Archive for April, 2011

Acid Reflux Symptoms in Women

Most women throughout the world will experience acid reflux throughout their lifetime. In this article, you will find out not only what the acid reflux symptoms in women are, but what factors specific to women may lead to heartburn.

Acid Reflux Symptoms in Women

The primary symptoms of acid reflux in women are:

• Heartburn. This is a burning sensation in the chest. The pain is centralized along the mid-line of the upper torso and typically is most intense directly behind the sternum (breastbone).

• Burping or spitting up of very small amounts of liquid or food, particularly with a sour or bitter taste.

• Coughing or sore throat – these acid reflux symptoms in women are only likely to occur if burping or spitting up of liquid is present; a sore throat indicates that the stomach’s acid and contents swelled very high and reached the top of the esophagus, indicating an intense episode of reflux.

• Difficulty swallowing or the feeling of something caught in the throat – this symptom does not typically develop off a single episode of reflux but rather repeated episodes, as typical in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). This could indicate irritation (inflammation) of the esophagus or throat. In more serious situations this may represent an esophageal stricture which is a narrowing of the esophagus due to inflammation or muscle spasm due to repeated exposure of esophageal tissue to stomach acid.

• Symptoms worsen when bending forward or lying down. This is one way to test for reflux; if you are experiencing heartburn-like symptoms, try lying down or bending forward and touching your toes. If your symptoms get worse and are relieved by standing, you are likely to be experiencing acid reflux.

Risk Factors For Women

For the most part, heartburn causes are the same (see linked article for a complete list). However, there is one distinct difference between men and women: pregnancy.

Acid reflux symptoms in women are extremely common during pregnancy; more women experience heartburn during pregnancy than those who do not, especially during the third trimester.

The most likely explanation for this is that the growing fetus puts pressure on the stomach and this pressure interferes with the stomach’s natural ability to keep food and liquid locked into the stomach.

Hiatal Hernia

However, the risk of acid reflux symptoms in women does not end with pregnancy. It is thought that pregnant women are more likely than the average person to develop hiatal hernias. A hiatal hernia typically involves the upper portion of the stomach and lower section of the esophagus moving above the level of the diaphragm.

Why is this important? Because this then places the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (the LES) above the diaphragm; the muscle group responsible for keeping the stomach’s contents in the stomach. The diaphragm then pinches the upper portion of the stomach.

This interferes with the function of the LES and can lead to heartburn. It is well-known that hiatal hernias can significantly increase your risk for acid reflux and GERD.

However, this is not to say that heartburn symptoms in women are more common than in men but rather that pregnant women or women have been pregnant are more likely to experience symptoms of acid reflux than women who are not (or have not been) pregnant.

Acid Reflux Symptoms in Women – The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that for the most part the symptoms of heartburn in women are the same as they are in men. Pregnant women are much more likely than non-pregnant women to experience these symptoms of acid reflux.

If you experience heartburn occasionally, I encourage you to try out these heartburn remedies. If you experience these symptoms of acid reflux two time per week per more, you will want to read this article on acid reflux treatment and discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

How to Stop Acid Reflux Pain Now

If you have ever lost sleep due to acid reflux pain, then this is the article for you. Below you will discover 5 simple methods that will show you how to stop acid reflux pain now. As a bonus, all of these methods are simple home heartburn remedies and require only household items!

How to Stop Acid Reflux Pain Now – The Top 5

#1. Chew on a piece of non-mint gum.

Gum is an excellent way to stop acid reflux pain. Many people report that chewing gum stops their acid reflux pain in just a few minutes. Chewing gum can:

• Produces saliva (which aids digestion)

• Reduce nociceptive (pain receptor) activity

• Increase the pH of saliva (which allows saliva to neutralize stomach acid)

• Increase the pH of the esophagus (puts a protective coating along the esophagus)

• Improves digestive motility (helps move food along the digestive tract)

Note that mint can cause acid reflux, so be sure to use mild fruit flavors over mint-flavored gum.

