Some Tips on Dealing with Acid Reflux Disease

By Joe Rizal

Acid reflux disease may last for several weeks for some. The discomfort could be treated by some only as an inconvenience, and taken for granted, since it is "only a recurring case of heartburn." This ailment is easily distinguishable because, for some, this becomes a common recurrence, and could just come as a minor discomfort. However, acid reflux disease, especially in cases where this has been chronic for years, could lead to severe complications that sometimes may be fatal.

Millions of Americans suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD everyday. This type of ailment could afflict people of all ages (even infants) and regardless of gender. This occurs when stomach acid refluxes upwards towards the esophagus and causes heartburn, that burning sensation in the chest and throat that could easily be mistaken as a cardiac condition.

Physicians ascribe this condition to the failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) from properly closing to prevent the stomach acid from regurgitating back to the throat. Another physiological abnormality that could cause acid reflux disease is hiatal hernia where the top part of the stomach is not properly blocked by the diaphragm and it goes up to the lower opening of the esophagus.

Constant contact of the tender cells lining the esophagus to stomach acid could irritate and could severely damage this part of the human body. If left untreated, this could lead to esophagitis or inflammation of the esophagus. If, despite of this worsened condition, nothing is still done to address this problem, it could lead to pre-cancer or esophageal cancer. Now, people who succumb to this must have neglected the above symptoms and treated those as "only a recurring case of heartburn."

The best way to deal with acid reflux disease, especially if it is a recurring or chronic case, is to immediately consult a doctor. Mostly recommended by physicians for heartburn would be a change in diet and some lifestyle changes (major ones for those who drink, smoke and coffee junkies).

Dietary recommendations would include avoiding foods that are high in fat content-these are the fried foods, etc. Bad news for fastfood (burger, fries, hotdog, etc.) lovers. Carbonated beverages, acidic fruits and juices, tomato-based foods (bad news for pizza and spaghetti lovers), spices like peppers and some types of berries are also listed as foods to refrain from, as much as possible.

More foods to avoid are coffee (decaf or regular) caffeinated tea, whole milk, and chocolate. While it is true that most food junkies would cry "foul!" and "What would I eat then?" with this list, it would only come down to the choice of living a long and healthy life or choosing to enjoy these foods for the price of your health.

Lifestyle changes would include losing weight as a large tummy would put more pressure on your stomach making it easy to push up the stomach acid to your throat. Less tight clothings, no late night snacks, no splurging on heavy meals, no smoking and minimal drinking only are more of the recommendations to relieve or completely your eliminate acid reflux disease.

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