Acid Reflux » Acid Reflux Diseases

Indigestion: Why Is It Linked to Acid Reflux?

tuan megai — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:34:34 +0000

Indigestion or dyspepsia is a state of discomfort accompanying or following the intake of food. It is usually associated with difficult or painful digestion and it may be related to failure of some phases of the digestive process. Oftentimes, the signs of this condition are like that of acid reflux. Aside from this facts however, we want to share more information on the disorder.

Symptoms of indigestion vary but usually include a feeling of fullness or weight in the pit of the stomach. Sensations that are dull and steady or acute and spasmodic may occur immediately after eating, or it may not appear until sometime later. Discharging of gas or belching may be existent at times. Heartburn may occur, frequently accompanied by an acid up into the mouth from the stomach. Flatulence, coated tongue, headache, and dizziness may also be present.

Causes of indigestion

This gastric disturbance may be caused by any of several problems such as irritation in the stomach, gastropsis, ulcer, and cancer. It may also arise from disorders in organs other than the stomach like cirrhosis of the liver, gallbladder inflammation, appendicitis, nephritis, peritonitis, and heart or lung diseases. A wide range of mental and emotional conditions may also be the source of indigestion.

Diagnosis and treatment for indigestion

Since indigestion is a result of a wide array of causes, early analysis and medication should be done. The physician will be guided by the symptoms and the level of treatment is very wide. The treatment for indigestion can be as simple as the classic bicarbonate of soda or as complex as surgery. Below are simple steps to avoid indigestion:

Eat meals at regular hours. This helps the stomach secrete its juices at regular times. If meals are delayed, the concentrated acids secreted may irritate the lining of the stomach thus resulting to acid reflux.

Avoid large heavy meals. Small meals at frequent intervals are better than large meals taken less frequently.

Eat slowly and chew your food carefully. Avoid irritating stimulants, spicy and greasy foods.

Drink a glass of milk between meals. This will help overcome the excess acid in the stomach.

For indigestion, think of other ailments that may affect your gastrointestinal tract, and its underlying muscular organs – esophagus, stomach, small intestine, gallbladder, and the colon. These organs may have been already affected by ailments. Proper assessment of the symptoms you are experiencing will help you with the problem. For all you know it is the start of the dysfunction of your organs.

Although indigestion is considered as a common condition, there are still other kinds of functional ailments like the irritable bowel syndrome which can create abdominal pain. Non-cardiac chest pain is another. You have to watch out for these ailments aside from the possibilities of indigestion.

Since indigestion is usually caused by emotional problem rather than by organic or physical diseases, you should try to avoid tension and learn to adopt a calmer, more relaxed attitude. This will reduce the possible complications that may arise due to the disorder. Relay all facts with your health care provider.

Chronic Cough: A Cough Linked to GERD or Acid Reflux

tuan megai — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:32:30 +0000

Chronic Cough

Chronic cough is described as a kind of cough that constantly recurs. It is not considered as a type of ailment but it is believed that this is an indication that you are suffering from other kinds of diseases. It is a kind of condition that prompts anyone to consult their physicians. Learn whether it is a cause or it is caused by acid reflux.

Sources of chronic cough

The most normal sources of chronic cough include the following:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux. This causes chronic cough due to the acid that progress toward the rear through the esophagus. Reactions lead to contraction of the air passage. Simply put, the air passage is blocked by the stomach acid thus resulting to chronic coughing.
Sinus conditions. This problem is often hard to identify. An individual will be required to undergo CT scan to properly diagnose the problem.
Contamination which include bronchitis or pneumonia. This is also tagged as another cause of chronic cough due to the virus, bacteria or fungus that affects the air passage or even the lungs. Viral contaminations do not usually react to antibiotics. This is the reason why some persons with asthma commonly have prolonged coughing even if the contamination had been cleaned.
Medications. Medicines like inhibitors given to persons with hypertension can also result to chronic cough.
Other causes. In some very exceptional cases, chronic cough is caused by breathing polluted entities through your lungs and is very common in children. It may also be a result of excessive cigarette smoking.

If you are suffering from chronic cough, it is advised that you should submit for an x-ray to determine its real cause. Your doctors will then be able to diagnose your condition. In like manner, he may be able to recommend treatment for your existing ordeal.