#2. Take a Spoonful of Vinegar

Drinking a teaspoon of vinegar results in the significant production of saliva, which has the ability to stop acid reflux pain now for some of the same reasons that gum does.

Vinegar works even faster than gum since it produces even more saliva. Unlike other heartburn remedies, you should always brush your teeth after drinking vinegar. Acetic acid should not be left on your teeth undisturbed overnight.

#3. Switch Toothpaste Brands

Tip #1 and #2 lead right in to point #3: your toothpaste may be a significant contributor to your acid reflux. While laying down certainly does influence acid reflux at night, the fact that many toothpastes can trigger reflux is one reason why so many experience acid reflux at night.

In particular, mint-flavored toothpastes as well as some whitening agents may lead to acid reflux and upset stomach. Try out a “natural” brand of toothpaste (such as a baking-soda based toothpaste) that does not have a mint flavor nor possesses whiteners.

While mint-flavored toothpastes may help your mouth feel clean, it does not necessarily mean they are superior to non-mint toothpastes.

#4. Go for a Walk

Going for a short walk is a great method for stopping acid reflux pain. While it may not always be convenient, taking a short walk after dinner is not only great for your health but can prevent acid reflux from occurring in the first place.

Chew on a piece of gum while going for a walk to attack acid reflux from both sides!

#5. Take an Antacid

While not the ideal solution for daily usage, it is unlikely that you will experience much in the way of side-effects from the rare usage of an antacid like calcium carbonate. For most people, these only lose effectiveness and become a problem when used on a weekly or even daily basis.

How to Stop Acid Reflux Pain Now Conclusion

You now have a lot of great ways to combat acid reflux pain, all of which are very inexpensive and do not require the use of prescription medication. Give these remedies a shot and you will not be disappointed!

However, I strongly recommend if you experience acid reflux twice or more per week you will want to talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

Natural Cures for Acid Reflux

If you are anything like me, you are willing to make an effort to find natural cures and make lifestyle changes if it means you can avoid prescription medicine.

Fortunately, I have put together a list of natural cures for acid reflux which does just that – stops reflux naturally. There are two types of items on the list:

• Magic Bullets – Natural acid reflux cures which work immediately. These heartburn remedies can help stop reflux symptoms after you start experiencing them.

• Lifestyle Remedies – Changes you can make in your daily life that will add up over time and help you prevent getting reflux in the first place, which is the ideal solution.

Natural Cures for Acid Reflux – The Magic Bullets

There are two natural acid reflux cures which work extremely well and can help quell even the most serious cases of heartburn: chewing gum and taking a spoonful of vinegar.

Chewing gum is an excellent natural cure for acid reflux for several reasons. The primary thing it does is that chewing gum creates a steady flow of saliva, which is then swallowed. Saliva is a mild base (i.e. neutralizes acids) and also aids digestion.

As you produce more saliva from chewing gum, your esophagus is protected from acid swells, the saliva aids digestion, and the constant chewing promotes digestive motility (movement of food along the digestive tract). The protective saliva coat reduces acid reflux symptoms and the improved digestion reduces reflux from occurring altogether.

Just make sure you avoid mint-flavored gums; peppermint and spearmint are on the list of common foods that cause acid reflux. These mints can stimulate the production of stomach acid in some individuals. Stick to mild fruit flavors.

Vinegar also acts as a natural cure for acid reflux primarily by triggering the release of saliva. Unlike gum, vinegar triggers a brief but intense amount of saliva, often stopping reflux immediately.

The downside to vinegar is that it does not taste all that great and you should only use it when you can brush your teeth afterwards; while the acetic acid in vinegar acts as a natural acid reflux cure, it is not enamel friendly!

Long-Term Natural Acid Reflux Cures

While the magic bullet approaches are great, the fact that you are experiencing reflux in the first place may be the sign of underlying health problems.

Additionally, if you are still experiencing reflux but quelling the symptoms with remedies, your esophagus may still be experiencing damage. The only way to truly protect yourself both from symptoms and health concerns is to prevent reflux from occurring in the first place.

