The ABCs of Acid Reflux

By Mae Summerville

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. It is when the esophageal sphincter does not close after food has passed through that the stomach fluids try to escape upwards and that is why it is called acid reflux.Doctors abbreviate the condition to GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disorder. At the moment it is considered that a poor diet is the underlying reason for the acid reflux problem but not the main cause of the condition,overeating could also add to the problem and cause unnecessary stress on the stomach and its ability to process food.

When anyone eats a large amount of food it creates an additional burden on the stomach muscles.this affects the functioning of the esophageal valve causing reflux and the pain of heartburn. The aim is to lessen the stress on your stomach and stop any damage the stomach acid will cause to your esophagus.this can be achieved by consuming smaller meals; the incidences of heartburn should reduce. The importance of your stomachs health cannot be underestimated for long term good health.the stomach carries out not only the breaking down of food but processing it into nutrients that can be absorbed by the body.

Using drugs and other acid reducing drugs readily available from drugstores will block the natural processes of your stomach on a temporary basis,the problem is these short term remedies can create other problems as they interfere with the natural functioning of the digestive system. It may take a while but the best solution is to make adjustments to your drinking and eating habits which may have caused the acid reflux condition,this should be done for a period of a few months to strengthen your stomach's normal processes. If you can reduce the heartburn occurrences, in time you may well be able to slowly start eating those dishes that have needed to be cut out.

Lifestyle changes extend beyond those of just eating habits as other contributing factors to acid reflux can be:

*Smoking *Food allergies *Prescription medication *Too much alcohol *Lying down after a meal

All of these factors are within your control and it only requires a change of habits and behavior on your part,this is all possible if you want the heartburn problem to ease. 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,this is a decision which only you can make but it should not take Einstein to know what the choice should be! - 17273

About the Author:

Karen Rich is an author and wedding planner. She has several websites that offer cheap wedding chair covers and wedding decorations.