Internet.
The good news is that acid reflux disease is a highly manageable condition, though it can lead to potentially serious, chronic conditions. Many avenues are available with regard to treatment options. The most common options recommended include lifestyle changes, medical treatments, stress management, and/or a combination of all strategies.
What is Acid Reflux Disease?
Acid reflux disease is a chronic condition in which stomach acid washes back up onto the esophagus, causing severe discomfort. Stomach acid burns the esophagus lining due to a relaxed lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES acts as a valve between your stomach and the esophagus. The valve is designed to open and allow food into the stomach, and then close, protecting the esophagus from acids. However, if the LES is not closing properly, acid rushes or refluxes upward, coating the esophagus, and causes a burning sensation.
Remember that it’s normal to suffer from acid reflux (heartburn) every once and awhile. It’s only acid reflux disease when it’s a chronic condition, happening frequently and for long periods of time. If you are unsure, don’t hesitate to see your doctor. One more thing to keep in mind is that heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. It just feels that way at times because the esophagus is located behind the heart.

 

Thousands of former sufferers have cured their heartburn WITHOUT drugs, pills or prescriptions already, and you can too! In 97% of cases, heartburn problems really can be corrected, without drugs, exercise or some crazy diet for the rest of your life. And the solution is fast and simple! Click Here!

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Acid Reflux Info provides comprehensive information on the cause, symptoms, treatment, and diet associated with normal and infant acid reflux. Acid Reflux Info is the sister site of Pain Relief Web.

Thousands of former sufferers have cured their heartburn WITHOUT drugs, pills or prescriptions already, and you can too! In 97% of cases, heartburn problems really can be corrected, without drugs, exercise or some crazy diet for the rest of your life. And the solution is fast and simple! Click Here!

A Look At Acid Reflux Treatment

Heartburn is a by-product of digestion, specifically affecting the esophagus and the stomach. The esophagus is a tube that delivers food into the stomach, and it has a valve that opens and closes to allow food in and to keep it down during digestion. This valve can become lax or get overwhelmed by too much food or too much acid. This condition causes stomach acids to reflux or spill back up through the valve onto the esophagus, fanning flames of discomfort within the center of the chest.

Is there an acid reflux cure? Yes and no. Yes, because it can be treated effectively and relieved, but also no, because researchers have yet to find a root cause and it can always come back. Acid reflux treatment regimens include medications, lifestyle changes, and stress management. Depending on severity, acid reflux can be curbed with as little as only a few behavioral modifications such as quitting smoking and eating better to powerful acid reflux medication treatments under a physician’s supervision.

Acid Reflux Medication

Acid reflux medication strategies vary in how they defend against heartburn. With serious, recurrent heartburn, a physician may recommend acid reflux medications to include histamine antagonists that suppress acid secretions triggered by histamine and gastrin. You could also be prescribed proton pump inhibitors, a newer compound designed to block the last step in acid production. Prokinetic agents make up another group that, unlike the first two, does not block or suppress acid production, but instead aims to increase the pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, helping to push food through faster.

Acid Reflux Relief

In many cases, lifestyle alterations can provide a great deal of acid reflux relief like changing your diet, quitting smoking, sitting up after meals, and learning to manage stress. Exercise is also highly effective in relieving acid reflux because it aids in speeding digestion and stifles one of the peskiest acid reflux culprits—being overweight. Also check out specialized pillows, shaped into wedges that help keep your head higher than your stomach so that acid stays where it should while you sleep.

Others opt for natural herbal remedies found in health food stores. These herbal remedies tout all-natural ingredients that relieve heartburn symptoms and tend to be milder than medical treatments. Prescription medications are the most aggressive acid reflux treatments and are designed to provide relief for those who suffer from serious, chronic heartburn or acid reflux disease.

You may have to try more than one or a combination of relief strategies in order to find out which is the most effective for you. Remember to consult your physician on any medical concern, and always keep educated and proactive when it comes to your health.

Acid Reflux Info provides comprehensive information on the cause, symptoms, treatment, and diet associated with normal and infant acid reflux. Acid Reflux Info is the sister site of Pain Relief Web.

Technorati Tags: acid, reflux, acid reflux

Thousands of former sufferers have cured their heartburn WITHOUT drugs, pills or prescriptions already, and you can too! In 97% of cases, heartburn problems really can be corrected, without drugs, exercise or some crazy diet for the rest of your life. And the solution is fast and simple! Click Here!

Thousands of former sufferers have cured their heartburn WITHOUT drugs, pills or prescriptions already, and you can too! In 97% of cases, heartburn problems really can be corrected, without drugs, exercise or some crazy diet for the rest of your life. And the solution is fast and simple! Click Here!

Do You Have An Acid Reflux Problem?

Most people have digestive problems that create a variety of illness that we see as they age. The main problem is with the food that they eat. As has already been said many times, we eat more junk, processed, and packaged food than our stomach can digest. We eat more meat and protein then we should. We drink more unusual drinks that are mainly sugar.

We need to eat more live vegetables and fruits. This will minimize any acid reflux problems you might have.

