Heartburn: Hints on Dealing

Allergy: Your immune system defends the body against infections, injuries, cancer and damaging substances. Sometime however, it can overreact attacking a foreign substance that is normally harmless. When the body comes into contact with an allergen it releases histamine in an attempt to fight off the allergen. This release due to the allergy will cause symptoms common to allergies like inflammation, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. This response is an allergy. An allergy response can vary from mild conditions to life-threatening disorders.

One out of every five Americans suffers from an allergy. Some of the most common causes of allergy symptoms can be:

*Food Allergy - most commonly nuts, seafood, eggs, and milk.

*Seasonal Allergy - most commonly tree pollen, grass and various molds.

*Pet Allergy - most commonly from animal fur or skin flakes (dander).

Conventional Allergy Relief: The most common over the counter allergy medications are antihistamines and decongestants.

*Antihistamine causes allergy relief by blocking the release of histamine, histamine when released is what causes the common allergy symptoms such as redness, swelling, and inching. Most common side effect for antihistamines is drowsiness.

*Decongestants will help with allergy relief be shrinking swollen nasal tissue and blood vessels helping with nasal swelling, congestion, mucus secretion and redness relief. Most common side effects for decongestants are insomnia, irritability, restricted urinary flow, and high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are not recommended to take decongestants.
Some of the most common prescription medications for allergy relief include steroids, bronchodilators, mast cell stabilizers and leukotriene modifiers.

*Steroids will help with allergy relief by reducing the inflammation associated with allergies. Steroids need to be taken daily in order to get the full benefit. Common side effects of steroids are weight gain, fluid retention, and high blood pressure. Long term effects can be things such as diabetes, growth suppression, bone thinning, and muscle weakness.

*Bronchodilators help with allergy relief by controlling asthma symptoms. There is short-acting which provides quick relief, and long-acting which can provide relief for up to 12 hours. Common side effect can be high blood pressure and fast heartbeat.

*Mast cell stabilizers relieve allergy symptoms by reducing the inflammation in the bronchial tubes and can also be used to relieve asthma symptoms during exercise. Common side effects of mast cell stabilizers are throat irritation, coughing, skin rashes, and decreased taste.

*Leukotriene modifiers can relief allergy symptoms, treating asthma and nasal allergy symptoms by blocking leukotrienes, chemicals produced in the body in response to an allergy. Most common side effects are stomach pain or upset stomach, heartburn, fever, stuffy nose, cough, rash, and headaches.

Natural Allergy Relief: OPCs (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins) have shown to help with allergy relief in three natural ways with no side effects.

1. Professor Sharma from the department of pharmacology of the University of Dublin has shown that OPCs inhibit the natural secretion of histamine by specialized white blood cells called mast cells. This is action mediated through the natural free-radical scavenging properties of OPCs.

2. OPCs appear to help with natural allergy relief by increasing the uptake and re-uptake of histamine into histamine's own storage granules, where it's out of the way and can't cause allergy misery.

3. Dr. David White of the University of Nottingham in England reports from his studies that OPC will help control natural allergy relief by blocking the action of an enzyme called histamine decarboxylase, which forms histamine from the amino acid histidine.

OPCs can be effective for natural allergy relief without producing the common side effects of conventional allergy relief medications such as drowsiness and dry mucous membranes.

Best Source of OPCs: A natural supplement Isotonix OPC-3 (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins) is an isotonic-capable food supplement that is made from a combination of bilberry, grape seed, red wine, pine bark extracts and citrus extract bioflavonoids, all found to be potent antioxidants. Isotonix OPC-3 contains the only isotonic form of Pycnogenol in the world.

Richard Bonney is a Nutraceutical Consultant with NutraMetrix providing Advanced Nutraceuticals, Gene SNP DNA Analysis and Patient Wellness Education in Medical offices. For further information on Isotonix OPC-3 visit http://naturaltreatment.isotonix.com/

Some managed hosting providers boast of their ability to provide automatic software patching inclusive of the server management services they provide. Clients do like this concept: all they have to do is rely on their service provider to do all the dirty work.

But behind the scenes, it becomes important to consider just how the automated patches are applied. Some managed hosting companies like to use the yum update feature. Granted this is an efficient method of patching. However, let's consider a case study:

An intense database/feed driven website that used basic PHP and MySQL as the underlying engine. The lacky at the managed hosting company on patching night thought "easy I'll use yum update". Little did he consider that PHP 4 and MySQL 4 have significant issues that need to be planned before updating these. When PHP was automatically upgraded to v5, the register_globals behaviour was altered breaking significant parts of the code. Additionally the my.cnf file was overwritten with a default configuration that bound the MySQL service to a different port breaking connection from the PHP pages.

Hosting providers operators need to have a defined change management process. Whilst these problems were easily corrected once identified, it was a nuisance for the client to suffer the heartburn knowing their web business was offline all night. Be sure to ask your managed hosting provider how they apply patches and what preventative measures they take before doing so.