Many doctors try to prevent reflux via medication, but the fact that you are reading this page indicates that you are looking to avoid that route. The truth is that most people can stop reflux from happening in the first place by making some lifestyle changes.

The long-term lifestyle changes below will be enough for the majority of the population to avoid acid reflux altogether. These are the true natural cures for acid reflux:

• Lose weight. Visceral body fat (fat that surrounds the organs) actually compresses the stomach and can lead to acid reflux. Pressure can interfere with the function of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), allowing the stomach’s contents to leak into the esophagus.

• Eat smaller meals. Large meals also put pressure on the LES.

• Avoid eating 2 hours before laying down for bed. Gravity helps keep the stomach’s contents where they belong; laying down takes away this advantage, so it is best to go to bed on as close to an empty of stomach as possible.

• Elevate the head of your bed by placing blocks under bedposts at the end where your head lies. This will place you on a slight incline and allow gravity to act in your favor.

• Avoid trouble foods as well as stomach irritators, such as coffee, alcohol, tobacco products (smoking, dip, and others), as well as other inflammatories like sugar. Avoid these foods especially on an empty stomach.

My Personal Experience

My experience with these natural cures for acid reflux is that you do not need to implement all of these cures. I used to experience reflux on a daily basis, both morning and night.

I lost 10 pounds, removed sugar from my diet entirely, and eat my last meal 2-3 hours before bed. I still drink coffee but am sure to have a little bit of breakfast before drinking it. If I go out to dinner, I chew a piece of gum afterwards.

Note that there is a difference between being healthy and fit and following this plan. I worked out regularly and was a healthy weight but still experienced heartburn. Losing that last bit of weight, removing sugar from my diet, avoiding big late-night meals, and avoiding coffee on an empty stomach made the world of a difference, even though I was an otherwise healthy individual.

Since implementing these changes, I went from experiencing acid reflux after practically every meal to not experiencing it at all. I have been reflux-free for several months now at the time of this writing without the use of any medication.

How to Use These Natural Cures for Acid Reflux

A good way to integrate these cures into your lifestyle is to work on implementing as many of the lifestyle changes as possible. Next, be sure to chew a piece of gum after any large meal or after eating any food you know tends to give you reflux. If you do have a flare-up of reflux, try out a spoonful of vinegar as this may significantly reduce symptoms.

If you still are experiencing reflux two times per week or more even after making lifestyle changes, you will want to see your doctor as this may be a sign of a more serious condition.

Acid Reflux Foods to Avoid

If you deal with heartburn on a regular basis, no doubt you have come to the realization by now that there are certain acid reflux foods to avoid – the foods that no matter when you eat them, you are guaranteed to be up all night with reflux. These foods are often referred to as trigger foods.

Below, you will find a list of the top 10 foods that cause acid reflux so you can be sure to avoid them in the future. Sometimes the most effective heartburn remedies are just avoiding the foods that cause acid reflux in the first place!

The Top 10 Acid Reflux Foods to Avoid

• #1. Tomatoes. Despite being nearly ubiquitous and a major part of western cuisine, the tomato is tops the list of acid reflux foods to avoid. Note that some people can tolerate raw tomatoes but not cooked, whereas others can only tolerate cooked tomatoes. You will have to test it out yourself; you may find that a slice of tomato on your sandwich or fresh salsa to be intolerable but be perfectly fine with pizza and marinara sauces.

• #2. Mint. Both spearmint and peppermint have been implicated as acid reflux foods to avoid. These two substances are thought to stimulate the production of stomach acid.

• #3. Lemons. Lemons, particularly fresh lemon in water, have the uncanny ability to cause acid reflux.

• #4. Alcohol of all types. Alcohol can cause gastritis of the stomach lining and wreck havoc on the digestive system. Unlike the other foods on this list, since alcohol causes gastritis, you may experience heartburn for several days following an episode of heavy drinking.

