What is gastroesophageal reflux?

The burning, heartburn, retrosternal heartburn is a burning sensation in the center of the chest that often occurs after eating, bending over, exercising, and sometimes, when lying down. It is a common problem, nearly one in every 10 adults have these symptoms at least once a week, and one in three monthly. Some pregnant women have it almost daily. These symptoms indicate a disease called gastroesophageal reflux or GERD.

When you swallow, food passes through your throat and esophagus into the stomach. A muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter controls the opening between the esophagus and stomach and remains closed except when swallowing. When this muscle fails to close, the contents of the stomach acid can rise into the esophagus. This is called reflux. When stomach acid enters the lower esophagus, can cause the symptoms described above.

The advice to improve gastroesophageal reflux

* Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases intra-abdominal pressure and it hurts.
* Stop smoking. The snuff relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter.
* Do not use clothes that push the abdomen. Avoid tight belts.
* If possible, avoid heavy lifting and avoid prolonged trunk flexion.
* Make small, frequent meals and avoid abundant.
* Limit consumption of fatty foods, chocolate, peppermint, coffee, tea, soft drinks (especially colas) and alcohol. All cause lower esophageal sphincter relaxation.
* Limit consumption of tomatoes, citrus (fruit juices). They provide acid that can irritate the esophagus.
* Eat foods rich in fiber, especially if it has a tendency to constipation.
* Dine two or three hours before bedtime, and avoid lying down after meals.
* Raise the head of your bed about 15-20 cm by placing wooden blocks under the legs of the header, to allow gravity to keep stomach contents inside. The use of pillows does not usually work well.

Many people improve following the above recommendations. Antacids are sold in pharmacies without a prescription can be useful for occasional symptoms.

Changes in lifestyle can relate then reduce the risk of reflux:

* If overweight, try losing weight.

* Avoid large meals and high-fat, as well as pecking at bedtime. Wait a while after eating before bedtime.

* Limit coffee making and other possible problem foods.

* Reduce alcohol consumption.

* Try to avoid increases in abdominal pressure, the use of belts, etc..

* Stop smoking.

If symptoms are infrequent (ie less than five times a month) can be treated with antacids, drugs sold without prescription.

When should see a doctor?

If heartburn is frequent or the symptoms are very unpleasant, see a doctor. He will evaluate whether to do some study (gastroscopy) and if you need a stronger treatment. If you have trouble swallowing, see also the doctor as soon as possible.

How are the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux?

The symptoms caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease are treated primarily with drugs. In most cases, antacids successfully control the symptoms. If antacids alone are not enough usually try other drugs that reduce stomach acid secretion.

It usually starts with the so-called histamine antagonists. If no results, using other inhibitors of medications called proton pump. The latter are very effective and can prevent many of the complications of gastroesophageal reflux.

In some cases where medical treatment has failed, the problem can be solved by a surgical procedure called fundoplication (can be done by laparoscopy) Act, which strengthens the weakened esophageal sphincter.

In many cases, reflux can not be attributed to any particular cause. In others, the following disorders can contribute to the problem:

Hiatus hernia

The upper stomach makes its way through the diaphragm (main breathing muscle that separates the heart and lungs with stomach, liver and other abdominal viscera), causing them to rupture, leaving more open hole through which the esophagus going from the chest to the abdomen, thus preventing the muscle fibers of the diaphragm closing well the bottom of the esophagus. Therefore, the esophagus remains completely open, allowing stomach acid to enter into it, especially when the stomach is full digestive process.

Overweight

If you are overweight, the excess fat from the abdominal cavity increases the pressure inside the stomach with its contents rises into the esophagus. Conversely, weight loss reduces stomach acid reflux.

Pregnancy

The uterus increased in size during pregnancy, compresses the stomach to put pressure on him. This increases the tendency to reflux. In addition, the hormonal changes of pregnancy determine esophageal sphincter relaxation.

Meals

The more the stomach is distended by food, the greater the tendency to reflux. The trend also increases when making fatty foods since fat slows the emptying of the stomach. Try to avoid large meals, especially at night. This reduces the tendency to reflux.

Food

Chocolate, peppermint, tomato sauce, coffee, fruit juices and alcohol prevent the oesophageal sphincter from working properly.

Snuff

The snuff also prevents the esophageal sphincter to function properly, reduces the rate of gastric emptying and increases production of stomach acid.

Constipation

Patients with constipation have an increased risk of reflux, constipation and increased pressure inside the stomach.

At bedtime

The tendency to reflux increases when we go to bed. This is simply due to the force of gravity. A simple way to avoid this is to use an extra pillow or elevate the head of the bed about 10 cm, with blocks or by placing a couple of bricks or blocks under the legs at the head.

Symptoms usually occur shortly after eating and you feel that the food or liquid returns you to the mouth or throat, and feel a sour taste, bitter, that burns you.

Generally, the reflux is not dangerous. It is a fairly common condition and it is estimated that 10 percent of the population suffers intermittently.

However, in a certain number of cases, long-term reflux causes complications such as esophagitis. Esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus, and it can cause severe pain, ulcers and bleeding.

Common sense rules to avoid reflux

If you suffer from reflux more than once a week, then use common sense and proves the following techniques:

* If you are overweight, try losing it. Obesity is a trigger reflux.
* Do not lie down immediately after eating. At night, dinner an hour and half before going to bed.
* If you smoke, you should know that this habit is also a factor in the occurrence of reflux.
* Do not make your meals. Divide the same amount of food we consume today, girls in 6 meals throughout the day. Bonus: this change only makes you lose weight.

Natural remedy for reflux

In another article we talked about the importance of sodium bicarbonate. On this occasion we will use a recipe that contains baking soda:

In a regular cup, put water up to 3 / 4 of its height. Add two tablespoons of vinegar (who will get in any supermarket and is very inexpensive). Shake. Now add 1 / 4 teaspoon of baking soda. Take this solution for 2 to 3 times daily, one hour after eating something. Do this for 5 days, and then rest for 2 days. You can repeat all you want, or until all ebb away.

This solution causes your body to move towards the alkaline side of pH. This gives the additional advantage by becoming more alkaline your body, receives many benefits to your health of which is discussed in an article to come.