Critical Ops as a managed hosting provider has the complete facility to snapshot a hosting environment before applying patches and rollback should the patch not be successful.

Critical Ops is Australia's leading managed hosting and SaaS applications provider. The company is committed to education and information sharing and maintains knowledge base for providers and consumers.

Fortunately for those who suffer from different types of heartburn or acid reflux, there are many types of cures available. Most of the time an acid reflux cure involves nothing more than being willing to make a few changes to your lifestyle, even trying some alternative solutions as well. There are, of course, those prescription medications that you can take but I personally always try to find a natural way to cure anything that ails me.

It is hard to tell every single person to try just one acid reflux cure as the symptoms and severity can vary from person to person. So depending on the person, there are many different things that you can try to help you overcome your acid reflux. As I said before, one of the major steps to being able to overcome acid reflux is just being will to accept that you will need to possibly change some things and if you do, then change them.

1. There are actually some foods that can lead to heartburn. Some of the major contributors are coffee, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits and juices and some of the processed meats. Eating large quantities of any one of these foods will no doubt lead to heartburn. Actually, eating large meals is a bad idea if you have acid reflux. Eating a few small meals spread throughout the day will be a lot easier on you rather than eating two or three large meals. It will add less pressure to your stomach, making the acid less likely to come back up.

2. You might have noticed that your symptoms are worse at night. That is mainly because of your sleeping position. Most people will just use one pillow when they sleep and that is a bad idea if you have heartburn. Elevating your upper body can help with eliminating that problem. There are even some pillows created to help as an acid reflux cure. If you don't want to buy one of those special pillows then I suggest elevating your upper body by sleeping on a folded up blanket or something. Whatever it takes so that your head is about eight inches above the rest of you.

3. There are also some herbs that can act as natural heartburn remedies. Ones that you can try to help you find an acid reflux cure would be chicory root tea, herbal tea, and cinnamon. There are some that say that you can try taking a little vinegar each day. Might sound insane but the reason that vinegar can be good is because some people have heartburn mainly because they have an acid imbalance. By drinking the vinegar, which is generally no more than two teaspoons in a glass of water, you are working to improve the acid balance in your stomach.

These are just a few things that you can try to help you find an acid reflux cure that works for you. Keep in mind though that just because something works wonderful your friend doesn't mean that it will have the same effect with you. You might need to tweak it a little to fit you just right.

Henry Bratton was diagnosed with heartburn early in his 50s but has been naturally free from heartburn symptoms for the past 7 years. Visit his website, http://www.curemyheartburnnow.com to discover the holistic treatment Henry used to cure heartburn naturally without antacids or medications.

Heartburn or acid reflux is an annoying condition which affects a large number of people. Occasional heartburn is quite common but if you suffer from heartburn more than twice a week then it would be wise to consult a doctor especially if the pain is so bad that you are taking a large number of heartburn medications such as antacids. Heartburn is commonly caused the gastric acid which refluxes back into the esophagus. It is characterized by a burning or painful sensation behind the breastbone. It is noted to be one of the causes of mimic asthma and chronic cough.

Here are a couple of the more common things known to cause heartburn.

Certain foods such as chocolate, spicy foods, garlic, tomato based sauces and peanuts can cause heartburn. While drinks such as citric fruit juices, carbonated or fizzy drinks, wine, caffeine and alcohol also can contribute to the condition. Other factors such as fatigue and stress as well as smoking and being overweight can also cause heartburn.

As shown above, heartburn is generally linked to poor lifestyle habits and eating the incorrect foods. If you are able to audit your eating and lifestyle habits and make the necessary changes to avoid acid reflux triggers you should see a marked improvement in the condition.

Treating heartburn need not be an expensive exercise. Many natural remedies can be found in your home. Here are a couple:

Apples - Experts say that apples effectively neutralize the acid inside your body so eat as many apples as you like. They are also a great source of vitamins and minerals that help keep the body in tip top shape.

Aloe Vera Juice - This is one of the most common natural remedies for heartburn and is widely available at local supermarkets.

Distilled White Vinegar - As soon as you feel that a bout of heartburn may be rearing its ugly head try taking a tablespoon of this vinegar. Many people swear that it is a great natural cure for heartburn.

Probably the best, and easiest, way to avoid heartburn attacks is to simple avoid eating the foods that are known to trigger heartburn. By maintaining a healthy diet as well as eating in moderation should help you avoid a lot of the pain you experience.

For more information on how to treat and cure your acid reflux, please visit http://www.acidreflux-heartburn-treatment.info now!

Could it actually be the opposite?

Also known as GERD, gastroesopageal reflux disease can be the most excoriating thirty minutes of your life if you can get it to go away in that amount if time. It can literally feel like you are having a heart attack and when it finally does subside, it can leave your entire body feeling like it just was ran over by a truck.