• #5. Dairy products. While it was once thought that milk could help neutralize stomach acid, the fact is that dairy frequently offers a concentrated source of fat which may lead to heartburn in some individuals.

• #6. Orange Juice. Orange juice is frequently a problem for many individuals given its extreme sourness and incompatibility with many breakfast foods with which it is often consumed. Oranges, on the other hand, are much more mild and are tolerated by most people.

• #7. Coffee. While it pains me to say it, coffee is one of the most commonly consumed drinks that leads to heartburn. However, this is partially due to people consuming coffee on an empty stomach. If most people avoided drinking coffee until they have had a bit to eat in the morning, instances of acid reflux would be significantly reduced.

• #8. Oily and Fatty Foods. Fatty foods are often considered acid reflux foods to avoid, however this is individual. Many people have no reflux symptoms when consuming a high-fat diet, whereas others are strongly effected by something as simple as a fish oil tablet.

Tip: Refrigerating fish oil tablets significantly reduces any reflux associated with this widely-used supplement.

• #9. Spicy Food. Spicy Food, while not as common as some of the other foods on this list, is perhaps the most infamous of the acid reflux foods to avoid. It is that that this food causes acid reflux by irritating and interferring the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), thereby permitting reflux to occur.

• #10. Carbonated Beverages. The carbonation in sodas and other drinks expands the stomach and puts pressure on the LES. Over-filling of the stomach is a contributor to heartburn, and carbonated beverages will fill the stomach up very fast.

Other Acid Reflux Foods to Avoid

This list is not conclusive, and many people with acid reflux will be able to eat some items of this list without a problem. The most important thing to remember is that everyone is an individual and as such everyone has different foods that cause acid reflux.

I recommend taking a food-log over the course of a month, writing down what you ate at each meal and if you experienced reflux within 3 hours of that meal.

After a month of time, go back and look through the food log and look for items which routinely caused acid reflux. You can typically come up with a “Big 3″ – three foods that nearly always cause reflux. You can then add these to the list of acid reflux foods to avoid in order to get your own customized list.

Acid Reflux Surgery

If you have experienced long-term heartburn, a specialist may recommend acid reflux surgery. However, surgery for acid reflux is highly controversial and the long-term effects of such a surgery are not well-documented.

In this article, you will discover reasons why surgery may be recommended, what the most common procedure is and the pros and con of having GERD surgery.

Reasons for Having Acid Reflux Surgery

Surgery is only typically recommended in the most extreme cases of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Reasons for surgery recommendation may include:

• Reductions to the patient’s quality of life due to heartburn symptoms

• Failure of medication to control the condition

• Congenital (genetic) disorders

• Noted damage to the esophagus, such as Barrett’s Esophagus

• Family history of esophageal cancer

• Doctor discretion based on individual circumstances

You do not need to have every check-point on the list to be a surgery candidate. For example, if heartburn medicaiton is not working for you and GERD is significantly reducing your quality of life, your doctor may recommend Acid Reflux surgery in the absense of esophageal damage, simply to improve your quality of life.

On the other hand, even if GERD is not significantly impacting you, if you have regular GERD, evidence of esophageal damage, and a family history of esophageal cancer, your doctor may urge you to get this surgery performed, regardless of the current condition of your esophagus.

Furthermore, some doctors may not recommend acid reflux surgery in any situation simply because its long-term efficacy remains unproven; not necessarily because it does not work but rather just due to a lack of any real data.

Types of GERD Surgery

There is only one primary type of surgery to reduce reflux and it involves creating an artificial valve at the entrance to the stomach.

Most cases of acid reflux are thought to stem from an improperly functioning lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES normally forms a 1-way valve, allowing food and drink to enter the stomach but not allowing anything to leave. In GERD, this valve allows the contents of the stomach to leak into the esophagus.

To create an artificial valve, a surgeon will wrap a portion of the stomach around the sphincter and suture it in this position, relying on the elastic properties of the stomach to form a tight but passable valve around where the LES is.

The smooth muscle in the esophagus is strong enough to push food and drink through this new valve, but the valve should be tight enough to prevent GERD from occurring.

