Acid reflux or GERD is an important health issue. It can affect both women and mens health. In this condition, there is reflux of acidic contents from the stomach into the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which remains tightly closed, prevents reflux and opens when peristaltic waves herald the imminent arrival of swallowed food. When the LES becomes incompetent acid reflux will result. This is called gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD.

So can you cure your acid reflux? If there is true lower esophageal incompetence, then there is no cure. In LES incompetence, you need maintenance acid suppressant treatment such as omeprazole, or if very severe or you develop secondary problems then surgical surgical intervention with fundoplication will relieve your symptoms.

There are, however, various factors that can affect the efficiency of the LES and acid reflux. Eliminating these factors may avoid a trip to your doctor or taking over the counter medication. Sometimes all you need is a change of lifestyle.

Obesity can cause or contribute to acid reflux. It is more likely in the apple type distribution of weight. The extra weight increases bulk in the upper abdomen and makes effective discharge of food from the esophagus into the stomach difficult. In addition hiatus hernia is more common in obese individuals. A hiatus hernia can weaken the LES. Losing weight is an important aspect of GERD treatment.

Wearing tight fitting clothes can cause acid reflux especially if it is two sizes too small. The increased pressure on the stomach may force acid back up into the gullet. Your acid reflux will improve if you wear loose clothes.

A large meal entering the stomach will increase the pressure on the LES and can trigger acid reflux. We all experience this at some time or other. Gastric clearance time is also increased by large volume allowing more opportunity for reflux. Eating smaller portions more frequently will counter this problem.

Certain foods can affect acid reflux. Cow’s milk protein intolerance can cause esophagitis. It is called Allergic Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Removing cow’s milk protein from your diet will control this. Other foods such as fats, coffee, alcohol, tea and some spices can affect the lower esophageal sphincter.

The lower esophageal sphincter can be affected by some drugs and result in acid reflux. Broncho-dilators such as theophylline, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), tri-cyclic antidepressants ie amitryptilline and drugs for Parkinson’s disease are in this list.

Female hormones can affect acid reflux. Women on hormones, in a Scandinavian Study had showed a greater risk. These drugs include the contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Sedatives and tranquillisers can slow down peristaltic waves in the esophagus affecting proper discharge of food from the esophagus.

Opt for liquid medication if you have GERD and need treatment. Certain drugs ie tetracycline are corrosive to the lining of the esophagus. Tablets and capsules (gelcaps) can lodge in the esophagus. Make it a habit to drink a glass of water after medication to wash it down. Avoid taking medication while lying down. GERD patients should always take medication sitting up or standing and avoid lying down immediately after.

Smoking relaxes the LES and nicotine is corrosive to esophageal lining. Stop smoking and your GERD might improve.

Acid Reflux risk is increased by certain exercises. This is the case in competitive weightlifting and cycling. Joggers can develop acid reflux symptoms.

If by eliminating all the risk factors, your symptoms disappear, then you have actually cured your acid reflux. However, if the symptoms persist, the next step is a visit to your doctor.

Technorati Tags: acid reflux, acid reflux treatment, health

If you’re trying to get relief from heartburn and acid reflux, you may not want to continue taking traditional medications in order to get relief. Many prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines have side effects that could worsen your condition or cause other health problems. Natural remedies are much less likely to cause problems. Here are some you might want to try.

Before you take any of these supplements, be sure to read the directions carefully, and to follow the dosages completely. Also, if you are taking prescription medications be sure to check with your doctor before you stop.

Always remember that supplements are just that - supplements. The foundation should be a healthy diet.

One of the nutritional supplements you’ll want to take it burdock. This herb supports feeling in general, but it is also very soothing for the G.I. tract. Burdock can help to clear up your reflux symptoms if you take it once or twice a day with a meal.

You may also want to try celery seed; this supplement is great for helping to clean out the intestines, which means your body will be able to rid itself of toxins much quicker. In addition to celery seed, you can eat raw celery stalks. If you use a juicer, try adding celery to some recipes.

Saffron is an exotic spice that has helped many people with acid reflux.  Saffron is available in capsule form to take a supplement, but is such a delicious spice that seems foolish not to cook with it..

In addition to these things, taking a capsule of devil’s claw with meals will also help you to feel better after eating, and will help you to resist the urge to lie down right after a meal. This is South American herb seems to help protect the lining of the G.I. tract as well as aid in digestion.

You can take other supplements to aid in the digestion process for acid reflux as well. Here are some pages for you can look for other ideas: Herbal Remedies for Acid Reflux and Acid Reflux Home Remedies

I’m sure you realize that you still need to be somewhat careful with your diet, but natural remedies can go a long way toward relieving your symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux.

It’s also a good idea to find out about all the other treatments, and particularly about some pretty serious complications that most people don’t know about. Head over to Treat Acid Reflux Now to get more information. Surprisingly, acid reflux can lead to severe lung problems and even cancer, so you definitely should get all the information you can.

