Treatment for the Effects of Acid Reflux

Heartburn, named for the burning sensation experienced in the area of the heart, actually has nothing to do with the heart. Its cause is stomach acid that has moved up into the esophagus. This happens when the valve located between the stomach and the esophagus relaxes at the wrong time, thus causing the burning sensation in the chest or throat associated with heart burn.

Much attention has been focused on helping heart burn patients and many theories as to the root of heart burn have been put forth. The most likely cause to activate heart burn is typically considered to be certain foods or beverages, although which food causes the problem can be different for every individual sufferer. On average, approximately 10 percent of the general population and as much as 25 percent of the pregnant population, experiences heart burn on any given day.

Frequent, recurring heart burn is called acid reflux disease or Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Stomach acid was intended to remain in the stomach to aid in digestion. The lining of the esophagus is not able to withstand stomach acid, causing as many as ten to fifteen percent of identified GERD much more far reaching however, and may even include such things as asthma, hoarseness, chronic cough, laryngitis or even non-cardiac chest pain.

Still the effects of heart burn may not be quite as blush. Only about seven percent of those diagnosed with GERD suffer spells of heart burn every day and need treatment on a daily basis. About 30 to 40 percent of the remaining acid reflux patients suffer from heart burn only about once a month. This second group actually does not need daily treatments for acid reflux but should instead use them on an as-needed basis, thus saving themselves the cost of daily treatment and also of taking medicine every day.

The usual stipulated for heart burn and GERD sufferers includes some traditional stand-bys like over the counter antacids and newer medications including H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPI). Other do-it-yourself treatments are still used by many including taking an antacid or other medication before consuming a meal suspected to be a heart burn initiator, thus cutting off heart burn before it has time to even begin. Raising the head of the bed to keep stomach acid from moving up the esophagus seems to help some heart burn patients, as does simply eating smaller meals and reducing weight to relieve pressure on the stomach and esophagus.

A traditionally reliable treatment, however, may still be the most effective at relieving heart burn and when taken on a regular schedule may even be helpful in curing the damage that stomach acid may have had on the esophagus. That treatment, especially good for pregnant heart burn sufferers, is simply consuming milk every day. Easy to come by and relatively cheap, simple to use, a great source of calcium for your bones and enjoyable to drink, consuming milk could be the best advice for many of the heart burn sufferers out there.

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