It is estimated that about 15 percent of Americans and about 20 percent of the population world wide will suffer from this condition at least once a week. Another 10 percent suffer from it daily. And several of the experts that discuss it will give you every reason under the sun for the cause, but there is no single cause as it affects people in different ways.

What is it?

Acid reflex disease is different than heartburn, which can and does affect almost everyone at some time, usually after a very large or a very spicy meal. But GERD happens much more frequently and in some cases it can be almost continual.

When it does strike what is happening is that esophageal sphincter, which is a circular band of muscle that closes the very small spaces of the esophagus and helps to prevent the backward flow of stomach contents, does not function properly. As a result, the pressure between the stomach and the esophagus becomes uneven.

When it is functioning properly, this band of muscles react with gravity to create just enough pressure to push food that we have eaten back down into our stomach. However, if the pressure is either too high or too low, this stomach acid flow backward or essentially splashes back up. A similar reaction to this condition is belching.

Why it happens:

Unlike the stomach which is heavily protected by thick layers of mucus, the esophagus is much more vulnerable, and is subject to this reverse flowing process. The lower esophageal sphincter remains closed most of the time and only opens to allow swallowed food or liquid to pass through it.

It acts like a one way control mechanism, but if it becomes weakened, it loses its control, and what should have been flowing down into the stomach does not. It has to go somewhere, so it comes back up. Again, exactly the same as when we belch, the air pressure is too strong and forces its way past this valve.

Symptoms:

There are a myriad of symptoms that you may face with acid reflex disease, and none of them are good. If fact they can be down right nasty in some cases. The initial symptoms may be irritations to the throat and difficulty in swallowing because of the reverse effects. You may also experience coughing spells or even a chronic cough, again because of the reverse effects. You may than get some belching associated with an acid taste in your mouth.

Than it really hits you with a burning pain in your chest that will start down low and works it way up. This is common to most everyone that has experienced it, and following an attack you may hurt for several days.

What causes it?

There are several experts that believe that acid reflex disease is caused by too much acid, but it in all likelihood it is just the opposite. Healthy digestive processes occur when your stomach uses hydrochloric acid and pepsin, a very strong digestive enzyme, to break down the food that you eat into nutrients for your body.

Pepsin must have a very high level of acids to perform its job properly, and when the hydrochloric acids in your body are too low, it does not do its job. But your stomach still wants to get its job done, so it responds to these low acid levels by releasing more gastric acids and as a result, acid rebound.
Effects of antacids:

Antacid medications such as Tums will help to neutralize this effect and return your stomach acids back to normal. However, although these antacids work initially, over a long period of time they can cause a condition known as hypochlorhydria. When this occurs, it develops a chronic low acid problem and intensifies the cycle of indigestion.

But what most people are not aware of is that these antacid products also deplete your body of Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron and Zinc. Think for a minute why some brands advertise so heavily that their product is a supply of calcium.

Underlying causes:

There may be several underlying causes of this condition such as a Hiatal hernia that affects this valve causing it to open to wide, hypochlorhydria, which is a chronic form of low stomach acid, or food allergies or intolerances and as a result cause your stomach acids have difficulty in breaking the food down. Other underlying causes may be age that causes the muscles to weaken, pregnancy which forces pressure on the stomach, and obesity, which puts a tremendous amount of pressure on these functions. Smoking puts a lot of pressure on the sphincter as well as reducing salivary secretion.

Foods that may cause it:

Although everyone is unique, there are common food and beverages that may be causing acid reflex disease:
Coffee, Tea and chocolate are very common, as well as fried or fatty foods. Tomatoes and tomato juice, citrus fruits and juices, as well as onions, especially raw, may be the cause. Alcohol, French fries, and potato chips are also very common.

However, by far and away the largest cause will be soft drinks. Carbonation irritates your stomach; it does not help your stomach. Just think of what happens when you drink it; you belch. The stomach cures this irritation the only way it knows how to, it reacts.

Remedies:

There are several remedies, depending on what the causes are, but a lot of them will be lifestyle changes. Weight reduction can immediately reduce the pressure on the stomach, and quitting smoking will also immediately increase your salivary secretion.

Eliminating fatty foods and drinks, especially soda, will help return the stomach acids back to normal. Reducing the size of meals and increasing the frequency will also help the digestive acids. But perhaps the best lifestyle change may be to formulate a better upper body elevation, especially when you sleep. Elevating the entire upper body will naturally help your stomach do its job.

Some natural remedies will include licorice, natural honey, and Aloe Vera Juice, as they all help to sooth the esophagus and the digestive processes.

Summary:

Acid reflex disease is very common but can become very serious. Over time it erodes the delicate tissues and causes inflammation as well as scaring. Only you know what affects your body, but taking action will help you in defeating this very painful and dangerous condition.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field. He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds. After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.

Several of the articles that I have written can be found on my website;

Liquid Vitamins & Minerals for Humans & Pets http://www.liquid-vitamins-minerals-humans-pets.com/

Most people will experience occasional heartburn but millions experience a more serious condition often referred to as GERD, an acronym for gastro esophageal reflux disease. What is GERD and is it the same as Acid Reflux? The answer is "yes". Typically GERD and Acid Reflux refer to the same problem where liquid contents in the stomach regurgitate (or refluxes upward into the esophagus).

