GERD, Acid Reflux and Heartburn - Know The Difference
If you suffer with the contents of your stomach trying to come back up then you probably have acid reflux disease sometimes referred to as heartburn. It has many names but the symptoms are generally the same and it is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Each of us uses hydrochloric acid in our gut to breakdown the food we eat and ideally that is where it should stay. The disorder gives you a burning sensation in your chest near the heart and stomach, when the acid wants to return up the digestive tract.
When we eat and swallow our food it is allowed into the stomach area to be digested by the esophageal sphincter valve which should then close back up in order to stop the hydrochloric acid from escaping. The problems start when for some reason this valve does not shut and the stomachs digestive juices are allowed to flow back up (acid reflux) causing the feeling of heartburn. The conditions proper medical name is called gastro esophageal reflux disorder. Though the root causes are often unclear, perhaps the most prevalent acid reflux cause is a poor diet; unfortunately, overeating and junk food can also overload the digestive systems ability to digest food adequately.
Many people that overeat find they have symptoms of acid reflux because their eating habits affect the stomach walls and place pressure on the muscles surrounding them. This in turn causes the esophageal valve to behave erratically leading to stomach fluids rising and causing the awful burning feeling in the chest. Since this valve protects your esophagus from your stomach acid, you need to take care this valve does not allow digested acidic food to pass back into the esophagus.
If this is a problem you have to live with then you should research an acid reflux diet and eat smaller meals during the day which will help the situation. The importance of your stomach’s wellbeing cannot be underestimated for long term good health. The reason for this is the stomach digests the food we eat into the nutrients required for continued good health.
The use of the widely available, anti acid drugs is not the long term answer. The problem is these ‘short term’ heartburn remedies can create other problems as they interfere with the natural functioning of the digestive system. It may take a while but the best solution is to make adjustments to your drinking and eating habits which may have caused the acid reflux condition. Within a few months you should find your stomach has had a chance build up its resistance considerably. You might find that once the heartburn incidents have been reduced you can gradually start eating some of the dishes you did before, remembering to take things easily.
Lifestyle changes extend beyond those of just eating habits as other contributing factors to acid reflux can be:
- Tobacco products – for smoking and chewing
- Food allergies
- Certain medical drugs
- Too much alcohol
- Lying down after a meal
As you can tell, most of these factors can be overcome by practicing some behavioral modifications and a change in lifestyle, The thought of reducing the incidents of heartburn symptoms should be sufficient incentive. This is how you may be able to clear your acid reflux disorder completely. Whether you decide to take this and your doctors advice is really up to you!