For details on the differences between specific acid reflux surgeries, see this article comparing Nissen Fundoplication vs Anterior Fundoplication.

Pros and Cons of GERD Surgery

The pros and cons of this surgery are simple. The pros are that it seems to be effective for most people, at least in the short term.

The cons are that this surgery, like any surgery, can be fairly expensive and comes with some risk and down-time (although recovery is quite fast with the laparoscopic procedures). Getting surgery is a much bigger commitment than using a few simple heartburn remedies.

The real con with acid reflux surgery is that the long-term success rates and possible side effects are not well-documented. The surgery is fairly new and data on a large number of patients is not yet available. It is possible, given the elastic nature of the stomach, that the portion of the stomach used to create the artificial valve will stretch and become lax over time, resulting in the return of heartburn.

The most common side effect that negatively impacts quality of life (and may even require corrective surgery) is the inability to belch. This occurs when the surgery causes the lower esophagus to be so tight that you are unable to belch (which is necessary to remove excess gas from the stomach). This means that if you swallow air when you talk, eat, or drink, you will be in a lot of pain (and have a lot of gas). Sodas and other carbonated drinks will be strictly off limits as well.

The Bottom Line on GERD Surgery

The bottom line on GERD surgery is that it seems to be effective in the short-term, but the long-term effects are unknown. Your doctor may advise surgery as a last resort if medication and lifestyle changes are not enough.

It is my opinion that the biggest thing lost on most GERD and heartburn sufferers that having reflux is for many an indicator of underlying health problems and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Improving the quality of your diet, avoiding drinking and smoking, and losing excess body fat can significantly reduce reflux and improve the quality and length of your life.

Getting surgery because you have a genetic anomaly that causes excess stomach acid to be produced or the Lower Esophageal Sphincter to not function properly is completely understandable. Getting surgery because you have advanced esophageal damage also makes sense. Getting acid reflux surgery because you do not want to go on a diet or quit smoking is simply irresponsible.

Symptoms of GERD

In this article, you will find out what the symptoms of GERD (Gastroesphageal Reflux Disease) are, including both short-term and long-term symptoms.

What Is GERD?

GERD is the medical term for what amounts to frequent acid reflux, or heartburn. This term has been gaining popularity of late for two reasons: rates of reflux have increased and strong links between regular reflux and esophageal damage and cancer have been identified.

In essence, heartburn sounds quite benign whereas GERD sounds serious to the average person; the term GERD helps people recognize that having chronic acid reflux is not a normal condition and can lead to some devastating side effects.

Short-Term GERD Symptoms

GERD is, by definition, the frequent occurrence of reflux. The symptoms of acid reflux are:

• A burning pain in the chest

• Burping, especially belching up small amounts of food or a bitter or sour liquid

Long-Term Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptoms

After experiencing reflux regularly, some more serious symptoms of GERD may develop, including:

• Difficulty swallowing

• A “tight” feeling in the throat, as if something is stuck in the throat (perhaps caused by an esophageal stricture or damage to the lining of the esophagus)

• Dry, chronic cough, which is often confused for asthma or allergies

• Sore throat, especially in the morning. A chronic dry cough and sore throat that never seems to improve can indicate long periods of nighttime reflux.

These two symptoms often develop after experiencing acid reflux for an extended period of time (i.e. several times per week for a few months or longer). These two symptoms of GERD are signs of the long-term consequences of reflux.

Effects of GERD Symptoms

If GERD is left untreated, esophageal damage may result given the repeated exposure of the sensitive tissue to stomach acid. This can result in:

• Barrett’s Esophagus – Barrett’s Esophagus has no symptoms; this condition is where the cells of the bottom portion of the esophagus change to become like the cells in the stomach. This reduces the damage they take from stomach acid exposure. The problem with this is that this mutation significantly increases the risk of these cells become cancerous in the future.

• Esophageal Adenocarcinoma – this esophageal cancer is highly linked to both Barrett’s Esophagus and GERD. It is rare but a very serious condition.