The most common symptom of GERD is a burning sensation that radiates up from the stomach and into the chest and throat. Other symptoms may include cramps, difficulty or pain when swallowing. A patient may experience pain behind or below the breastbone. They may have vomiting at night and liquid may be inhaled into the lungs. Excess saliva, bad breath, sore throat, hoarseness, coughing (sometimes excessively), shortness of breath or any combination of these symptoms may occur. Acid in the mouth can also cause erosion of tooth enamel on the surface of teeth.

One study revealed that nearly three-quarters of patients with frequent GERD problems experience their worst symptoms at night. To fully understand GERD one must realize that the main problem stems from eating too much in the evening. To solve the problem, diet can be adjusted to substitute a lighter meal at dinner and a small snack later, as opposed to one large meal in the evening. Typically one should not eat two to three hours before bedtime and it's best not to lie down immediately after eating.

Additional factors that may contribute to GERD include smoking, being overweight, pregnant, use of certain medications and eating foods that aggravate the condition but that varies with each individual. Certain types of foods are bad for GERD. It's best to avoid high-fat meals and to eat foods high in complex carbohydrates instead. One should also avoid clothing that fits too tight across the midsection of the body.

How are symptoms of GERD diagnosed? A physician can take a complete medical history and review symptoms. A visit with a specialist may be recommended to evaluate symptoms in greater depth and likely order test. To determine a GERD diagnosis one test includes x-rays after the patient drinks a solution of barium. In addition an Esophagoscopy may be ordered. An Esophagoscopy is a test where a flexible tube is inserted so the Gastroenterologist can have a better view of the esophagus. If a problem is detected the physician will determine the best form of treatment for symptoms of Acid Reflux.

In the past I had a problem with Acid Reflux. Besides not feeling well it concerned me that I could be damaging my esophagus. I also recently heard a news report that stated bone loss may be associated with the use of traditional medications for GERD. I was pleased that there is a natural alternative available. You can learn more about it here: WHAT IS GERD?

Fish oil is a rich source of essential fatty acids that your body needs to function properly. The benefits are many but, as with all things moderation is probably the best advice. Omega 3 fatty acids are known to lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease by preventing plaque on the inside lining of the arteries, relief from arthritis, among other things.

Can there be too much of a good thing?

Some side effects of too much Omega3 are:

• Thin blood - the reason essential fatty acid is good for the heart is because it thins the blood, if you are already taking blood thinners you should consult your physician before taking fish oil.
• Allergic reactions - Individuals allergic to fish should not take these oil supplements except on the advice of their doctor. Quality fish oil are made from the oil of tuna, salmon, anchovies and sardines, although recently there have been studies showing that green lipped mussel gives an even better result.
• Loss of blood clotting ability - Fish oil thins your blood so you may have a problem healing after a cut or other injury where your blood needs to clot. If you are taking 4000mg or more per day that is an extremely high dose and you need to realize that there is a danger of bleeding heavily after a cut or injury.

Low blood pressure - essential fatty acids will lower your blood pressure, so if you are taking blood pressure medication, it will drop even more. Low blood pressure is good, but you don't want it too low, either.

Other symptoms are nausea, heartburn and bad breath may all be signs that you are taking too much fish oil.

If you are having any of these symptoms, lower your dose until they disappear.

The recommended dosage of Omega 3 is no more than 4 grams per day. If you have any medical conditions or are on any prescribed medication, talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.

Learn more at benefitsomega3fattyacids.com and find out which supplements will give you the best results.

It's probably safe to say that heartburn remedies have been around as long as heartburn, which is probably as long as over eating has been around. It is after all one of the causes of heartburn.

First of all let's clear up the difference between indigestion and heartburn. Although people often interchange the terms, indigestion (medical term Dyspepsia) is a general feeling in the chest or upper abdomen of fullness, bloating and discomfort. It may also be accompanied by belching. Heartburn is usually meant to be the burning sensation in the upper chest caused by acid reflux, that is when acid from the stomach leaks up into the esophagus.

Probably one of the most common remedies is good old fashioned baking soda stirred into a glass of water. Makes me shudder just to think of it! Ginger is often used either as tea made from dried or fresh ginger root, or crystallised ginger which is nibbled. Sounds more pleasant anyway. various other herbs flowers or barks are used as teas or infusions such as camomile, calendula (marigold), slippery elm, which contains a substance called mucilage which when mixed with water forms a glutinous substance which seems to form a soothing protective coating for your throat esophagus and stomach.

Peppermint is sometimes recommended though it's also recognized as one of the foods which can relax the sphincter or valve which closes the esophagus or gullet from the stomach along with alcohol. Other culprits are chocolate, and perhaps more obviously, fatty foods, spices and possibly citrus fruits, acidic carbonated drinks. These are best avoided which may help in stopping your heartburn.

