Heartburn: Hints on Dealing

Acid reflux is a disease that has become more and more prevalent in American society. At least 35% of overweight people have it, making it a significant demographic that is suffering with this condition.

This article looks at five quick facts about acid reflux, in the hopes that, by knowing more about this disease, you can take specific action to avoid triggering symptoms, and arm yourself with more information for your next doctor's visit.

Fact #1: A Common Problem

Did you know that more than 60 million Americans experience heartburn caused by acid reflux at least once each month? That's almost a fifth of the country suffering with heartburn!

In addition, about 1/12th the population (or about 25 million people) experience acid reflux and / or heartburn symptoms on a daily basis.

Fact #2: Causes More Than Just Heartburn

In addition to the obvious physical symptoms, acid reflux can have a negative impact on your mental health. About 80% of sufferers experience symptoms in the evening, and about 75% are woken by their heartburn, or other symptoms.

This broken sleep can cause problems including increased irritability, reduced concentration and ability to focus, and an increased risk of being in (or causing) an auto accident.

Fact #3: You Can Take Steps to Avoid Acid Reflux

While technically there is no cure, you can take steps to avoid your symptoms. If you are concerned about the symptoms you are experiencing, you should first make an appointment to see your primary care practitioner. Next, take a look at your diet. Certain foods, including those high in fat, grease, or acid, can exacerbate your symptoms.

Drinking and smoking are a no-no if you're suffering with reflux disease. Smoking increases the acidity of your stomach fluids, which simply increases the damage to your esophagus caused by reflux.

Nicotine also is responsible for relaxing the esophageal sphincter muscle. This muscle is responsible for preventing stomach acid from returning to the esophagus, and its proper functioning is vital to avoidance of acid reflux symptoms. Alcohol also relaxes the esophageal sphincter, allowing reflux into the esophagus.

Fact #4: Some People Are At Higher Risk

While anyone can be affected by acid reflux, some demographics are at a higher risk of developing the disease. People who are carrying excess weight put more pressure on their stomach while sleeping, due to the weight of their abdomen, and this can also weaken the lower esophageal sphincter to a point where reflux occurs.

Pregnant women are at risk for the same reason--the added weight of the baby can put a lot of extra pressure on the stomach.

Older people, especially those that have maintained smoking and drinking habits throughout their lives, need to take stock of their lifestyle, and make appropriate changes to ensure that they do not become afflicted with this disease.

Fact #5: Treat it Now to Avoid Later Problems

Untreated acid reflux will often lead to much more serious consequences. Because sufferers continuously have acid entering the esophagus, several related problems can develop, including erosive esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal strictures, and in the most extreme cases, esophageal cancer.

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Sometimes when you are suffering from acid reflux, or GERD, you experience symptoms that at first appear to be simply a cold or flu. You might develop a cough, your throat may feel sore, and you may lose your voice completely.

When you have a cold, these symptoms generally last for only a few days before disappearing. However, persisting symptoms may be signs of reflux disease. In addition to losing your voice, you may experience stomachaches or headaches, or you might feel a burning sensation when eating foods high in fat, grease and acids. Acid reflux may be the cause of these symptoms and can lead to more critical problems if left untreated.

Reflux disease can cause your throat to become very sore. This pain occurs because stomach acid leaves the stomach and rises to the lungs and the esophagus. The acid can become mixed with saliva and can affect your throat, causing you to lose your voice.

This refluxing of stomach acid can also cause changes to your voice by causing shortness of breath. This reduction in air available for speaking causes your vocal chords to strain because of the extra work it takes to speak. Over time, your vocal chords can become damaged and that will often permanently affect your voice. Your voice may become deeper, or it may become thin, with little volume.

Acid reflux can hurt not only your throat and vocal chords; it can also injure your lungs and other organs--including the heart. There are many ways you can treat your acid reflux. Often, you will have to change your diet in to lessen the symptoms, and the impact, of the condition.

Avoiding highly acidic foods, like citrus fruits, is a good start. You may also have to avoid alcohol--having a glass of wine at most only occasionally. Making these dietary changes results in less acid production and can help your throat to heal.

If you are concerned that acid reflux is the cause of your vocal issues, have your vocal chords looked at by your doctor. When vocal cords are damaged, sometimes growths appear, and surgery may be required to remove them. Tiny polyps form which can make the voice scratchy and hurt when you speaks.

Don't let more than a couple days of vocal chord pain go by before your see your doctor--don't wait for the problem to worsen. If you wait too long, surgery may no longer be an option, because of the added damage surgery might cause.

Acid reflux is a common disorder and while it may not be cured, the symptoms you experience can be reduced.

Medications and diet will make a significant difference. Because your voice can be affected it is important to see your doctor if you are experiencing any acid reflux symptoms. Only your doctor will be able to diagnose you and determine the best treatment options.

Click here to learn more about acid reflux and indigestion, and to receive your FREE Acid Reflux 101 guide.

Those with acid reflux know that this problem is likely one that be with them for their entire life. Caused by a lack of strength in the lower esophageal sphincter, acid reflux disease causes harmful fluids to rise up from the stomach and into the esophagus, and corrosive damage is caused by the stomach acid found in these liquid.

In addition to the potential development of serious health conditions such as Barrett's esophagus, erosive esophagitis, and esophageal cancer, patients afflicted with acid reflux disease deal with the agony of heartburn symptoms on a daily basis.

However, all of that may change. A new surgical procedure is becoming standard practice in clinics across the nation that may help to eliminate acid reflux symptoms in those who undergo the surgery. Called the Plicator procedure, this brief outpatient procedure takes only about twenty minutes. Though it may sound to good to be true, patients are seeing excellent results. Here is a simple explanation of the process of the Plicator procedure.

• The Plicator, a small electronic device, is placed at the end of an endoscopy tube. During the simple endoscopy procedures, the doctor in lowers a tube into the digestive tract through the mouth, during which time the patient is in a state of conscious sedation.
• The Plicator travels through the digestive tract, via the endoscopy tube, until it reaches the stomach. Once it is in place within the stomach, the surgeon maneuvers the Plicator in order to grab the tissue located between the esophagus and the stomach. The Plicator then closes its arms, crimping the grasped tissue. The fold made by the Plicator is then secured by a single suture.
• As a result, the opening between the stomach and the esophagus is now much more narrow. This aids the lower esophageal sphincter in successfully opening and closing the passageway between the stomach and the esophagus.

That is all there is to it! Patients who undergo the procedure generally don't experience any ill effects, and are often able to return to regular levels of activity the day after surgery.

After the surgery, patients are often advised to follow a soft-food diet for a few days to allow the suture to sets.

The effects of the surgery are obvious almost immediately, and within a couple days after the surgery, most patients are able to wean themselves off their heartburn medications.

Common side effects of the Plicator procedure include sore throats or abdominal pain, typically from the insertion of the endoscopy tube, and these problems typically clear up within a few days.

Research studies were begun at several institutions to determine the efficacy of the procedure in relieving heartburn.

The studies showed the procedure eliminated the need for prescription heartburn medications in 70 percent of all patients who had the surgery! In addition, 80 percent of all people undergoing the surgery saw a reduction in acid reflux symptoms post-procedure.

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