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Acid Reflux and Heartburn
It used to be that there was heartburn and a few medicines used to treat it. Now we hear the terms heartburn and acid reflux thrown around a lot, but many people still aren't sure what they mean. Well now it's time to get the facts straight on acid reflux and heartburn.
Acid reflux is when acid backs up from the stomach, into the esophagus. Heartburn is simply the burning pain sometimes experienced in the chest due to this acid backup. Other times, acid reflux has no pain or symptoms at all. The term heartburn is generally used to describe a condition of occasional, mild heartburn caused by eating certain foods. Acid reflux, or acid reflux disease, is commonly used to refer to a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
GERD is a disorder where the valve at the top of the stomach allows acids from the stomach to flow into the esophagus. Unlike your run of the mill heartburn, GERD has other symptoms as well. In fact, some people with GERD experience only mild heartburn or no heartburn at all. Some of the other symptoms of GERD include: nausea, regurgitation, sore throat, belching, a bitter taste in your mouth, bad breath, and painful or difficult swallowing. If GERD goes untreated, it can cause a disruption to your life and sleep cycle, but can also cause damage to your esophagus and may lead to esophageal cancer.
Simple heartburn can usually be stopped by avoiding trigger foods. While particular foods tend to cause heartburn in many people, triggers are still individual. The best way to determine what you shouldn't eat is to keep a journal. Record what you eat and whether or not you get heartburn each day. You may also want to record the severity. Eventually, you should see that certain types of foods cause your heartburn. Simply avoid them and you'll start to notice a decrease in heartburn incidents.
GERD is more difficult to treat that simple heartburn. In addition to avoiding food triggers, you may have to make some other changes, which include: weight loss, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, avoiding tight-fitting clothes, taking time to reduce stress, eating small meals more often, not lying down for two hours after a meal, and elevating the head of the bed when you sleep. Your doctor may also recommend you use prescription medications that can stop reflux and repair esophagus damage.
If your heartburn is occasional and includes no other symptoms, then you probably have little to worry about; however if you have frequent heartburn and any other symptoms mentioned here, you should see a doctor immediately to get properly diagnosed and find the proper treatment. In some cases, GERD is a secondary condition of a bigger problem, so it's very important not to treat chronic heartburn on your own.
cosmetic surgery north east
prenatal yoga
It used to be that there was heartburn and a few medicines used to treat it. Now we hear the terms heartburn and acid reflux thrown around a lot, but many people still aren't sure what they mean. Well now it's time to get the facts straight on acid reflux and heartburn.
Acid reflux is when acid backs up from the stomach, into the esophagus. Heartburn is simply the burning pain sometimes experienced in the chest due to this acid backup. Other times, acid reflux has no pain or symptoms at all. The term heartburn is generally used to describe a condition of occasional, mild heartburn caused by eating certain foods. Acid reflux, or acid reflux disease, is commonly used to refer to a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
GERD is a disorder where the valve at the top of the stomach allows acids from the stomach to flow into the esophagus. Unlike your run of the mill heartburn, GERD has other symptoms as well. In fact, some people with GERD experience only mild heartburn or no heartburn at all. Some of the other symptoms of GERD include: nausea, regurgitation, sore throat, belching, a bitter taste in your mouth, bad breath, and painful or difficult swallowing. If GERD goes untreated, it can cause a disruption to your life and sleep cycle, but can also cause damage to your esophagus and may lead to esophageal cancer.
Simple heartburn can usually be stopped by avoiding trigger foods. While particular foods tend to cause heartburn in many people, triggers are still individual. The best way to determine what you shouldn't eat is to keep a journal. Record what you eat and whether or not you get heartburn each day. You may also want to record the severity. Eventually, you should see that certain types of foods cause your heartburn. Simply avoid them and you'll start to notice a decrease in heartburn incidents.
GERD is more difficult to treat that simple heartburn. In addition to avoiding food triggers, you may have to make some other changes, which include: weight loss, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, avoiding tight-fitting clothes, taking time to reduce stress, eating small meals more often, not lying down for two hours after a meal, and elevating the head of the bed when you sleep. Your doctor may also recommend you use prescription medications that can stop reflux and repair esophagus damage.
If your heartburn is occasional and includes no other symptoms, then you probably have little to worry about; however if you have frequent heartburn and any other symptoms mentioned here, you should see a doctor immediately to get properly diagnosed and find the proper treatment. In some cases, GERD is a secondary condition of a bigger problem, so it's very important not to treat chronic heartburn on your own.
cosmetic surgery north east
prenatal yoga
posted by Tina Bradbury at 2:56 am
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