Aloe Vera is another plant based remedy that seems to be widely recommended. However it should be said that you have to take it about 20 minutes before your meal and it should be a properly prepared extract of the plant juice as Aloe Vera also contains powerful laxatives.

If your heartburn or acid reflux regularly wakes you in the night then try not to eat for at least a couple of hours before bedtime, and sleep with the head end of your mattress raised or on a pile of pillows so that you don't lie flat.

If acid reflux is causing you misery and you've tried all the common home remedies for heartburn with no relief, find out how a fellow sufferer cured his heartburn after eleven years of research to stop his own suffering. He'll tell you exactly which foods you shouldn't eat as well as which ones you definitely should. Also learn why regular use of over the counter antacids can cause long term damage. For a simple holistic natural way to stop your suffering go to Heartburn Away

Acid Reflux is also known as heartburn and can cause problems for you over time if its not treated. There are some things that you probably never think about acid reflux causing.

Having Acid Reflux can change the sound of your voice. The acid from your stomach can back up into your throat and can cause your vocal cords to swell and over time can change the sound of your voice and make your voice sound hoarse. This is done by the acid irritating the vocal cords and keeping them irritated.

You may not have even known that you had this disease till people start telling you that you sound sick and that your voice is hoarse. Usually other people will be the first ones to tell you that your voice sounds hoarse, you are so used to the way your voice sounds to yourself that you will not even notice. It will come across as raspy and scratchy yet may not even hurt you to talk.

There may be other signs that your vocal cords are being irritated, you may feel like there is a lump in your throat and you may have some problems swallowing, but these symptoms can be minor except that feeling of the thickness in your throat. This may feel worse after eating really spicy foods but won't usually last long. But overtime it can gradually happen and you may not really be aware of it.

If you have people starting to tell you that your voice sounds different or feel a thickness in your throat you may have acid reflux disease and should see a physician to have it checked out as soon as possible.

There are many treatment programs that you can try to control acid reflux. There are natural cures for Acid Reflux, as well as medications that your doctor can prescribe for you to treat this disease. It can be cause by weight, and eating habits. If you have this Acid Reflux, you owe it to yourself to learn about it and the treatments available.

I come from a long line of people who only go to the doctor when it is absolutely necessary. Aches and pains are ignored. If you had a cold, you could expect to have one day in bed to rest, and then it was time to be up with the rest of the world. If you have heartburn. You take Tums.

If I could turn the hands of time back, there are some things I would change. My father's constant heartburn for example. He was stubborn, didn't see a doctor, and it turned out to be something more serious than it needed to be. Had he sought medical attention when the symptoms were minor, I would have someone to call on Father's Day.

Of course, not every symptom leads to something that dramatic, but ignoring early warning symptoms of some things can, well, make your life much more difficult than it needs to be. Let's take a common condition that strikes people between ages 35 and 55. Let's consider Tennis Elbow.

Earlier today, you reached out to get a cup of coffee, and you felt a twinge on the outer arm, close to your elbow. Of course you shrug it off and figure, well I'm getting old, and aches and pains are part of it. Now let us fast forward in time, and all of a sudden, when you wake up, you can't straighten your arm completely. Heck the door is giving you issues, and forget about even trying to shake hands. Obviously, this is not the work of aging.

When you finally seek medical attention at this point, you are told you have tennis elbow. Now you have a long, hard road to recovery that can last two years, not to mention the financial ramifications.

I'm not suggesting running to a doctor every single time you get a little twinge, but if you notice that the symptoms are still there, even worsening, this is the time to make an appointment. First your elbow feels sore and tender, then the muscles on your arm start to feel tight, and so on. These are signs that you may have tennis elbow, and it is much easier to fix it in the earlier stages.

Tennis elbow is just a name. It is not solely a tennis player's burden to bear. In all actuality, 95% of all cases are non tennis players.

So the next time you feel a little twinge here, or a little tender there, pay attention. If it persists or worsens, see a doctor. It is better to be safe than sorry.

You can Treat Tennis Elbow quicker than you ever thought possible!

Check out the Cure Tennis Elbow website and get back on the tennis court fast!

