Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is the medical term for what we know as acid reflux. It is a disease which occurs when the stomach releases the liquid that is found inside of it back up into the esophagus, causing inflammation and damage to the esophageal lining.
The acid that is regurgitated most often consists of a few compounds: acid, bile, and pepsin. Stomach acid is used in the digestion of food and can be a major irritant to the esophagus due to its tendency to damage tissues. Bile is created in the liver and may be backed up into the stomach, causing it to be released by acid reflux. Pepsin, the last common compound, is actually an enzyme which helps to kick-start the stomach into breaking down proteins.
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Acid reflux is a problem that stays with someone for life. It's caused by a weak lower esophageal sphincter and allows fluids to rise from the stomach into the esophagus which cause corrosive damage because of the acid content.
The most common symptom of acid reflux is the agony of heartburn, but there are other health risks associated with it such as Barrett's esophagus, erosive esophagitis and esophageal cancer.
But all of that may change. There is a new surgical procedure that is finding its way into clinics across the nation which may help to snuff out acid reflux for those who undergo the surgery. Known as the Plicator procedure, this treatment option requires a mere twenty minutes and is an outpatient procedure. Does it sound too good to be true? Heres a simple explanation of what exactly happens when one undergoes a Plicator procedure.
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When it comes to preventing the effects of a disease on your day to day life, learning more about it is one of the most effective things you can do. Were you aware that acid reflux is a problem for at least thirty five percent of people who are overweight, plus many other people who are not?
In this article we're going to look at several important facts about acid reflux which will hopefully help you to minimize its effects on your life.
More than 60 million Americans are effected by heartburn due to acid reflux at least once a month. That's about 20% of the entire population! And roughly 25 million (one twelfth) of the total population experience it daily.
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When a person is suffering from acid reflux, the symptoms sometimes appears to be due to a cold or flu. People start coughing, they might have a sore throat and sometimes they can even lose their voice completely. If these things are due to a cold, the symptoms usually last for a few days and then disappear.
But if they continue beyond a few days, they could be a sign of an acid reflux problem. Voice loss is one symptom, along with sore stomach, headaches and heartburn. If left untreated, these symptoms can worsen and acid reflux can lead to other problems as well.
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While some leading medications work for everyone, they actually make the Acid Reflux worse after you stop taking them. In particular, when a patient takes the medications classed as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI), they inhibit the production of acid.
If you stop taking these medications, the body responds by bouncing back and producing even more acid. This process is known as rebound hypersecretion. For this reason, it's not a good idea to suddenly stop taking PPI's if you are currently using them.
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