Your body is designed to be electrically balanced. This is done by eating both acid and alkaline foods. If you eat too much acid food or alkaline food you move towards illness. Acid reflux is one of these illnesses.

When too much acid food is eaten, the stomach can’t digest it. completely. The excess undigested food turns into acid waste. This waste causes stomach spasms or twitching that causes an increase in stomach gas that pops open the valve between the esophagus and stomach.

Acidic stomach content is sucked into the esophagus causing a burning sensation in the chest and throat. This is acid reflux or heartburn.

Acid Reflux Remedies

Here are three acid reflux remedies that you can start using right away to decrease the effects of acid reflux

* Digestive enzymes – Just before you eat, take some digestive enzymes. There are a variety of types that you can buy in a health food store – cost is about $15.00. Digestive enzymes will help you digest your food in the stomach and lessen the work the stomach has to do. But don’t take enzymes if you have an ulcer.

* Drinking water – When eating your meal, don’t drink any cold liquid. Cold liquid in the stomach decreases the digestive activity and your food will take longer to digest. It is best not to drink any water with your meal since this decrease the strength of your hydrochloric acid. If you have to drink water to clear your throat use water at room temperature.

* Vegetables – Eat vegetables with lunch and dinner and decrease the amount of meat and protein you eat. Don’t over eat since this puts an extra load on your stomach and you may not be able to digest all this food. Try eating your vegetables raw when possible since this gives you extra enzymes and plenty of minerals. Any time you eat bread eat it with some vegetables. Bread is hard to digest and the added fiber helps its digestion and helps to move it through the colon faster.

Just doing these three suggestions will help you improve your digestion and help to relieve your acid reflux. Concentrate on changing your eating habits and the types and quantities of food that you eat, if you want to stop the effects of acid reflux.

Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call “natural-remedies-thatwork.com.” More remedies and information on acid reflux go to: http://www.acidreflux-relief.info

Technorati Tags: acid, reflux, acid reflux

Thousands of former sufferers have cured their heartburn WITHOUT drugs, pills or prescriptions already, and you can too! In 97% of cases, heartburn problems really can be corrected, without drugs, exercise or some crazy diet for the rest of your life. And the solution is fast and simple! Click Here!

All of us love food to some degree, whether it is a lavish chocolate cake, a greasy hamburger with fries or a five-course meal at your favorite restaurant. Finding heartburn information is easy - there is a lot of help available on the internet, too many stories from your friends and family and much too much in magazines and home remedy books. It will relax only to let food come through the esophagus into the stomach for digestion.

Acid reflux occurs when acids in the stomach are allowed to come up from the stomach into the esophagus. Normally, a muscle at the base of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES, contracts to keep the acids in the stomach where they belong. It will relax only to let food come through the esophagus into the stomach for digestion.

When this muscle does not work properly, or pressure from the stomach builds for any reason, the acids can escape back into the esophagus. While the stomach has a protective lining to guard itself from damage caused by the acids, the esophagus is not equipped in the same way. That is why inflammation and discomfort can occur from acid reflux, which is also known as heartburn.

There are several remedies to try and alleviate the discomfort, and one way some people try and lessen their heartburn is by drinking milk. Heartburn and milk, however, do not really go together. Food is the main entertainment at most parties or celebrations, the reason for some gatherings and the only enjoyment of others. Quick meals, spicy food and lots of caffeine translate into occasional bouts of a burning sensation in the chest. Usually, an antacid tablet or just a little time takes care of the problem and life goes on. You know deep down that this is a medical problem, but it’s so common and usually not more than an annoyance. How strong a treatment is needed is determined by the severity of the heartburn. Enjoying a special dish or meal is something we all look forward to once in a while. Normally these acids are held at bay by a muscle at the base of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. Normally the LES only allows food from the esophagus to go into the stomach.  The mildest case of heartburn feels downright life threatening. The common, non-dangerous condition can feel like agony.

Are Heartburn and Acid Reflux Something to Worry About?

While acid reflux and heartburn are not generally serious, if it begins to happen quite frequently, the constant irritation to the esophageal lining can cause more serious problems. That is why doctors will often try to treat frequent acid reflux and heartburn; first by diet and lifestyle changes, and then with different types of medication. By the time a patient goes into a doctor with his symptoms, they have generally become painful and frequent enough to become a disruption in his life. Treatment for his acid reflux and heartburn symptoms are usually a welcome relief at that point.

Treatments for Acid Reflux and Heartburn Symptoms

Some of the more common treatments for heartburn symptoms resulting from acid reflux are to quit smoking, avoid large meals and tight clothing, and to not eat too close to bedtime. Dietary modifications can include avoiding certain foods and beverages such as alcohol, caffeine, citrus fruits and fatty foods. Chocolate and peppermint are also known contributors to acid reflux and heartburn. A doctor may also suggest keeping a food diary over a period of time to try and determine specific foods that might act as triggers for symptoms.

If these changes and modifications do not bring about effective relief, a doctor may recommend over the counter antacids or prescribe a stronger medication to treat recurring acid reflux and heartburn symptoms.