Esophageal Reflux And You

Esophageal reflux is also known as GERD or gastro esophageal reflux disease. It can be experienced by adults and children alike. Although there is not a definite cure for this there are several methods to prevent it. If you are suffering from heartburns, breathing difficulty, pain in the abdomen and sore throat, the cause may be due to the food you eat or the diet you are into. When you have GERD, chances are, you would not be able to eat all the food you want. You may have to avoid certain foods even if it happens to be your favorite foods. This is because esophageal reflux is mainly caused by the food you eat.

It is a condition where the partially digested food is pushed back to your esophagus and if this occurs very often, you throat might be in big trouble. When food enters the stomach, the digestive acids blend with the food. When one experiences esophageal reflux, the partially digested food rises up to the esophagus. This will eventually make the acids react with your throat. And this may cause inflammation or even rheumatic fever if not given proper medical attention. That is why you should take a closer look to what food you eat. Researchers are focused at how to prevent the production of acids in the stomach. That is why they develop drugs that can lessen the amount and strength of these digestive acids. Most restricted foods for those afflicted with this disease are spicy foods, barbecue sauces, citrus fruits, onions, and many others. Moreover, lying down after eating is a big no no. Gravity is very important in helping prevent the food from going up to your throat.

Some people even sleep with their head elevated at least four inches to avoid esophageal reflux. Are you taking medications? Have you consulted your doctor about it? Well, over-the-counter medicines may take away the pain temporarily but you still need a long-term cure for this. Moreover, many medical researchers have found out that the use of prescribed drugs is not applicable at all times. Most of the drugs for esophageal reflux are focused on blocking the production of stomach acids. This may significantly reduce the strength of the acids and making it less harmful to the esophagus and throat but this may have a side effect.

The side effect is imbalance in stomach function. When you block or inhibit the production of the acid, your stomach will eventually not work like the way it does before. It will adjust to the medication and this may pose problems. If the acids are weaker, then the bad bacteria may not be killed and so the body will be more prone to sickness. So it is best to do it the natural way. By having an acid reflux disease diet, you may do it painlessly without altering your stomach function.