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Acid reflux or GERD (gastoesophageal reflux disease) occurs when the liquid, mainly acid, that is in the stomach backs up into the oesophagus. It usually manifests itself as a burning, stinging or even ripping type of pain around the breastbone area which we commonly called heartburn. Acid reflux can have many causes. These are a couple of the most common ones:

1. The lower oesophageal sphincter or LES is a muscle ring that circles the end of the oesophagus where it meets the stomach. The LES acts as a one way valve which allows food and drink to pass through into the stomach and then closes so that the stomach contents does not move back into the oesophagus. Sometimes the valve does not work properly and acid is allowed to move back up into the oesophagus.
2. Hiatal Hernias can also contribute to heartburn. It has been found that a large number of people who have Hiatal hernias are also heartburn sufferers. A hiatal hernia tends moves the LES out of place (it is usually level with the diaphragm but due to the hiatal hernia the LES is pushed up and lies in the chest). Because the LES is out of place the LES and Diaphragm are not able to work together as a unit to prevent acid refluxing back into the oesophagus.
3. The second way a hiatal hernia can contribute to heartburn is due to the hernial sac which is located near the oesophagus. Acid tends to get trapped in the sac and because the sac is so close to the oesophagus when the LES relaxes the acid may be refluxed into the oesophagus.
4. The hiatal hernia can also lead to acid reflux in a third way. Normally the oesophagus connects to the stomach at an angle creating a tissue flap. When a hiatal hernia is present this flap tends to become warped and distorted and is therefore not able to stop acid moving back into the oesophagus.
5. People who suffer from heartburn sometimes have a problem with the contractions of the oesophageal muscles when they swallow. Usually the contractions of these muscles push the contents in the oesophagus into the stomach. If the contractions are not strong enough then the acid does not get pushed back and remains in the oesophagus which causes pain.
6. Clearing the oesophagus is really important if you want to prevent acid reflux. Unfortunately if you are a smoker it is that much more difficult as cigarettes have a direct effect on the normal functioning of the oesophagus. It can take up to six hours from your last cigarette for the effect on the oesophagus to wear off.
7. Acid reflux and heartburn is most common after meals. This is especially true if you lie down after a meal. Gravity is then not able to pull the acid down into the stomach. It is therefore recommended that you remain in a vertical position after a meal. Also try to avoid large meals as they can also contribute to acid reflux.

There are many different reasons people may have acid reflux. Theses are just a couple of the more common ones to help you in your quest to relieve some of the discomfort you feel.

For more information on how to treat and cure your acid reflux, visit http://www.acidreflux-heartburn-treatment.info now for a FREE mini course to help you!

The common dandelion (taraxacum officinale, also known as Lion's tooth, priest's crown, and swine's snout) is a tough little plant that reproduces itself with the slightest puff of wind. While this may be good for perpetuating the species, it also means the dandelion can take over your yard... and your neighbor's yard... and perhaps the whole world... in just a couple of seasons.

History and Description

The Celts and Romans cultivated dandelions on purpose, making them a cornerstone of their kitchen gardens. Arabian herbalists first wrote about dandelion in 900 CE, and the Welsh used it extensively in the 1200s. In India, the plant has been used for centuries for liver complaints. There are more than 600 species of dandelions the world over, but in Northern Minnesota we typically see the common dandelion, and we don't have to cultivate it on purpose.

Dandelion's happy yellow flowers are very responsive to the sun, opening early in the morning and shutting down when it's gloomy and in the evening. The deeply-notched leaves funnel rainwater down to the root, and if a plant is allowed to grow it can send up flower stems 12 inches or more in height and attain a circumference of 18 inches, depending on how much rain has fallen.

Mrs. Grieve, one of the most detailed herbalists to put pen to paper, observed that dandelions have no less than 93 different kinds of insects in the habit of frequenting it. She must have had some time on her hands to observe that detail, but it is true that these plants attract bees and butterlies in addition to many other flying insects because of their high pollen content.

Medicinal Uses

Practically everybody's grandmother knows from herbal lore that dandelions must be eaten every spring as a tonic. Their bitter taste certainly seems cleansing, all right!

The liver and gallbladder especially benefit from the medicinal value of dandelions, and this has been their main use through the centuries. There are rumors that gout and eczema sufferers may benefit, too. Breastfeeding women may find dandelion tea helps the milk let down more easily, and relieves swelling.

As if its other herbal properties weren't enough to sing its praises, dandelion juice has been rumored to remove warts, too. Pick a flower, break open the stem and rub the milk on the wart. It takes several weeks of consistent use to get rid of the warts, but try it for those really stubborn ones you can't remove any other way.

Precautions: People who are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, chamomile, yarrow, daisies or iodine may experience side effects from dandelion such as itching, red skin, or even mouth sores if it's used too much. Some people experience heartburn and increased stomach acid after consuming dandelion; if you're taking antacids, there may be an interaction. People who have been diagnosed with gallstones or other gallbladder problems should ask their health care provider's advice. Pregnant women should probably not eat or drink anything at all while pregnant, but there have been no reported side effects in pregnant women other than those who are allergic to flowers in the first place.

Now that you know how good dandelions are for people, you can still declare war on the ones growing in your yard, but remember they are one of the first flowers to open in spring, and isn't that nice? Herbal supplements containing dried dandelion are readily available, and it is often included in teas, so order supplements and keep your yard weed-free.

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Heartburn is very uncomfortable. During pregnancy it can be most frustrating, causing a lot of discomfort. Ask any woman who has gone through nine months of carrying a baby. Most of them will tell you heartburn is no picnic. It is a known fact most heartburn treatments will only temporarily lessen the symptoms. But they cannot cure heartburn. Most heartburn treatments will give you minimal relief for a very small period of time. This is just not good enough for the countless individuals whose lives are being impaired by this condition.