Technorati Tags: acid reflux, acid reflux treatment, GERD, heartburn, natural cures for acid reflux, natural remedies for acid reflux

If you suffer with heartburn then thankfully there are heartburn remedies available for you.You may be surprised to learn that the years the whole gamut of heartburn remedies available. 

If you need further advice then the best thing is to take a look at the Jeff Martin Heartburn No More Review and see if this highly acclaimed course will help…

It is difficult for some people to believe they have heartburn because they do not experience the typical symptoms associated with it.  Many of the heartburn remedies available can be purchased at your local drug store and do not need a doctor’s prescription. You do not need to suffer from heartburn no more as there are remedies out there.

These heartburn remedies are to be taken after you feel a heartburn attack happening and need immediate relief.  There are also many home remedies that meant to prevent heartburn from happening to begin with so that you do not have to experience it at all.

Prevention

By far the best remedy is prevention.  Understanding what causes your heartburn is the best heartburn remedy if you know you suffer from heartburn.Knowing what starts your heartburn is the first step to understanding it.It is well documented in that spicy food can cause heartburn and if this is the case then you will need to cut out this type of food.  Some other heartburn remedies are to eat smaller meals instead of eating one or two larger meals.

My number one recommendation is heartburn no more by Jeff Martin… 

Smaller meals means that your stomache will work have less work to do as there is less food to digest.Do not lie down immediately after a meal.Of course allowing you enough time to properly digest your meal.If your heartburn is a problem in the night time then use an estra pillow to raise your upper body a little.  

Many people suffering from heartburn find that loosing wieght and wearing loose clothing is a great help.

what can you do about it?

If you are looking for immediate relief for your hertburn trouble then you will discover and abundance of over the counter heartburn remedies available in your local high street.Why not try one of the many home remedies for heartburnt that are avialable.Taking over the counter medication and drugs may actually make your condition worse so make sur eyou know what you are taking. 

If you are experiencing heartburn pain and need immediate relief then some of the heartburn remedies to turn are the over the counter medications available at your local drug store.  You should consult a professional immediately if you have persistent heartburn or severe pain associated with your heartburn that does not seem to lessen. 

Your doctor may recommend a stronger reform of medication for your heartburn complaint and he can also give you a fellow of medical examination.

Technorati Tags: acid reflux treatment, heartburn remedies

Heartburn may seem like a simple cause-and-effect problem. You overeat or eat spicy foods, your heart hurts and then you take an Alka-seltzer. Unfortunately, the causes aren’t always so obvious. As you get older, you’ll be surprised at the silly little things that can cause acid reflux disease.

As we get older, our ability to produce HCL (High Density Lipoprotein) digestive acids diminishes. After 65, we begin to produce 80% what we had just thirty years ago. While it was once widely believed that acid reflux disease stemmed from overproduction of amino acids, recent research suggests that sometimes a lack of strong acids can affect our system’s natural triggers that facilitate mineral absorption, protein storage and waste removal.

Another cause for this disease is diet choices. As previously mentioned, when you eat a lot of fatty foods or enormous meals all at once, the body has trouble breaking down the proteins, which putrefy in your stomach as a result. Other times, too many spicy foods, citrus fruits, caffeine, garlic, onions, peppers, fried food, alcohol, red wine and mint simply exacerbates our system.

It’s not always what you eat but when you eat as well. People who eat two or three hours before bedtime often suffer tremendous, heartburn and acid reflux symptoms. They may be up coughing all night from breathing in the acid, they may snore and feel congested or they may have an asthmatic reaction, unable to breathe, let alone fall asleep! Nearly three-fourths of patients with heartburn acid reflux suffer nighttime effects as well. Another common mistake people make is quite the opposite - bending, lifting and working right after dinner. All the moving around could help push food back from where it came.

Believe it or not, some medications you’re already on may be upsetting your stomach. Calcium channel blockers, Theophylline (Hydrophed, Marax, Bronchial, Quibron), Nitrates and Antihistamines can all relax the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, which is the valve that keeps food and fluids down after swallowing. If you’re taking medication for asthma, high blood pressure, seizures, angina, pain, urinary tract disorders or allergies, check with your doctor to see if acid reflux is one of the side effects.

Are you pregnant? Increased hormone levels naturally relax ligaments in your body at this time, including the LES. Since more pressure is shifted around your midsection, it’s natural for food or stomach acids to get pushed back up.

On a more serious note, acid reflux disease could arise suddenly as a symptom of underlying issues. For example, a hiatal hernias can cause the retention of strong acids in the stomach and may block alternate paths for the acid’s exit. Peptic ulcers (stomach lining sores) and Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) can also be sinister culprits of your pain. If you find reflux symptoms coming up on a daily or weekly basis, check with your doctor to be sure you’re digesting as you should be.

Technorati Tags: acid reflux disease, acid reflux treatment, GERD symptoms, heartburn acid reflux, heartburn and acid reflux symptoms, reflux symptoms, remedies for heartburn, strong acids, Symptoms of acid reflux