Acid reflux disease is a very common condition in which gastric juices from the stomach come back into the esophagus and cause a variety of symptoms. Some of the symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation of food, a feeling of heaviness in the chest, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness.

Acid reflux disease is often the result of too much pressure in the stomach. The lower esophageal sphincter or LES is found at the lower end of the esophagus. It acts like a valve in that it opens and closes depending on whether there is food or liquid being swallowed into the stomach. However, at times there is too much pressure in the stomach from swallowed air and the air will force open the valve resulting in a belch.
Many things can cause too much stomach pressure that can cause acid reflux. One of these causes is a bacterium called H. pylori. H. pylori can cause an infection in the stomach or sometimes in the first part of the intestine. At least half of the people in the world have the H. pylori infection in their body and have no signs or symptoms. For other people, H. pylori can cause more severe complications such as ulcers and even stomach cancer.

A peptic ulcer can also cause an increase in stomach pressure that can cause acid reflux disease. Sometimes the pH levels in the body can be too acidic. This will case bloating and burping. Drinking alcohol will also cause the body to become very acidic which in turn can cause acid reflux. High acid levels in the body can cause heart disease. It is best to try and keep the body chemistry in an alkaline state. Many drug stores will carry a pH level kit that can determine if the body is too acidic. The kit will contain Litmus paper which will turn color when dipped in saliva. The color can then be compared to a color chart included with the pH level kit which will determine if the body chemistry is too acidic. A result of 7 or less is considered too acidic and can lead to acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux disease can cause many types of discomfort that can interfere with daily life activities. Acid reflux disease causes severe heartburn. When the esophagus gets damaged by acid reflux disease the result is esophagitis. Esophagitis occurs when the esophageal lining is damaged and it can become ulcerated and narrowed. The narrowing of the esophagus is called stenosis. This can result in difficulty swallowing food and even liquids.

If acid reflux disease is not treated, it can last for a very long time. It can be treated by medications such as acid blockers. When the stomach is inflamed it releases acid. Acid blockers reduce the acid production in the stomach. Proton pump inhibitors are another drug treatment for acid reflux disease. They work by stopping the acid producing cell in the lining of the stomach from releasing acid.

Other drug treatments for acid reflux disease are typically purchased without a prescription and are used to treat only mild heartburn. They work by neutralizing the acid in the stomach.

All in all, acid reflux disease is a condition that can be helped by reducing the acid in the one’s stomach and changing lifestyle habits.

Related Posts

• Esophageal Reflux
• Is acid reflux really what this is? What food will not cause problems?
• I visited my doctor and he told me to take tums
• What are the signs of GERD?
• Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms
• Heartburn Information
• Reflux Symptoms

In General Information. You can leave a response, or trackback from your site.