Constant heartburn is a dreaded experience and many people suffer from acid reflux. There are many factors and causes that lead to this condition. Treatments usually fail to achieve the anticipated relief. Medication such as prescription pills or antacids will only target one of the symptoms. You will feel the burn a mere two hours after dutifully taking medication. Sufferers of heartburn are in desperate need of permanent relief.

Conventional drugs are also known to have numerous amounts of side effects. Medication can also worsen the situation over a period of time. This condition can be permanently treated. The holistic way of healing heartburn is getting to the core of the problem and healing it.

Constant heartburn can hardly ever be treated by a general practitioner. He or she can only alleviate the symptoms. The best way to cure heartburn is to get help from an individual who has knowledge of the holistic approach. It is pointless alleviating the symptoms with OTC medicines. The goal should be to heal you from constant heartburn to constant relief. There is nothing worse than enduring the burn and the burping that goes with it. Find a maverick that has gone further and done more than the practices of conventional medicine.

Vince Peterson is an expert on constant heartburn and the director of the HeartBurnReliefFast.Com blog. For tons of fantastic information about constant heartburn, you should definitely check out his blog.

The symptoms of heartburn are widely known by many sufferers as chronic pain in the chest, discomfort, a burning sensation in the chest, bloating and more. The medication that is available today will only cure the symptom and not the cause. In every disease there is always a root cause to a problem. Curing the symptom is never the answer to the root problem.

Many heartburn sufferers will have their medicine cabinet full of various medications that will only temporarily alleviate a heartburn symptom. Sufferers are known to have the benefit of the medication last as little as thirty minutes. Then it starts all over again. Symptoms of heartburn like chest pain will disturb quality sleep. Most individuals suffer from heartburn at night. Lack of sleep will result in the inability to concentrate during the day.

There are natural ways to permanently remove these symptoms. Imagine the relief and the ability to enjoy everyday without discomfort? Most women during pregnancy suffer from heartburn. Medication should be avoided during pregnancy. This is due to the harmful side effects to mother and unborn child. The holistic way of healing heartburn is the answer to removing the symptoms for good.

There are alternative ways to cure heartburn. Symptom sufferers will give testimony to this. Many have been completely healed due to getting the correct treatment. An accurate diagnosis can and will make a huge impact on permanently reducing heartburn. Most conventional practitioners look at the symptoms. It is always best to carefully decide who you seek treatment from. The natural way to cure heartburn is surprisingly better than conventional methods. The natural approach can get rid of every single heartburn symptom.

It is a very sad fact that a lot of people avoid eating out in restaurants. A sensitive digestive system will not cope with certain foods. A heartburn symptom can quickly overtake a sufferer after a few bites of pizza. If you want to have a life that is medication free and symptom free you need a trusted resource.

Vince Peterson is an expert on heartburn symptom and the director of the HeartBurnReliefFast.Com blog. For tons of fantastic information about heartburn symptom, you should definitely check out his blog.

For those of us who have suffered in silence for months and even years. the big question is how to get rid of heartburn. To start with, it seemed simple enough. We did what we had been taught to do. We turned to the medical profession. Of course, we all love our family doctor. But having heartburn has taught us not even the medical profession knows everything. This begins to dawn on us when visit after visit and script after script gets us absolutely nowhere. We end up paying and paying without seeing any results. Okay, to be fair there are some medicines that work but only mildly and short-term. This is just not good enough for a condition that can only be described as chronic.

So, how to get rid of heartburn remains one of the biggest mysteries. There is one individual who suffered for years. He had all the horrible symptoms that cause pain and embarrassment. He knows what it feels like to be having a conversation and constantly burping. How embarrassing is that? He knows exactly what it feels like to have to apologize for not finishing a meal at a dinner party because bile is burning up his chest and throat. This is regarded as just plain rude. He also knows how it feels to worry and worry because the symptoms just won't go. Out of desperation he began his own research.

He was driven by years of torture to find out how to get rid of heartburn. The end result is that we can all know there is a way. And the cherry on top is we don't have to rely on pharmaceutical companies. Nor do we have to keep making appointments to see a doctor. It's only once we start taking responsibility for our health that we can come with answers. It may take some time and effort but compared to all the pain, embarrassment and being left out of social gatherings it's worth every second.

Vince Peterson is an expert on how to get rid of heartburn and the director of the HeartBurnReliefFast.Com blog. For tons of fantastic information about how to get rid of heartburn, you should definitely check out his blog.

I wanted to talk to you about how to cure heartburn. There are a lot of people that have this problem, but there are other people that get it way too often. It happens so much that it becomes painful for people. What a lot of people don't understand is that there is physical damage occurring to your esophagus. Your stomach acid creates heartburn and that acid is so strong that it can break down meats. When it gets into your esophagus, it will literally burn it away and if it persists over time, your esophagus will disappear. I'm going to talk to you about how to cure heartburn.

