Acid Reflux

People who suffer from acid reflux feel that there only hope and relief can come from medication that is prescribed by their doctors. However, many of us don't like being on any type of medication because of how it can affect our system and eventually make us totally dependent on it. Instead we prefer to find natural remedies to cure it.

There are ten popular remedies that may work for someone else - but not for you. It all depends on how well your body will react to them. Acid reflux is a very individual condition that can affect people differently and cause different symptoms.

When considering these remedies you must understand that it might be a trial and error process. If you find that your symptoms become worse or do not go away then you should consult your physician.

1. Drink a glass of milk. Either whole or skim milk will help to immediately relieve the acid reflux.

2. Drinking water will dilute the acid in your stomach and will help to wash down anything that is trying to work its way up. Try drinking one to two glasses of water after your meal to avoid any problems.

3. Chewing a few almonds in the morning or right after your meals may be what helps those nasty symptoms. Only eat a few at a time.

4. Fennel and chamomile tea have soothing effects that will help to relieve acid reflux. Remember to slowly sip the tea and not to gulp it. It should also be at a temperature that is not too cold - but not too hot.

5. An apple a day keeps the acid reflux away. Eat an apple after every meal. Organic apples are the best and healthiest ones to eat.

6. Chew a piece of candied ginger when you feel the acid reflux starting up. If you don't want to eat it straight you could always put a piece of it in your hot tea and let it sit for awhile before you drink it.

7. Swallow two to three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar that is undiluted. You should take this when you are having a some of the worse symptoms of acid reflux. You can also dissolve the same amount of the vinegar into warm water and drink it. This will help to prevent the symptoms from coming back.

8. Take papaya enzyme pills. Many people find that these help to alleviate the symptoms.

9. Aloe juice is hard to take because of its thick consistency - but it is hailed by many to be their favorite remedy.

10. After every meal chew a piece of sugarless gum for 30 minutes. This helps to stimulate the production of saliva - which will help to dilute the contents in your stomach and will help to wash down anything in your esophagus.

Some people have to deal with acid reflux on almost a daily basis. This can cause a much more complicated condition referred to as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). So how do we get acid reflux and GERD? There are actually many reasons why someone may be suffering from this.

The food that is in your stomach will only be digested partially by the enzymes and acid in the stomach. These are special chemicals that are used to help our bodies break down the food that we eat so that it can be recycled and used to help energize us.

The partially digested food in our stomach is taken to the small intestine by the stomach muscle to be digested even more.

Stomach acid will travel backwards into the person's esophagus. This will cause damage and inflammation.

There are a few factors that can contribute to acid reflux. They include cigarettes, fatty foods, caffeine, chocolate, pregnancy, obesity, and the delay of the stomach emptying its digested food.

Acid reflux patients who are obese or pregnant will experience this problem because of the increase in pressure in their stomachs. This extra pressure will push the contents in the stomach back into the esophagus.

Acid Reflux Symptoms

Chest Pain
Difficulty Swallowing
Heartburn
Asthma, hoarseness, and dental erosion are caused when the acidic juices can work their way into the mouth, throat, and the lungs air passages.

GERD also known as Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease is a medical condition in which the acid of partially digested food is going in the wrong direction. The best way to treat this is through the use of fundoplication acid reflux surgery.

Fundoplication is the most common and standard surgical treatment. Doctors will usually choose this procedure to treat this severe case of acid reflux because it can increase LES pressure - which can prevent acid from backing up and to repair any present hiatal hernias in the body. Open Nissen and Laparoscopic are the two different types of fundoplication surgeries.

Both of these procedures have long term benefits for patients. There are certain studies that state that over 90% of the patients who use go through with these surgeries are completely free of any heartburn even after 5 years.

The procedures are able to relieve the coughs and other respiratory problems related to severe acid reflux disease in 85% of patients. Half of patients say that it helps their stomachs to empty and to improve peristalsis.

Yet, as with most medical procedures there are negatives to it. There are postoperative problems and limitations from acid reflux surgeries. A study in 2003 showed that 18% of surgical patients still needed medications to fight against the symptoms of GERD. 38% of surgical patients experienced brand new symptoms including; bloating, gas, and difficulty swallowing.

It is important for patients to understand that the goal of fundoplication acid reflux surgery is not meant to cure fundolplication. It is important for you to speak to your doctor when considering this surgery to help fight against the painful symptoms and flare ups of GERD disease.

The most common candidates of this surgery include those who suffer from esophagi is - which is an inflamed esophagus, strictures, finding it hard to gain and maintain weight, and symptoms of GERD even after using anti-reflux drugs.