Taking A Look At Treatments For Acid Reflux

This year, 15 million Americans will suffer from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. It may start with a particularly uncomfortable burp and leave a restricted feeling in the chest. Some will toss and turn at night, coughing and inhaling excess acid.

The next day, they'll feel lethargic and asthmatic. Symptoms of acid reflux may be indicative of bigger problems like a poor diet, lactose intolerance or digestive failure. Treatments for acid reflux vary, but the good news is that it's not something with which one has to suffer.

If you want to find the best treatment for acid reflux, then change a few bad habits. Most people don't realize that all the kitchen cleaning after the meal contributes to acid reflux, or that laying down within three hours after eating can create a whole world of problems.

More than half of the people who suffer from chronic heartburn also have some form of "supine reflux," which affects people in their sleep. For supine acid reflux sufferers, the symptoms can sometimes be subtle. They may toss and turn, have difficulty breathing, sweat profusely, have coughing fits and wake up feeling hoarse (from breathing in the stomach acids).

Most people also know that greasy and fatty foods are terrible for the digestive tract. Often the stomach needs to produce more acid to break down the greasy layers and protein-based food. Then, on top of that, some fatty foods are simply insoluble and they putrefy in the stomach, rotting and causing a build-up of "unpleasantries," from gas to reflux.

It can be shocking to people when they've been able to eat certain foods their entire lives but as they age, those same foods become a problem. Citrus fruits like oranges, tomatoes, spearmint, peppers and red wine can all be nasty triggers for attacks.

The most common treatments are antacids. This heartburn medication will help sufferers treat the immediate symptoms of acid reflux for fast-acting relief. Hardcore antacids include Reglan and Gaviscon, which aim to improve overall digestive coordination, speeding up the digestive process and creating foam barriers to prevent acid from seeping up unexpectedly. There are often over-the-counter options that work just fine or prescription-based variants for the people with severe GERD symptoms.

The second category of heartburn medication is the Histamine 2 Receptors. Histamine 2 Receptors, like Pepcid AC or Zantac, work by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach, which is sometimes cited as a contributing factor.

For preventative measures, a third treatment includes Proton Pump Inhibitors, which suppresses excessive acid production during those big feasts. Drugs like Prilosec or Nexium are said to work best.

For the occasional sufferer, any drug store will carry a calcium carbonate like Tums, Rolaids or Maalox. These bind to and neutralize acid for immediate reprieve. A fourth treatment are the effervescent products (like Alkaseltzer), which comes in handy when that restrictive feeling in the chest and intense abdominal pain signals real digestive trouble.

While these methods might seem easy enough, the best treatment for acid reflux is to amend one's diet and attack the culprit behind the heartburn symptoms. Occasionally, one will suffer heartburn because there is actually a lack of stomach acids and the necessary chemical triggers don't signal the pancreas or the intestines to help out in the transport of waste and the absorption of nutrients. Spicy foods shouldn't be a deal-breaker if one's diet is packed with Omega-6, Omega-3, vitamins, minerals and leafy greens!

Educate yourself further about the treatments for acid reflux from Mike Selvon articles portal at http://theheartburncure.mynicherecommends.com/. Your feedback is valued and appreciated at our acid reflux treatment blog at http://www.mynicheportal.com/health-beauty/

How To Modify Your Diet For Acid Reflux

One great step in controlling acid reflux is through following
an acid reflux friendly diet. This is an easy step that can seem
initially hard because of the thought of giving up some of your
favorite foods. Although acid reflux may seem like a mere
inconvenience, it can lead to some very complicated problems if
left untreated. So, taking steps to modify your diet for acid
reflux control, and to also make other lifestyles changes that
minimizes future health risks and your need to take prescription
medications multiple times a year can be a wise choice. You
don't have to give up everything you love, but there are some
adjustments that can be made for the betterment of your health.

Fats: When you eat fatty foods, they tend to sit in your
stomach longer, and that encourages your body to produce more
acid to digest those fats. If you have food high in fat, keep
that part of the meal small. Be aware that any fats may slow
digestion, and if your reflux is flaring, avoid them as much as
you can.

Milk: When indigestion strikes, many reach for milk to soothe
the stomach. While milk does have a calming affect for many, it
is not necessarily a good choice in your diet if you suffer from
acid reflux. Drinking a glass of milk before bedtime is a common
habit as milk can induce sleep, however when you sleep, milk can
encourage your body to churn out more acid, leading to painful
reflux symptoms. If you wish to drink milk, you should have it
earlier in the day. Should you wish to have some at night, drink
a small glass and accompany it with bread or any other high
carbohydrate type of food. That will speed up digestion and
minimize the potential of developing acid reflux symptoms.

Fried Foods: Eating fried foods, whether deep-fried or stir
fried, is a common acid reflux trigger for many people. Fried
foods can be one of the hardest to give up for a lot of people
as they tend fried foods can be make up a large part of many
people's favorite dishes, but there are alternatives that you'll
find to be satisfying. Most foods that you would normally deep
fry can also be cooked in the oven with minimal use of oil.
Admittedly, they won't taste exactly the same, but you'll
probably find they are more satisfying in a completely different
way because of the reduced likelihood of triggering an acid
reflux episode.

Carbonated Drinks: Sodas are a popular choice when it comes to
beverages. However, for acid reflux sufferers it is best to
think about eliminating these completely. The air in these
drinks can contribute to burping, and can encourage acid to
reflux into the esophagus. If you must drink soda, allow it go
flat before drinking to reduce the impact of the carbonation.
However, you'd be best to avoid soda altogether as many sodas
also contain caffeine, another common acid reflux trigger. The
best beverage to have is plain water.

Fruit: There are some fruits and fruit juices you can have when
you modify your diet for acid reflux, but there are a few you
should avoid. Most citrus fruits will stimulate acid production,
and are common triggers, bringing on flare ups of acid reflux.
Instead of having orange and pineapple, go for fruits that are
not in the citrus category. Try bananas or berries and monitor
your symptoms. You don't have to give up all fruits, but you may
have to be more selective when choosing.

About The Author: Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker's
brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter here
http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/?source=is which is
overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you combat
Acid Reflux and GERD.

Acid Reflux... and Cancer?

Acid Reflux... and Cancer?
Is there a potential relationship between acid reflux and cancer?   The most significant complication of acid reflux disease is esophageal cancer. About 10 percent of patients...

Are Doctors Over-Prescribing Anti-Reflux Medications for Infants with Regurgitation?

Are Doctors Over-Prescribing Anti-Reflux Medications for Infants with Regurgitation?
This is a hard question to answer based only on a recent study being reported in most of the popular press sites.   Dr. Vikram Khoshoo and his colleagues recently published an...