The key to avoiding this problem is learning to tame your stomach acids. They're supposed to stay in your stomach where they belong, but for some reason they're not. One of the main reasons this happens is due to physical restraints. People that eat big meals fill up their stomach and there's just less space available. This causes stomach acid to rise and get into the esophagus. If this is the case, you have to start eating smaller meals more often. This will keep your acids much more balanced.

I want to show you how to cure heartburn. There is another reason that acids can get out of the stomach and that's just general volatility. This can be caused by a number of foods, but there is a way to calm it. Vinegar has natural enzymes that will balance out the stomach acids, so all you have to do is get vinegar based products on your food. This could be salad dressing or ketchup.

Learn about the Cure For Heartburn and Indigestion

I wanted to share with you some easy methods to cure heartburn. There are a lot of people out there that suffer from this problem and never really look at it as a bad problem. For the most part heartburn isn't an issue if it happens now and then, but if you're someone that seems to get it everyday, than you're causing some pretty serious damage. Stomach acid is getting into your esophagus and it will burn. It will burn your esophagus away and there's no way of getting a new one. This is why it is so important to take care of this problem before it turns into a recurrence. I'm going to share with you the easy methods to cure heartburn.

The root cause of this is stomach acid and you need to learn to control it. The main reason people have this problem is that they eat too much. Your stomach is of a limited size and about half of it has acid in it. When you fill it, your acid levels get pushed higher and higher, to the point that they overflow and get into the esophagus. In this case, all you have to do is eat smaller meals more often. It will keep your acid levels at a balanced level all day long.

Another one of the easy methods to cure heartburn is through calming the acid. Sometimes food will cause your acid to just get volatile and in that case it is difficult to keep in the stomach. All you need to do is consume vinegar because it will balance out the stomach. Drinking vinegar isn't exactly appetizing to people, so what you can do is add ketchup to food or salad dressing. Just use a vinegar based product.

Learn about the Cure for Heartburn

Acid Reflux is also called heartburn. It is a condition of an imbalance of chemical reaction in the body occurring in the esophagus instead of the stomach.

Acid reflux affects both children and adults and it is an unpleasant experience. It s triggered by intake of certain food such as chocolates, citrus fruit and spicy foods. Food taken a certain time of the day especially late at night when the digestion is slow and over eating will give rise to unpleasant acid reaction. The symptoms of acid reflux includes; sour taste in the mouth, burning or pain in the chest or throat and rising stomach acid. There are many ways to manage acid reflux, they are:

1. Through proper diet - Build a food diary; list the food you are eating and the amount. Observe your body reaction to the different types of food, recording the times when the food or the amount causes a heart burn reaction.

2. Avoid food that is known to cause acid reflux. Food such as curries, fried food, caffeinated drinks, alcoholic drinks and peppermint can trigger acid reflux.

3. Eat small, frequent meals and avoid heavy meals before bedtime. Preferably, have your last meal of the day 3 hours before going to bed.

4. Food that is rich in complex carbohydrates such as bread, rice and pasta can soothe the excessive acid in the stomach.

5. Eat slowly and chew your food well to maximise the nourishment. It will help the digestion process in the stomach

6. Avoid food that is high in fats as they take a longer time to digest causing the stomach to secrete more acid for digestion.

Some of us could occasionally get acid reflux after a meal. However, persistent acid reaction can lead to a chronic disease known as GERD, which is a condition of irritated or damaged esophagus. Consult a doctor if you are experiencing frequent acid reflux or heartburn as it can potentially lead to serious complication.

Jennifer Lim has condensed her research and experiences which she hope could help others in similar condition. Get more information on food intolerances and tips on coping with food intolerance in facts on food intolerance.

I wanted to talk to you about the heartburn cure and how it can help you avoid problems like indigestion. I think everyone has experienced heartburn before and it's an uncomfortable feeling. It isn't too bad, but uncomfortable. If you get it now and than, don't worry about it because it really isn't that big of a deal. The real problem starts when it happens on a regular basis. Heartburn is created by stomach acid getting into the esophagus area and that acid physically burns it. If it happens too often, it will burn away your esophagus forever. I'm going to show you the heartburn cure that will help you.

If you ever want to get past this, you have to learn to tame your stomach acids because that is where the whole thing starts. There is only so much physical space available in your stomach and as you add in food the acid levels will rise. As you can guess, if you have really big meals, you may cause the acid to over flow, which pushes acid into the esophagus. The way you stop this to start eating smaller meals more often. This will help keep the acid levels at more moderate levels.

The heartburn cure that you can implement anytime you run into this problem is to get vinegar into your stomach. The natural enzymes will actually calm the acid. Obviously you can't just drink vinegar, so get some vinegar based products into your body like ketchup or salad dressing. This should clear things up relatively quickly.

Learn more about the Cure for Heartburn and Indigestion.