What is Acid Reflux Disease?

Statistics show that over 60 million Americans suffer from acid reflux disease, but what exactly is this health problem and how can it be treated?

Many people are familiar with the symptoms of acid reflux or heartburn as it is often called.

It happens when the Sphincter muscle that closes off the stomach from the esophagus does not close properly.

This is rather like a leaking valve in a hose; liquid can seep through and go where it is not supposed to.

In this case the liquid is stomach acid that is meant to digest our food. It leaks back up into the esophagus and cause irritation and a burning sensation up into the upper abdomen and chest area.

It sometimes goes right up into the throat and mouth, leaving a sour or bitter taste.

Should this happen more than twice a week it means that the sufferer has acid reflux disease, often called GERD – short for gastro-esophageal disease.

While it is possible that the Sphincter muscle can become slack and not close for no apparent reason, there is often a reason for this to happen and one of those reasons are that you have a hiatus hernia.

This happens when a portion of the stomach and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) go above the diaphragm.

The diaphragm plays an important role in keeping the acid in the stomach, but if the stomach herniates above it, then acid will escape.

So how can the doctor be sure you have acid reflux disease? He will do one or more tests to find out.

* An extra after you swallow a Barium solution will show up any ulcers or narrowing of the esophagus.

* An esophageal manometry will check out the functioning of the lower sphincter muscle.

* The Ph in the throat can be monitored to see how much acid is in the throat. A monitoring device is inserted into the throat by the doctor and left for one or two days.

* An endoscopy can check for other problems. This is a long thin tube with a light on the end which is inserted into the stomach through the throat. You will have a sedative and throat spray for comfort.

* A biopsy may be taken during the endoscopy to get samples of tissues which will be checked for any infection or abnormality.

There are many ways in which acid reflux disease can be treated, so you don’t have to suffer the symptoms without relief.

However, it is important to get that initial test done by the doctor to have it properly diagnosed, just in case it is caused by something that needs a different type of treatment.


Learn more about your health online when you read the rest of our information here about: acid reflux and digestive health issues

** Further reading through our articles on health issues will give you a body of information that will help you decide what options you have to deal with the underlying causes of your problem through giving your body the nutrition products that will assist you body to heal from the inside out.

You can visit our health food products page here: Herbalife Health Nutrition Supplements and learn more about our core nutrition program, the Cellular Nutrition Advanced Program and also check out these targeted products, Florafiber to replace your healthy flora and Aloe Vera Juice to help cleanse your system.

We wish you well in your search for solutions to this problem and your movement towards better health in all areas.

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