Causes of Acid Reflux and Treatment

Posted by sanjay on Tuesday 07 Apr 2009

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Why Acid Reflux happens?

Acid Reflux happens when the tube used to ingest the food from throat to stomach is not capable of handling the acid. The ingested food is digested by stomach with the help of acids produced and stored by it. Stomach walls are capable enough to store the acid without causing damage.

Symptoms

The lower esophageal sphincter, which is a divider between esophagus and stomach, gives up at inappropriate time by not blocking the entry of acid in the esophagus. Stomach acid floods back into esophagus from the stomach which creates a severe heart burn right in between the chest, and is considered to be the symptom of the Acid Reflux. You might find Acid Reflux Symptoms happening to everybody once in a while, but when it occurs at regular interval (2 or 3 times a week) with no noticeable relief even after taking medicines, then it is for sure that you have acid reflux.

Treatment for Acid Refluxes

Sleeping position

It is beneficial to sleep on left side of the stomach than the right side. It is better for you not to feel the heart burn kind of Acid Reflux symptoms. It is better if you make a habit to sleep on your left side with head in an elevated position, which will decrease the heart burn during the sleep. You can pile up one or two pillows for this. If it’s affordable for you to buy a bed which can be raised when required, kind of ones which are available in the hospitals, go for it. If not, raise the head of your bed with either wood blocks or bricks.

Small meals

Whenever you feel like eating, eat in very small portions. But, if you miss the food in between for long time, you will eat a big meal in the end and that will make your acid reflux condition worse. Any person who has the habit to avoid the meals in between might end up having over filled stomach during meals. This is the condition which must be avoided at any cost.

Chewing Gums

It will really be helpful if you make it a habit to chew gums in between the meals. This will help you to create loads of saliva in the mouth and will wash down any of the left over acids from the esophagus and the throat. Basically, Saliva is naturally alkaline and it neutralizes the acid to some level. But, please avoid mint flavors of the chewing gums. The mint helps in worsening the condition of the acid refluxes.

Drink Water

Drinking water is known to dilute stomach acids and can be helpful in reducing the heart burn conditions. So, please keep drinking water as much as you can.
Sleep time

Don’t go for a sleep immediately after a big meal. It is required to have some walk before you go to sleep. Keep a difference of at least two hours between your meals and sleep time.