When to See a Doctor

If you experience acid reflux or heartburn symptoms regularly, you will want to talk to your doctor.

While all doctors are different, most doctors will consider acid reflux occurring twice a week or more to warrant medical intervention, regardless of whether or not you have more serious GERD symptoms. There is no need to wait for you to develop difficulty swallowing (or worse) if it could be prevented in the first place.

Symptoms of GERD Conclusion

The hallmark symptom of GERD is experiencing heartburn two or more times per week. Acid reflux occurring this frequently should be reported to your doctor. If left untreated, GERD may lead to difficulty swallowing, esophageal damage, and even cancer.

While not adequate as a stand-alone treatment for GERD symptoms, be sure to check out these simple heartburn remedies can help reduce the discomfort associated with reflux and offer mild protection to the esophagus.

Acid Reflux Relief

In this article, I will be revealing 5 proven methods for getting immediate acid reflux relief. All of these methods are simple home remedies and are practically free to implement.

1. Take a teaspoon of vinegar.

Vinegar is one of the most effective heartburn remedies and can often provide acid reflux relief on the spot. Try taking a teaspoon of vinegar next time you experience reflux. Many people report relief within 5 minutes.

How does this work? Consuming vinegar stimulates a large amount of saliva production (1). Saliva both buffers the esophagus and aids in digestion. These two mechanisms can reduce heartburn symptoms. Just be sure to brush your teeth afterwards as vinegar is not all that great for your enamel!

2. Chew Gum after your meals.

Chewing gum also stimulates saliva production and promotes gastric motility (2, 3). In other words, the act of chewing sends signals to the brain, telling it that more food is likely to enter the stomach soon.

In response, the stomach and small intestine work harder to digest food and keep it moving in order to make room for what it thinks is more food. The end result is that food moves along the digestive tract quicker, which is great at relieving heartburn.

3. Use mustard or vinegar in your cooking.

When preparing meals, try to cook with vinegar (marinades, dressings) or even mustard or vinegar-based sauces (mustard is actually primarily flavored by vinegar).

As mentioned in tip #1, vinegar can stimulate saliva production and improve digestion and may prevent acid reflux from occurring in the first place.

4. Put boards underneath the head of your bed.

You can put your bed on an incline by placing boards or thick books underneath the two bedposts at the head of you bed. Raising the head of your bed just 4″-6″ is enough to provide significant acid reflux relief, but it is not such an incline that it feels weird to lay on.

If you experience acid reflux at night, I strongly recommend trying this tip. By raising the incline on your bed, it allows gravity to pull the liquid in your esophagus (i.e. reflux) back into the stomach.

5. Do not eat 2 hours before bed.

If putting your bed on an incline is not something you are interested in, you should at least try to avoid eating for up to 2 hours prior to going to sleep. If you are prone to acid reflux and lay down after eating, you are practically guaranteed to experience it.

Give your body some time to digest before laying down and you will find that your run-ins with heartburn are significantly reduced.

Conclusion

By applying these 5 proven methods, you can get instant acid reflux relief all without the use of expensive medications.

Please remember that these acid reflux relief protocols have their limits. If you experience acid reflux 2 or more times a week on a weekly basis, you should mention this to your doctor at your first opportunity.

References

1. Dutta SK, Agrawal K, Mahmoud MA. Modulation of salivation and heartburn in response to the site of acid infusion in the human oesophagus. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2010 Sep;32(6):795-800.

2. Polland KE, Higgins F, Orchardson R. Salivary flow rate and pH during prolonged gum chewing in humans. J Oral Rehabil. 2003 Sep;30(9):861-5.

3. Smoak, B.R. & Koufman, J.A. Effects of gum chewing on pharyngeal and esophageal pH. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2001 Dec;110(12):1117-9.

Acid Reflux Treatment

Below, you will find information on acid reflux treatment options, including natural treatments, what you can expect from a doctor’s visit, and the pros and cons of prescription medication usage, including the long-term side effects that drug companies do not want you to know about.

