Acid Reflux | GERD | Heart Burn

The oesphagus, stomach and entire GI tract are coated with a wet sticky substance called mucous. Its made up of water, a tiny bit of protein and then a whole mass of carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are the key as they form the bulk of what protects the stomach from the acidic contents of the stomach. Now imagine what happens when that protective layer breaks down.

# Pregnancy
# Smoking
# Eating large meals
# Being overweight
# Bending a lot
# Wearing tight clothing around the waist
# Drinking Alcohol
# Eating Spicy food
#eating food with a high oil/fat content

It is thought that up to 20% of the population have symptoms of the condition every week.

The condition is caused by small amounts of acid from the stomach rising up into the gullet.

The gullet, unlike the stomach, does not have a protective lining. So when it is exposed to the acid, it can become inflamed and painful - leading to the sensation we call heartburn.

But although heartburn is the most common symptom of acid reflux, it is not the only problem. Regular sufferers are at increased on cancer of the gullet.

New cases of this form of cancer have been rising faster than any other cancer over the past three decades.

The latest research is based on data from 2,000 pairs of identical and non-identical twins.

Overall, 18% of those who took part showed symptoms of acid reflux.

But an identical twin was over 1.5 times as likely as a non-identical twin to have the condition if their fellow twin was affected.

After taking account of known risk factors, the researchers calculated that 43% of the chance of developing acid reflux is attributable to genes.

Highly sulphated fucoidans act as inhibitors of TNF-alpha, much like the new generation of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis drugs. They also inhibit the enzyme hyaluronidase, believed to play a role in the development of inflammatory diseases. An ability to prevent the adhesion of Helicobacter pylori in the gut means some types of fucoidan can also act to prevent stomach ulcers.

Your stomach produces acid to help break down food so it is easier to digest. In certain circumstances, this acid can irritate the lining of your stomach and duodenum (the top end of your small intestine), causing indigestion and even ulceration and bleeding. The proton pump inhibitors work by completely blocking the production of stomach acid. They do this by inhibiting (shutting down) a system in the stomach known as the proton pump. The full name for this system is 'hydrogen-potassium adenosine triphosphate enzyme system'.

Proton Pump Inhibitors shut down the first stage in the digestive system and consequently can lead to major issues with digestion of food and poor absorption of nutrients. This can in turn make the problem more acute.

Should you use them - Possibly on a short term basis in my opinion. Long term use will lead to liver damage and other nutritional complications.

The generally held view of proton pump inhibitors is that they generally don't cause many problems. The most common Side effects are:

- diarrhoea
- feeling or being sick
- constipation,
- wind,
- abdominal pain
- headaches.

Very rarely they can also cause:
- allergic reactions
- itching
- dizziness
- swollen ankles
- muscle and joint pain
- blurred vision
- depression
- dry mouth.

A problem that can occur with long-term use of proton pump inhibitors is stomach infections. Stomach acid helps to kill microscopic organisms (mircrobes) such as bacteria in the stomach. Because proton pump inhibitors completely stop acid production using them can lead to a growth of microbes in the stomach.

Use proton pump inhibitors with care if you:
* have liver or kidney problems
* are pregnant or breastfeeding