Acid reflux occurs when acid from inside the stomach flows up into the esophagus and throat. This gives a burning sensation called “heartburn.” When acid creeps into places it doesn’t belong, you can feel it. Acid irritates and inflames the tissues inside your esophagus, which runs from the stomach up through the chest to the throat.
Almost everyone has experienced occasional acid reflux. It might feel like indigestion — burning stomach pain after eating or burning chest pain close to your sternum. If acid reflux symptoms happen more than twice a week, you may have acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
According to Medical News Today, GERD is most common in Western countries, affecting an estimated 20% of the population in these regions. About 20% of Americans also have GERD, and it is the most common condition diagnosed in the outpatient setting. About 60% of people who have GERD are women.
What Causes Acid Reflux
One common cause of acid reflux disease is a stomach condition called a hiatal hernia. This happens when the upper part of the stomach and the valve at the entrance of the stomach moves above the diaphragm, a muscle that separates your stomach from your chest.
Normally, the diaphragm helps keep acid in your stomach. But if you have a hiatal hernia, acid can move up into your esophagus and cause symptoms of acid reflux disease. Many people get heartburn from time to time, but there’s often no obvious reason why. Sometimes it’s caused or worsened by:
- Certain foods and drinks such as coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate, and fatty or spicy foods
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Pregnancy
- Stress and anxiety
- An increase in some types of hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen
- Some medicines, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers (like ibuprofen)
- A hiatus hernia – when part of your stomach moves up into your chest
- A stomach ulcer
- A bacterial infection in your stomach
Diagnosis
Acid reflux and heartburn are common and relatively easy to diagnose. However, it is possible to confuse them with other chest complaints such as heart attacks, pneumonia, chest wall pain, or pulmonary embolism. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) will often be diagnosed when lifestyle changes or acid reflux medication improve this condition.
A variety of treatments are available for acid reflux and GERD. There are over-the-counter antacids a person can buy, though in more severe cases prescription medications are available. Lifestyle modifications such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, and sleeping in an elevated position may help relieve symptoms.
How to Get Rid of Acid Reflux
In case of repeated episodes of heartburn — or any other symptoms of acid reflux — the following steps may help:
- Eat sparingly and slowly. When the stomach is very full, there can be more reflux into the esophagus. Eat small meals more frequently rather than three large meals daily.
- Avoid certain foods. These include mint, fatty foods, spicy foods, onions, tomatoes, coffee, tea, chocolate, and alcohol.
- Don’t drink carbonated beverages. They make you burp, which sends acid into the esophagus. Drink flat water instead of sparkling water.
- Stay up after eating. When you’re standing, or even sitting, gravity alone helps keep acid in the stomach, where it belongs. Finish eating three hours before going to bed. This means no naps right after lunch, and no late suppers or midnight snacks.
- Don’t move too fast. Avoid vigorous exercise for a couple of hours after eating.
- Sleep on an incline. Ideally, your head should be six to eight inches higher than your feet. Try using a foam wedge support for the upper body.
- Lose weight if it’s advised.
- If you smoke, quit.
- Check your medications to make sure they don’t promote acid reflux.
Unique, Personalized Treatment
The Magnolia Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, specializes in physical rehabilitation and functional medicine. At this center, experienced medical professionals look into the underlying problems causing Acid Reflux and work with various integrated treatment methods to heal the body from this condition.
Caring for those suffering from Acid Reflux and related health issues, the team at Magnolia Medical Center helps patients regain their health as well as a full life with safe, permanent results. For more information, call (615) 953-9007 to request an appointment.