Treat Acid Reflux

Acid Reflux Fact Sheet
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Defined Tag: Acid Reflux.

Acid reflux, like many other disorders, is much easier to control and treat if you know the facts. Knowing information about who it affects and what triggers it can often result in a person being able to change their diet and lifestyle so that the symptoms they experience are a lot milder in nature than normal.

* Acid reflux is more commonly known as heartburn however it is slightly more
severe than normal heartburn. Over 60million Americans or one fifth of the entire population suffer from acid reflux on a monthly basis and nearly half of these people experience the painful symptoms on a daily basis.

* Acid reflux is caused by the over-production of acid in the stomach and by the inability of the sphincter at the top of the stomach to stop the acid from travelling up the oesophagus. While it is an incurable condition it can be controlled by eating a low-acid diet and by taking prescription medications.

* Most sufferers of acid reflux experience the painful and uncomfortable symptoms during the night hours when in a horizontal position. This can cause sleep disorders, tiredness and even mental health problems if left untreated. During the day, the condition can also result in irritability, a lack of concentration and a general feeling of unhappiness.

* As well as diet, habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol can also trigger acid reflux and so those people who suffer with the condition on a regular basis should seriously consider leading a healthier lifestyle and monitoring their alcohol consumption. Smoking and alcohol have been found to have a relaxing effect on the sphincter at the top of the stomach and as this sphincter is already impaired in acid reflux sufferers, this can cause much more severe pain than in normal people.

* Obesity and generally being over weight can have a big effect on the chances of a person developing acid reflux. The fat around the waist and abdomen presses on the stomach, especially when lying down, and so the sphincter at the top of the stomach, and indeed the one at the bottom of the stomach that leads to the small intestine, become stressed and weakened. This can and often does result in stomach acid leaking in to the oesophagus and causing the symptoms associated with acid reflux. This also occurs in the last few months of pregnancy when the weight of the baby pushes on the stomach.

There are a number of serious disorders that can develop if acid reflux is allowed to continue and the oesophagus becomes damaged, the most severe of which is undoubtedly oesophageal cancer. People suffering from acid reflux on a regular basis should visit their doctor immediately so that the condition can be treated before any life-threatening diseases have the chance to develop.

Acid Reflux can be very painful but it is definitely treatable. For more information and resources on acid reflux treatment, please visit this site at http://www.treat-acid-reflux.com.