What Are Acid Reflux and GERD

These days, heartburn is a complaint more commonly known by sufferers as acid reflux disease. Often known by different names, it is condition relating to the digestive system but is related to others with similar symptoms. The stomach uses hydrochloric acid to digest the food and when this tries to escape the stomach up the esophagus. The sensation of burning that can be felt in the area of the stomach and heart happens when the digestive fluid tries to travel up the food tract.

When we eat and swallow our food it is allowed into the stomach area to be digested by the esophageal sphincter valve which should then close back up in order to stop the hydrochloric acid from escaping. When the valve refuses to close as it should, the acid escapes back up the esophagus, producing the problem known as acid reflux. You may also hear the name gastro esophageal reflux disorder, which is its full title or sometimes abbreviated to GERD.

Unfortunately the exact cause of acid reflux symptoms remains a mystery, but it is believed an individual's diet is primarily to blame; overeating could also add to the problem and cause unnecessary stress on the stomach and its ability to process food.

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. As this pressure builds up, the lower esophageal valve starts to weaken and can eventually open, allowing food and acid to move up into your esophagus causing that unpleasant burning feeling centered in the chest. By lessening the amount of work the stomach has to do at any one time should reduce the instances of heartburn, acid reflux and GERD. The easiest way to reduce the incidences of heartburn is too reduce the size of meals. The importance of your stomach's health cannot be underestimated for long term good health. The stomach has the important task of processing food so it can be broken down into important and vital nutrients used by the body.

Using drugs and other acid reducing drugs readily available from drugstores will block the natural processes of your stomach on a temporary basis. These can create additional nutritional deficiencies and disease that a doctor may have a problem when diagnosing the cause. The long term approach to reduce the stomach problems and acid reflux is to adjust how you consume food and drink. This should be done for a period of a few months to strengthen your stomach's normal processes. Once you reduce or eliminate your heartburn disorder, you can start to eat some of the foods that you had to eliminate.

Lifestyle changes extend beyond those of just eating habits as other contributing factors to acid reflux can be:

• Tobacco products
• Allergies to certain foods
• Prescription medication
• Too much alcohol
• Having a sleep after eating a meal

All of these factors are within your control and it only requires a change of habits and behavior on your part. It doesn't take that much to make a difference. So by watching what you eat and taking care of your health, you stand a better chance of avoiding and clearing acid reflux disorder. Whether you decide to take this and your doctor's advice is really up to you!