Facts About Acid Reflux

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.

Acid reflux isn't only a digestive problem - it can also have effects on your mental health. Approximately 80% of those who suffer from it experience the symptoms at night, and roughly 75% of those wake up as a result.

This can cause many problems during the day, including increased irritability, lack of proper concentration, and an increased risk of being in an accident involving an automobile.

Technically, heartburn is incurable but there are some steps you can take to minimize your risk. If you think you might be at risk of acid reflux, you need to review your diet and lessen the number of acid-creating foods you eat.

Drinking alcohol and smoking can also both contribute to acid reflux. Smoking will increase the acid production in your stomach, which can make the acid reflux even more damaging to your esophagus.

Plus, nicotine is known to relax the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. When this muscle is not operating properly, it's one of the leading causes of acid reflux. Alcohol has pretty much the same effect on this muscle, causing it to relax and allow reflux to work its way into the esophagus.