To understand what acid reflux disease is you must first realize that acid reflux is a disease that occurs when the throat is not strong enough to handle the acids that are released from the stomach when a person eats. These acids help to digest food and they are controlled by a group of muscles called the lower esophageal sphincter. If this particular muscle group doesn’t close all the way or if it opens too much a release of stomach acids to the throat area will occur. Many people that experience problems with acid reflux typically show signs of heartburn which is a burning sensation just below the rib cage.
What is Acid Reflux Disease
Acid reflux in its severe stage is also known as GERDS or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Individiuals who experience GERDS have acid reflux symptoms that happen more than twice a week. Problems related to acid reflux that occurs less than two times a week are not considered acid reflux disease and are classified as acid reflux.
There are many causes of acid reflux disease but the more common type include a hiatal hernia, being overweight and eating food right before bedtime. A hiatal hernia is an abnormal stomach condition when the upper stomach and the lower esophageal sphincter muscle group moves above the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that keeps the stomach and chest separated from each other but when this muscle shifts it causes the hiatal muscle to move into the stomach area and this in turn produces reflux disease.
When a person eats a heavy meal and then lies on their back this could create acid reflux. Another way that acid reflux problems occur is when a person bends over at their waist after eating a lot of food. Taking certain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, blood pressure pills and muscle relaxers can also lead to acid reflux. Being pregnant and drinking carbonated, caffeine or alcoholic beverages can also create this condition. Acid reflux disease can also be brought about by certain foods such as garlic, onions, tomatoes, citrus fruits and chocolate. Heartburn, regurgitation are common symptoms associated with this disease and so is burping, bloody stools or persistent hiccups. Some people even experience dysphagia or the narrowing of their esophagus.
Acid reflux disease can also lead to oeasophogitis which can wear out the inner lining of the throat. Bleeding, ulcers and scar tissue formation at the end of the esophageal tube can also occur.
There isn’t a set standard for diagnosing GERDS but there are some common diagnostic procedures that doctors perform in order to determine if a patient has acid reflux disease. ph probes and radiographic evaluations are used to diagnose a patient for GERDS. An endoscopy (examines the esophagus) is another diagnostic procedure that is quickly becoming the standard for evaluation of GERDS. Barium swallows and biopsies are used as well.
What to do if you have Acid Reflux Disease
Once a person has been diagnosed for acid reflux disease and doctors are confident that they have this ailment; they will be given various instructions about how to manage and treat this disease. Doctors will instruct patients to make lifestyle changes such as avoiding certain types of foods (chocolate, alcohol, soda, garlic) and to decrease the intake of dietary fat. They could also start an acid reflux disease patient on antacid therapy and prescribing H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) which are medications that can reduce acid reflux problems for many people who have acid reflux disease. Proton pump inhibitors and surgical procedures also are utilized procedures for the relief of acid reflux disease.