Holistic Acid Reflux Treatment

The first line of defense in acid reflux treatment should be a holistic approach. I understand that the word “holistic” invokes a sense of skepticism in many people. This word has been perverted by new-age mumbo-jumbo and “snake oil salesmen” in an attempt to peddle unproven herbs and supplements at a premium price.

This is very unfortunate, as “holistic” simply means taking a full-body approach, and fixing all possible contributors to a given condition. When we look at a chronic problem like acid reflux through a holistic lens, there is a good chance we will find that lifestyle, a disease state, is the primary cause of acid reflux.

In the case of acid reflux treatment, we know the following factors can all contribute to reflux:

• Eating very large meals.

• Eating triggers foods. Every person has different trigger foods, but common foods that cause heartburn are tomato, peppermint, citrus, alcohol, coffee, tobacco and dairy.

• Eating right before bed.

• Wearing tight clothing.

• Inadequate chewing.

• Being overweight or obese.

To fix these problems, a holistic acid reflux treatment plan might look like:

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.

• Keeping a “heartburn log”, where you note what you ate that day and if it gave you heartburn. Over just a few weeks’ time, you will be able to identify which foods routinely cause acid reflux. These are your “trigger foods”.

• Avoid coffee, alcohol, and tobacco.

• Avoid food 2 hours before bed.

• Make sure your clothes fit appropriately.

• Chew your food more thoroughly.

• Start a weight loss program.

By following a holistic acid reflux treatment plan like the one above, the vast majority of people would experience permanent relief from acid reflux without needing to take a single pill. No expensive supplements or strategies are required, and these changes will also help you live a longer, healthier, happier life.

Prescription Acid Reflux Treatment

For some people, such as those with hiatal hernias, genetic predispositions, high stress lifestyles, or otherwise are unable to follow a holistic plan, prescription medication may be appropriate.

If you experience acid reflux twice a week or more with regularity, you will want to see your doctor for a consultation. Regular reflux is now frequently diagnosed as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). This is because of the relatively recent discovery that having regular bouts of acid reflux can lead to esophageal damage and cancer.

If deemed appropriate, your doctor may prescribe either a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) or an H-2 blocker. Both classes of medication work to reduce the production of stomach acid. PPIs are generally considered to be longer-lasting whereas H-2 blockers tend to act faster and have a shorter duration.

While brand names differ from country to country, in the United States and North America, the most popular H2-blockers are Zantac, Axid, Pepcid, and Tagamet. Proton-pump inhibitors which are popular used include Prilosec (generic: omeprazole which is available over-the-counter in the United States), Prevacid, Nexium, Aciphex, and Protonix.

Of these, omeprazole is the oldest and most-studied medication. However, all of these acid reflux treatment medications are relatively young, so research into their long-term effects is just beginning to come out.

Out of these recent studies, numerous side effects for long-term usage of proton-pump inhibitors has been identified. Proton-pump inhibitors have been linked to an increased risk of bone fracture by multiple studies (1,2). Additionally, researchers have demonstrated that PPIs can interfere with the absorption of Vitamin B12, iron, and magnesium (1,2,3). Furthermore, PPIs have been connected to increased rates of various infections (1,2), cancer (1,2,4), and birth defects (1). The old idiom holds true even for something as innocent as acid reflux treatment: no drug has a single effect on the body.

Despite all the press on PPIs, H-2 blockers have fared considerably well in tests on their long-term effects. The downside is that many patients and primary care physicians have reported that H-2 blockers are not effective at acid reflux treatment when used for the long term; they lose effectiveness over time (5).

Acid Reflux Treatment Conclusion

For the average person, lifestyle and dietary changes are appropriate heartburn remedies. If these are not effective or you experience acid reflux twice per week or more, consult with your primary care physician for medical advice.

References

1. Sheen E, Triadafilopoulos G. Adverse effects of long-term proton pump inhibitor therapy. Dig Dis Sci. 2011 Apr;56(4):931-50.

