Heartburn | Acid Reflux

How Heartburn Can Be Treated In Many Different Ways

Heartburn is a symptom which is afflicting large numbers of the population on a regular basis. In fact, just under half of all Americans will experience a degree of heartburn at some stage in their lives. The symptoms can be caused by a variety of factors, and there are other factors which can exacerbate the condition. The most common cause of the symptoms, however is GERD, or gastro-esophageal reflux disease. The symptoms are so common that many use the terms interchangeably, which can be misleading. It is important to realize that a burning sensation in the heart region can be caused by other factors as well, and not to jump to premature conclusions.

The condition of GERD which is most often responsible for these symptoms is caused by stomach acid coming back up the esophagus and into the mouth. This happens when a lower esophageal sphincter muscle does not close properly after allowing food to pass through into the stomach. Attacks of heart burn are most common when someone eats acid forming foods, such as those high in saturated fat. It could be that it is the pressure of the excess acid which affects the functioning of the muscle, and obesity increases the risk of this greatly.

The most common initial symptom of this condition is a reflux of acid from the stomach into the mouth, which leads to burning not just in the heart region but also in the parts of the body closest to it. This symptom alone can be painful, and will often need to be treated to allow the sufferer to continue with their working day. Sometimes, something as simple as drinking several glasses of water will allow this symptom to subside, but more often than not you will need to use an antacid. These drugs will not clear up the condition, only allow you to live with it.

It is often possible to treat a case of gastro-esophageal reflux with natural remedies, or with simple lifestyle changes you can allow the symptoms to fall away. The most obvious of these lifestyle changes is to eat smaller meals less often, so there is less pressure on the stomach at any given time. This may not cure the problem completely, but it should reduce the severity of the symptoms. It is the content of the meals themselves which is the most important factor, and anything with an excess of saturated fats should be eliminated.

If the natural heartburn treatments you are following are not working, or if the pain is severe enough to warrant immediate drug treatments, there are many possibilities for you. The first drug you need to be aware of is the antacid, which is readily available without prescription. This drug will simply neutralize the acid in the body, and provide immediate relief from pain. It will not do anything to counter the underlying condition. There are stronger drugs you can use, but these invariably come with side effects and are to be avoided if possible.

Among these stronger drugs are the proton-pump inhibitors, which act by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach. This is only partially desirable, because while it may reduce the effects of heartburn, it will also affect the legitimate digestion of food within the stomach. There are also potentially damaging side effects, as there are with any drug treatment. These include the inevitable headaches and nausea, but there can also be problems caused to the digestive system. There is another type of drug, called a H2-receptor antagonist, which is far less prone to side effects, and which can be used instead of, or as well as, the proton-pump inhibitors.

In rare cases, when all forms of drug treatments have proven ineffective, it may be necessary to resort to surgery. By tightening and strengthening the lower esophageal sphincter muscle, the acid can be prevented from making its upward journey to the stomach. This surgery may make eating painful for some time, and it may affect your appetite permanently. There is never any guarantee of success with this type of surgery, and it should always be combined with improved dietary habits to reduce pressure on the muscle.

In many cases, the heartburn symptoms are only short-lived, but it is important to seek medical advice if they are not. Many people who ask "What is heartburn?" are surprised to find that it is not actually a condition of its own, but merely a symptom of several possible underlying conditions. Start your research by reading the comprehensive articles on the Internet, and then make a list of the possible risk factors which you think you can eliminate. Any substance which needs acid to digest it is going to be a risk factor to some degree, but those with high levels of saturated fat are the most likely causes of heartburn.

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Acid Reflux News:

New device offered at Mayo 'a game changer' for acid reflux sufferers
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Device holds promise for acid reflux
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Don't ignore acid reflux -- it can lead to cancer
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- James Revier, of San Jose, Calif., had no idea his heartburn was anything more than a nuisance until six years ago, when a piece of beef became logged in his esophagus and sent him to the emergency room. The on-call internist removed the meat and suggested Revier see a gastroenterologist for the lingering redness. It's a good thing he did. Revier had developed Barrett's ...

Bile - not acid - is bad guy in triggering precancerous condition associated with reflux disease
( University of Rochester Medical Center ) For many people with GERD, acid reflux drugs are the answer to their woes, curbing the chronic heartburn characteristic of the disorder. But when it comes to Barrett's esophagus, a condition commonly found in people with GERD, acid control may be less important than beating back another bodily fluid - bile. A new study shows that bile plays a critical ...

Got heartburn? Don't ignore it
Scary, but true: Acid reflux can cause a precancerous condition that can lead to esophageal cancer, which is the fastest growing cancer diagnosis in the United States. That's why health advocates are urging patients, especially white males over 50 with persistent heartburn, to get checked out. More: Health & Fitness news | Bay Area Living..

Spike Mendelsohn Works To Turn Down the Heat on Acid Reflux Disease
Chef Mendelsohn and Takeda Launch Dont Let it Burn National Campaign and Contest to Educate Consumers on Acid Reflux Disease Management and Treatment.New York, NY (PRWEB) May 02, 2012 Celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn knows all too well the effects of a busy and hectic lifestyle EUR especially for a person with acid reflux disease (ARD). But while hes used to firing up the grill, Chef Spike has ...

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