Treatments for chronic cough

The medication given to persons with chronic cough is established according to its source. On the other hand, there are individuals who are given some medicines with guaifenesin or dextromethorphan to relieve symptomatic cough. Individuals suffering from chronic cough are also advised to consume a lot of water or use an inhaling steam. Taking cough lozenges are of great help as well. In some serious conditions a physician may give the patient codeine – a medication considered successful in suppressing cough.

The treatment for chronic cough will vary according to the ailment or symptoms being experienced by the individual. For instance, take a look at the following:

People with asthma are given bronchodilators and steroids to reduce the possible irritation of the air passageways.
For individuals with GERD or acid reflux, treatment involves keeping away from foods that can enhance reflux. The patient is advised to evade from eating prior to bedtime. Raising the pillow when sleeping and taking medicines like Pepcid, Tagamet or Zantac will also lessen stomach acidity.

For persons with sinus condition, decongestants and antihistamines are recommended to cure the signs of post nasal drip.

Chest Pain: Learning About Why It is Connected to Acid Reflux

tuan megai — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:28:51 +0000

Chest pain is considered as one of the most usual conditions that can lead an individual to be brought to a hospital. This condition needs immediate medical attention as it may lead to a more serious problem if left unattended. Heart attack is not the only cause of chest pain. There may be other reasons to consider why people have this problem. Learn about the situation and see why it is linked to acid reflux.

Chest Pain

Diagnosis of chest pain may be life endangering but there are also cases that are less risky. It means a lot of blood examinations, x-rays, CT scans, and other kinds of examinations. In some cases, assessing the medical history of the individual can help the doctor determine the cause of the ordeal.

Basis for chest pain

Although the foundation of chest pain may contain different kinds of indications, there is a great possibility that the symptoms of chest pain are due to age, gender and race. However, the basis of chest pain may occur from different possibilities like:

It may arise from the wall of your chest comprising the ribs, muscles and skin;
It may also occur at your back consisting of the spine, nerves and back muscles;
Chest pain may happen in your lungs – inside layer of your lungs or the trachea;
It may also originate in your heart consisting of the pericardium;
It may also arise in your aorta;

It may occur in your esophagus, and diaphragm;
It may also arise from your abdominal organs such as stomach, gallbladder and pancreas.

Reasons for chest pain

Soreness or ache can happen in almost all the configurations of the chest. Majority of the organs of the body can create dissimilar kinds of ache but unluckily soreness is not particular to every source. The chest pain experienced by individuals varies according to the condition one is suffering like shattered ribs, pleuritis, pheumothorax, shingles, pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, angina, myocardial infarction, pericarditis, aorta and aortic dissection, and esophagus and reflux esophagitis.

Diagnosis of chest pain

The means to the analysis of chest pain still continue to be a saga. Your doctor may only base your condition from the source of the pain. Your physician will conduct a thorough investigation on the characteristic and amount of the pain you are experiencing, and the connected symptoms and the danger issues involved with the condition. These things will aid your doctor in evaluating the real score behind the problem. In like manner, it can be a basis to rule out the disorder.

You may also be asked by your physician questions to help him identify the pain you are feeling. It is necessary that the doctor must have a precise idea of the circumstances because individuals use dissimilar words to explain the pain that you are experiencing. Prior to the doctor’s final evaluation of the diagnosis he must see to it that every characteristic and aspect of the pain was described.

Reflux Laryngitis: A Disease Intertwined with Acid Reflux

tuan megai — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:38:41 +0000

Reflux Laryngitis

Reflux laryngitis is a result of a weak spot in your energy at the intersection of your esophagus and stomach. Regularly, this powerfully built regulator works to store food and stomach acid from going up to your esophagus and larynx. The regulator is released to make way for the food to stay in your stomach and shuts to store the stuffing of your stomach from going up and down into your esophagus. If the stomach acid will move up and down from your stomach and esophagus then you will have acid reflux.

Reflux laryngitis versus acid reflux

In addition, any kind of intensity in your stomach like excessive weight can enhance and induce acid back and forth your stomach and esophagus. Individuals with hiatal hernia will most probably enhance the danger of acquiring reflux. If the reflux results to indications, it is known as acid reflux but when the stomach acid goes up into your larynx, the problem is called reflux laryngitis.