2. Chapman DB, Rees CJ, Lippert D, Sataloff RT, Wright SC Jr. Adverse effects of long-term proton pump inhibitor use: a review for the otolaryngologist. J Voice. 2011 Mar;25(2):236-40.

3. Ito T, Jensen RT. Association of long-term proton pump inhibitor therapy with bone fractures and effects on absorption of calcium, vitamin B12, iron, and magnesium. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2010 Dec;12(6):448-57.

4. Chubak J, Boudreau DM, Rulyak SJ, Mandelson MT. Colorectal cancer risk in relation to use of acid suppressive medications. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2009 Jul;18(7):540-4.

5. Kushner PR. Role of the primary care provider in the diagnosis and management of heartburn. Curr Med Res Opin. 2010 Apr;26(4):759-65.

Stress and Heartburn

Over the years, many people have conjectured that heartburn is the result of stress. Indeed, they were right. While some still suggest that heartburn is not caused by stress, basic, well-accepted notions of human physiology would indicate otherwise.

The Effects of Stress on Digestion

Stress has been implicated with a lot of chronic conditions in the human body, including heartburn. The reason for this is that stress the body’s response to stress is to release a variety of signaling chemicals with body-wide effects.

In response to stress in the short term, the body releases norepinephrine and epinephrine. These compounds are what activate the so called “fight or flight” system of the body. This is known scientifically as the sympathetic nervous system.

Activating the sympathetic nervous system heightens blood flow to the muscles and decreases blood flow to “resting” organs like the digestive tract. This is a rather smart system as it allows us to temporarily “turn off” organs which do not need to be functioning every second of the day until we can escape from danger.

However, for the digestive system, the end result of sympathetic activation in response to stress is the inhibition of peristalsis. Peristalsis is the contraction of smooth muscle that propels food along the digestive tract. Prolonged inhibition of peristalsis results in hypomotility (slow movement of foodstuffs along the digestive tract), and hypomotility is an important factor in chronic heartburn (GERD) (1).

To put it in simpler terms: stress (at least in the short-term) slows down the digestive system, and the end result is an increased likelihood of getting heartburn.

Furthermore, in the response to long-term stress, the body produces cortisol. Cortisol has two relevant side effects: increased production stomach acid and increased inflammatory response. Increased production of stomach acid can lead to heartburn, and an increased inflammatory response can increase heartburn symptoms.

Remedies for Stress-Related Heartburn

Ideally, the best long-term solution for stress-induced heartburn is to de-stress your life. However, in today’s economy, moving into a less-stressful job and working less hours may not be a viable option.

While in the long-term you want to remove stressful events out of your life, here are two surprisingly effective heartburn remedies for stress:

• In response to short-term stress, try chewing a piece of gum. Not only does saliva help reduce heartburn (as mentioned on the Heartburn Remedies homepage), but the act of chewing helps promote peristalsis, counteracting the inhibition of digestion caused by the epinephrines.

• In response to long-term stress, eating small but regular meals of carbohydrates and protein can be very effective. This works on two fronts: eating carbohydrates and protein stimulates the release of insulin, and insulin counteracts the negative effects of cortisol. Note that a very small bit of food (even just 100-200 calories worth) can stimulate a strong insulin response capable of blunting cortisol. As an added bonus, eating small, regular meals are beneficial simply because large meals can lead to heartburn.

Stress and Heartburn Wrap-Up

To wrap everything up: yes, stress can cause heartburn. The best thing you can do is try to de-stress your life as much as possible, but in today’s society there are limits to how much we can change.

The minute you start feeling stressed out, start chewing a piece of gum. Eat a small meal every few hours during the most stressful portion of your day which consists of some carbohydrates and protein. By taking these two simple and inexpensive steps, you can significantly reduce your run-ins with stress-related heartburn, all without the use of expensive medicine.

References

Kamiya T, Adachi H, Joh T. Relationship between gastric motility and the pathophysiology of GERD. Nippon Rinsho. 2007 May;65(5):836-9.