Acid Reflux happens when the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) fails to completely close which causes gastric acid to leak out into the esophagus. The LES, normally, closes completely as the food passes through it.
The most common symptom of Acid Reflux is heartburn or burning chest pain and regurgitation. Other symptoms would include melena or hematochezia, burping, bloating, hiccups, nausea, weight loss, cough or sore throat, and dysphagia. If several of these symptoms occur more than twice a week, this may indicate Acid Reflux.
Pregnancy can cause reflux which commonly occurs during the last trimester, depending on the size of the baby inside the mother's womb. This happens because as the baby grows, it adds pressure in to the stomach which causes its contents to leak out into the esophagus.
Another cause would be eating large meals. The more food you eat, the more pressure it adds to the stomach that causes the sphincter to close incompletely. Underlying conditions such as hernia, peptic ulcers, and asthma can also cause reflux.
Lifestyle can also be a cause of heartburn. Smoking stimulates gastric acid production which weakens the LES, promotes bile movement to the stomach, and slows down the digestive process. Alcohol intake also aggravates the disease since it can trigger heartburn.
In order to diagnose whether or not one is suffering from heartburn, one should undergo several laboratory tests. Barium swallow determines ulcers and narrowing of the esophagus. pH monitoring can determine acid levels in the esophagus. Esophageal manometry helps in determining whether the LES and the esophagus are functional. Endoscopy and Biopsy helps in determining whether one has esophageal/gastric problems.
Reflux can be treated with diet and lifestyle modifications, together with medication regimens. Eating small frequent meals can help reduce heartburn. Smoking cessation, proper body positioning, changes in eating habit, wearing non-constricting clothes, and weight loss.
Acid Supressant such as histamine2-receptor antagonists help reduce inflammation resulting to lesser production of acids. Proton pump inhibitors also help in reduction of gastric acid production. Prokinetic agents help in gastric emptying, strengthen the LES, and reduce acid reflux. Antacids can help relieve the symptoms of acid reflux. These medications can be taken in combination depending on your physician's instructions.
If the treatments stated above don't completely help in reducing the symptoms, the doctor may recommend fundoplication as a last resort. This helps reduce the disorder by creating an artificial valve that strengthens the LES preventing acid reflux and repairing a hiatal hernia, if there's any.
Acid Reflux can be treated with diet and lifestyle modifications, together with medication regimens. To know more about it, check out http://www.treatacidrefluxnow.com/
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