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The painful condition where the contents of the stomach want to flow back the way they came to cause heartburn is something we may all have experienced in our lives: it is called acid reflux. Often known by different names, it is condition relating to the digestive system but is related to others with similar symptoms. For the body to process all this food, it requires the strong hydrochloric acid to break it down into nutrients which are then distributed throughout the body. An irritable stomach means the digestive acid tries to rise up the food tract and as a consequence causes a painful burning sensation near the heart.
Normally, when food is swallowed, the lower esophageal sphincter valve will open to allow food to enter the stomach for digestion but with this condition the valve does not close properly. However there are times when the lower esophageal sphincter does not remain closed, when this happens acid from the stomach can reflux or flow back into the esophagus. You may also hear the name gastroesophageal reflux disorder, which is its full title or sometimes abbreviated to GERD. Unfortunately the exact cause of acid reflux condition remains a mystery, but it is believed an individual's diet is primarily 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. The release of this ‘pressure' results in the stomach acids trying to flow back up the digestive tract. By lessening the amount of work the stomach has to do at any one time should reduce the instances of heartburn. This can be achieved by consuming smaller meals, the incidences of heartburn should reduce. The stomach is the doorway to the body's health so it needs to be treated with respect. The reason for this is the stomach digests the food we eat into the nutrients required for continued good health.
Whilst an immediate solution may be to use the well advertised acid calming drugs available they are not designed for long term usage. 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. 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.
However, there are other factors that can contribute to acid reflux or even induce episodes; for example:
- Tobacco products
- Food allergies
- Certain medical drugs
- Excessive alcohol consumption
* Sleeping after a meal All of these factors are within your control and it only requires a change of habits and behavior on your part. The thought of reducing the incidents of heartburn should be sufficient incentive. So by watching what you eat and taking care of your health, you stand a better chance of avoiding and clearing acid reflux disorder. This is a decision which only you can make but it shouldn't take Einstein to know what the choice should be! |