Complications of reflux laryngitis

Stomach acid can result to inflammation of the inside layer of the esophagus, larynx and throat. This can be the start of a lot of medical problems for you like:

Esophagus problems like wearing away of the inside layer and tightening of the area.
Vocal cord problems like constant croakiness, contraction and even tumor.
Digestion problems like complexity in ingesting.
Nasal problems like asthma or coughing and sinus problems.

Common indications of reflux laryngitis

The most usual signs connected to reflux laryngitis are heartburn and indigestion. There are about 50% of Americans who go through indigestion for at least every month while 4% to 7% of these people go through the condition every day. Additionally, serious cases of reflux can result to constant croakiness and asthma.

Diagnosis for reflux laryngitis

For most individuals, the analysis of reflux laryngitis is established on the distinctive record of indigestion and croakiness. Examination is commonly set aside for persons who do not react to traditional treatment or medicines. The most common analytic examinations required for individuals who do not respond to conventional medications include esophagram, endoscopy, laryngoscopy, esophageal pH monitoring and esophageal motility studies.

Traditional treatment for reflux laryngitis

The medications given to individuals with reflux laryngitis are the same as those recommended for people with acid reflux. This includes the following:

Antacids. This is a kind of medication that has the ability to counterbalance the stomach acid and is quick to relieve acidity. Some examples of these antacids are sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, and aluminum and magnesium antacids
Changes in eating habits. Evading generous amount of food during dinner is also recommended to avoid reflux. You should also avoid eating spicy or fried foods because it can trigger the symptoms of stomach acidity. Your daily diet must consist of foods high in protein and carbohydrate and less fat.
Practices linked to eating. Individuals are also advised to refrain from lying down immediately after having meals to make room for the stomach to be cleared from the foods you eat. It is important that you should evade eating before bedtime.
Lifestyle changes. You must also avoid drinking alcohol and beverages with caffeine as well as cigarette smoking.

Looking at the treatments for reflux laryngitis, you may say they are easy. The problem is how to apply it in your daily lives. One quick tip though: Try to start things one step at a time. In the long run, you will be cured of the disorder.

Barret’s Esophagus: Knowing Its Association with Acid Reflux

tuan megai — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:19:11 +0000

Barret’s esophagus is named after a surgeon, Norman Barret, who illustrated the disease. After sometime, it turned out that the description and interpretation of Barret was not right. In the year 1953, there were two doctors who described the well-known Barret’s esophagus as metaplasia.

Facts on Barret’s esophagus

Originally, Barret’s esophagus was thought to be comprised of gastric tissues substituting the common scaly coating of the esophagus. But in the middle part of the 70’s there were doctors who issued literatures to profoundly illustrate the inside layer of the Barret’s esophagus. These doctors indicated that the disease is comprised of metaplasia wherein its regular inside layer was substituted by the combination of gastric and intestinal coating cells (also known as specialized columnar cells).

Over the years, there were scientists who thought that there were two kinds of Barret’s esophagus: one when the regular coating was substituted by gastric cells; and the other is that intestinal cells were always present. As of the present, it is believed that the presence of intestinal cells is the only basis of the proper diagnosis of the condition.

Diagnosis for Barret’s esophagus

Endoscopy will determine the condition of the esophagus. Through this process, the doctor will see if there is an irregularity in the body part. He will check if the inside white layer of the esophagus is replaced by an irregular pink coating. The irregular coating can be extended from a brief space of the gastroesophageal junction up to your esophagus.

Biopsy is another process to detect the condition. The doctor will get tissue samples from the irregular coating seen through endoscopy. The tissue sample is viewed through a microscope to determine the occurrence of intestinal cells known as goblet cells. Other kinds of cells similar to stomach cells may also be determined in the process. If there is no presence of intestinal goblet cells seen through endoscopy, Barret’s esophagus is ruled out.

Reasons for a great attention to Barret’s esophagus

The sole reason why there is a tremendous attention given to Barret’s esophagus is the fact that it results to cancer in the area. There were studies conducted showing an extreme connection between cancer of the esophagus and Barret’s esophagus. Individuals who suffered Barret’s esophagus will most likely be infected with adenocarcinoma. Likewise a scaly kind of carcinoma – those appearing from the scaly coating regularly seen in the esophagus – may be accounted for with the condition. These types of cancer usually occur in major countries around the Western hemisphere.

