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5 Acid Reflux Facts That You Should Know About

By: Khim Lim

If you have acid reflux, then it is in your best interest to understand more about this condition. Only through knowing the facts can you help yourself find an appropriate treatment to reduce your pain and discomfort. Here are top 5 facts about acid reflux that you should definitely know about:

1. Acid reflux is very commonly referred to as heartburn. However its symptoms are more severe compared to a normal heartburn. Over 60million Americans or one fifth of the entire population suffer from acid reflux on a monthly basis. An astounding half of these sufferers experience the painful symptoms on a daily basis.

2. Acid reflux is commonly 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. Although it is not curable, it can be easily controlled by eating a low-acid diet and by taking prescription medications.

3. Most sufferers experience the painful and uncomfortable symptoms during the night hours when in a horizontal position. This will can cause sleep disorders, tiredness and even mental health problems if left untreated. During the day, you can feel a sense of irritability, a lack of concentration and a general feeling of unhappiness.

4. As well as diet, habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol tend to aggravate acid reflux. As such, if you suffer with the condition on a regular basis, you should seriously consider leading a healthier lifestyle and monitoring your 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 sufferers, this can cause much more severe pain than in normal people.

5. Obesity and generally being over weight can increase your risk to 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.

Not getting timely treatment can land you in worse trouble as the condition worsens. Your oesophagus can become damaged. You also increase your risk to developing oesophageal cancer. Thus, if you find yourself sufferring from acid reflux symptoms regularly, best is to visit your doctor before more complications occur.

Article Source: http://www.bluearticles.com


Acid reflux symptoms and indigestion is treatable. For more information and resources, please visit this site http://www.treat-acid-reflux.com.

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