Acid Reflux Causes Uncomfortable Symptoms
 Acid reflux causes a number of uncomfortable symptoms, the most common being a burning sensation in the chest, sometimes referred to as "heartburn."
Acid reflux may also cause belching, nausea, and other symptoms that should be taken seriously by you and your physician. Together, you can create an acid reflux treatment program aimed at reducing or eliminating your symptoms. A combination of lifestyle changes and medications will probably be recommended by your physician.
The medical community cannot yet pinpoint the underlying cause of acid reflux; however, experts do know that acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) allows acid and partially digested food to escape from the stomach into the esophagus. This "escape" of acid, also known as acid reflux, causes the esophageal lining to become irritated, resulting in chest pain and other symptoms.
The following lifestyle choices may exacerbate acid reflux symptoms:
- A diet dominated by acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomato sauces, and chocolate, and fatty foods, including high-fat meats, such as beef chuck and marbled steak, and fried foods.
- Natural causes such as hiatal hernias, food intolerances, pregnancy, heredity, and much more.
- Smoking. Nicotine relaxes the LES valve, causing acid to escape from the stomach to the esophagus.
- Drinking alcoholic beverages and coffee, tea and sodas (caffeinated and decaffeinated), all of which are acidic.
- Eating large meals or going to bed or lying down after a big meal.
- Taking some over-the-counter medications that may stimulate acid production in the stomach
- Wearing belts and tight clothes that put pressure on the LES.
- Obesity or being overweight. An enlarged abdomen can push on the LES, triggering acid reflux symptoms.
If you think it is acid reflux that causes your uncomfortable symptoms of gas, belching, and heartburn, you should contact your physician. If left untreated, acid reflux could change in the composition of the cells of your esophageal lining, which can lead to more serious health conditions.
|
