By: aaron adish
Submitted: 2010-10-12 04:24:58 | Word Count: 608
Acid Reflux - Some Tips in Relieving Its Symptoms
At least 4 out of each ten Americans suffer from heartburn a minimum of once every month. Are you one among them?
Heartburn is sometimes felt as a burning pain originating from the chest and traveling upward through the throat. Every now and then, the burning sensation finds its way up through the mouth. When this happens, an acid or bitter style is left as a reminder of the condition.
Several people tend to take this lightly. However, this should not be so. Frequent heartburn can be a symptom of a disorder referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease (also commonly referred to as GERD or acid reflux).
[ advertisement ]
GERD or acid reflux is a condition whereby the acid content of the abdomen rises back up into the esophagus rather than continue on its traditional digestive path. It typically develops when the lower esophageal sphincter or LES is damaged. The LES is that the muscular ring that functions to forestall the regurgitation of stomach contents back into the esophagus.
To control the symptoms of acid reflux, many people depend on over the counter or non-prescription antacids (Phillip's Milk of Magnesia, Tums, Mylanta, Maalox, etc.). Others use prescription medications like Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid and Prilosec.
These medications are all effective in controlling the symptoms however there are plenty of controversies concerning their use in addressing the problem. Several studies indicate that treating acid reflux with these medications lowers the hydrochloric acid content of the stomach, that might prove additional disastrous in the long run.
To effectively control acid reflux symptoms, it may be more useful to resort to additional natural means. Here are many tips which you'll use:
. Avoid taking in acidic beverages. Acidic beverages such as coffee, tea and juices are proven to increase the pain related to heartburn. Alcohol and carbonated drinks ought to also be eliminated from the diet for the identical reason.
. Milk can sometimes be another causal agent of heartburn. Studies show that there is a high incidence of milk allergy in infants with acid reflux. Further, it had been conjointly established that eliminating milk products within the infants' diets drastically improved their conditions.
. Keep off from foods or drinks flavored with spearmint, peppermint or different spices with strong aromatic oils. These are known to relax the LES and therefore could additionally increase the probability of experiencing heartburn.
. Some say that avoiding or lowering the fat in the diet might improve the condition. But, there is still no conclusive evidence to support this claim.
. Avoid smoking. Smoking will increase the likelihood of developing acid reflux since it tends to weaken the LES. Results of several scientific studies support this finding.
. Constant psychological stress additionally contributes to the weakening of the LES and hence, in the event of acid reflux.
. When you are lying down, the contents of the stomach may find it easier to travel back into the esophagus. So, it's advisable that you do not lie down immediately once a meal. Let 3 hours pass before doing so.
. Elevate the pinnacle of your bed. It will keep you from losing sleep due to heartburn.
. Get moving. Have a daily exercise routine or interact in interesting physical activities.
Author Resource:-
Lillian Mills has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Heartburn and Acid Reflux, you can also check out latest website about
