An Acid Reflux Overview
Approximately 60 million adults report suffering from acid reflux at least once per month. Many of these people do not see stomach acid reflux as a serious problem but if you don’t take care of your acid reflux symptoms now it can turn into something more serious. You can do damage to your esophagus that you can’t repair which can lead to other health issues. That is why early intervention to find successful acid reflux treatment is important. Also there are measures an individual can take to prevent acid reflux. If you are one out of the fourteen individuals dealing with acid reflux you should avoid the following acid reflux causes:
- Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal
- Being overweight or obese
- Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or bending over at the waist
- Snacking close to bedtime
- Eating certain acid reflux foods, such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, spicy or fatty foods
- Drinking certain beverages, such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea
- Smoking
- Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers, or blood pressure medications
Acid Reflux is incredibly uncomfortable and can even be extremely painful. Symptoms of acid reflux can really hinder a personÓ³ everyday life. Some symptoms of acid reflux include:
- Heartburn — a burning pain or discomfort that may move from your stomach to your abdomen or chest, or even up into your throat
- Regurgitation — a sour or bitter-tasting acid backing up into your throat or mouth
- Bloating
- Bloody or black stools or bloody vomiting
- Burping
- Dysphagia — a narrowing of your esophagus, which creates the sensation of food being stuck in your throat
- Hiccups that don’t let up
- Nausea
- Weight loss for no known reason
- Wheezing, dry cough, hoarseness, or chronic sore throat
In many cases, lifestyle changes combined with over-the-counter medications are all you need to control the symptoms of acid reflux disease. Antacids, such as Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, or Riopan, can neutralize the acid from your stomach, although they may cause diarrhea or constipation, especially if you overuse them. It’s best to use antacids that contain both magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. When these acid reflux remedies are combined, they may help counteract these gastrointestinal side effects.
If antacids don’t help, you should see a health professional. They may be able to prescribe a medication or give helpful tips for overcoming severe acid reflux.
