Why Anti Acid Drugs Are Not a Long Term Solution to Acid Reflux
Lorna Bresko
If you suffer with the contents of your stomach trying to come back up then you probably have acid reflux disorder sometimes referred to as heartburn. This is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract (digestive system) and even though this condition is often known by different names, they have similar symptoms. In order to assimilate the food we eat, our stomach dissolves it with a strong acid. However, when the acid wants to escape the confines of the stomach via the digestive tract, it causes a burning pain in the chest.
When food enters your stomach, a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter opens to allow food into the stomach which normally remains closed so that stomach food and acid do not flow back up into your esophagus area. The esophageal sphincter should close and trap the acid but when this doesn't happen and the acid escapes back up the digestive tract the condition of acid reflux or heartburn is the result. Doctors abbreviate the condition to GERD or gastro esophageal reflux disorder. Although the real cause of acid reflux disorder has not yet been found, it is thought that eating the wrong foods could be to blame; unfortunately, overeating and junk food can also overload the digestive systems ability to digest food adequately.
Many people that overeat find they have this condition because their eating habits affect the stomach walls and place pressure on the muscles surrounding them. This in turn causes the esophageal valve to behave erratically leading to stomach fluids rising and causing the awful burning feeling in the chest. By lessening the amount of work the stomach has to do at any one time should reduce the instances of heartburn. The easiest way to reduce the incidences of heartburn is too reduce the size of meals. Your mouth, esophagus, and stomach are the first areas of food processing so if something goes wrong in this area, if will affect the health of the entire body. Each person's stomach makes prepares food to be reduced to essential nutrients that are transported around the body to maintain good health.
A short term solution may appear to be the drugs that are easily purchased over the counter but guidance is needed. However, these can interrupt natural body processes and cause other health problems. The long term approach to reduce the stomach problems and acid reflux is to adjust how you consume food and drink. This will then allow your stomach to settle down and regain its strength. It may take a while but if the number of times you experience heartburn reduces, you may be able to enjoy some of the foods you stopped eating; all the while remaining conscious of the need to take things slowly and not place stress on your stomach again.
Lifestyle changes extend beyond those of just eating habits as other contributing factors to acid reflux can be:
Smoking cigarettes (or cigars, or a pipe) or any other type of "tobacco"
Food allergies
Certain medical drugs
Too much alcohol
After meal napping
All this comes down to a lifestyle change which ultimately only you can control. It doesn't take that much to make a difference. All that is required is a little dedication on your part to be careful about what you eat and drink to possibly clear up your acid reflux problem. Whether you decide to take this and your doctors advice is really up to you.
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