Your stomach is meant to be a one-way system, with food and drink arriving through the esophagus and departing into the intestines. However, powerful stomach acids can sometimes wash back into the esophagus, a condition called acid reflux.
Occasional acid reflux is common, and when it becomes a recurring condition, it’s called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In either case, there are things you can do to reduce the frequency and intensity of your attacks.
Your first choice should be visiting Gastroenterology & Nutrition of Central Florida. With five convenient locations, we can help with your acid reflux and GERD conditions with both diagnosis and treatment.
Let’s look at acid reflux and its causes and what you can do to manage the condition.
Your stomach has the resources to manage its active acid environment, which breaks down foods during digestion. Your esophagus and throat are meant only to deliver chewed food.
The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a contracting and expanding barrier at the entrance to the stomach. These muscles control the stomach's contents, allowing food in and closing before acid can escape.
As sufferers of acid reflux know, this isn’t a foolproof symptom. When there’s a backwash of stomach acid into the esophagus and throat, their delicate linings respond to the harsh acidity that causes symptoms like heartburn, backwashes of stomach contents, and pain in the upper abdomen and chest.
Occasional episodes of acid reflux might be a minor inconvenience for some, easily controlled by over-the-counter antacids. However, antacids won’t solve the problem of inflamed tissue in the esophagus, and the chemicals in these products have side effects that can become a problem with overuse.
Frequent acid reflux requires a different approach. Histamine blockers like cimetidine and nizatidine can help decrease stomach acid production, while proton pump inhibitors like lansoprazole and omeprazole block it entirely. These are available in consumer and prescription-strength formulas.
An important part of acid reflux management requires some modifications to your lifestyle. Consider these changes to reduce or eliminate your acid reflux attacks:
To deal with an acid reflux attack, stand up for a gravity assist, take small sips of water to dilute stomach acids, change your pants or loosen your belt, and reach for an antacid.
When acid reflux becomes a regular and ongoing problem, contact Gastroenterology & Nutrition of Central Florida by phone or online today.