On the other hand, the best news is that cancer usually arises rarely in individuals who have Barret’s esophagus. Although this is the case, the best thing you can do is to observe for early symptoms and to undergo regular biopsies and endoscopies. This must be done in order to make sure that the condition will not lead to cancer and other kinds of diseases like acid reflux. Since you know what you feel, you have to make sure that you go directly to your physician for help. You have to be very vigilant about your situation.

Asthma: Learning About A Disease Linked to Acid Reflux

tuan megai — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:55:20 +0000

There are a lot of conditions related to acid reflux. One of which is asthma. What is asthma? What are its characteristics, kinds and causes? How can this condition be treated? As you read along, you will find the answers to this question.

Asthma is a disturbance of breathing in several respiratory diseases involving the lungs and bronchi. It is characterized by wheezing, coughing, choking, and shortness of breath. It occurs in heart diseases and emphysema.

Characteristics of asthma

A sudden asthmatic attack is more frightening than dangerous. Gasping for air, the sufferer may fling the window open and hang over the sill for relief. An individual may breathe with difficulty. He chokes and coughs incessantly and may emit whistling or squeaking sounds.

At first, the person with asthma may experience incapability of filling his lungs with air and then when he has struggled to gasp in a partial breath, he cannot expel it. In serious cases, an individual may turn blue and looks as if death were impending. However, this is a very rare case.

Kinds of asthma and its causes

Now, let us go to the different kinds of asthma. Below is an explanation of each type and what causes the situation:

Paroxysm Asthma. This asthma is caused by an abrupt spasmodic constriction of the bronchioles in the lungs. This commonly leads to suffocation.
Allergic Asthma. This is usually caused by a release of the inciting agent known as histamine.
Cardiac Asthma. This is caused by heart failure. In some cases, it may be due to medications to support the heart.
Emphysema Asthma. This is commonly due to some forms of drugs prescribed to treat nervous tension and relax the constricted bronchi.
Bronchial Asthma. This is due to an allergen. To make sure that this kind of asthma is treated, the doctor must learn to eliminate the allergen causing the condition and to give the patient antihistaminic drugs as needed. Almost 50% of bronchial asthmas are caused by inhalation of allergens while the rest are caused by specific infections in the bronchi.

Treatment for asthma

The basic treatment of asthma is directed to the underlying cause of the symptom. For symptomatic relief of all kinds of asthma, doctors usually prescribe ephedrine and aminophylline to relax the spasm of the bronchioles. An injection or inhalation of epinephrine through the use of a nebulizer or atomizer acts instantly and often relieves the spasm in less than five minutes.

Myths on asthma

Here are some of the myths behind asthma:

It is a psychological condition. It is not true that asthma is due to emotional issues. However, it can help in activating the attack of asthma.
It can be outgrown. No it cannot. Although this condition may become dormant during the adolescent stage, there is a great possibility that it can recur anytime throughout maturity.
Asthma can be treated. As of the moment, there is still no cure for asthma. However, the condition can be controlled especially if the patient is given proper medical care and attention. You must not take this condition for granted as it may lead to emergency situation and even death.

Asthma is hereditary. It is most likely that you will be affected by asthma if both your parents have it. But if only one of your parents has asthma, you will have a lesser chance to acquire the condition.

Abdominal Pain: A Closer Look at How it is Linked to Acid Reflux

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:11:43 +0000

Abdominal pain is technically called abdominalgia – a kind of pain or discomfort in the abdomen which indicates an abdominal disorder. The abdomen is the portion of the body situated in between the pelvis and the lower part of the chest. It is oval in shape and is separated by the diaphragm from the chest.

It is lined by the peritoneum membrane. The stomach, large and small intestines, liver, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, appendix, gallbladder, urinary bladder, major blood vessels and nerves lie within the abdomen. This area is usually known as the belly. What then is behind abdominal pain and its connection to acid reflux?

Causes of abdominal pain

Anyone suffering abdominal pain should be cautious about treating it without the doctor’s advice. Discomfort may be temporary, such as that caused simply by overeating. At times it may be serious, resulting from an inflamed appendix, an infection, or even a tumor.

Excessive eating, drinking, or smoking can also cause abdominal pain. Anxiety, stress, fear, or emotional problem can lead to the problem as well. If frequent or prolonged, these difficulties may bring about actual damage like an ulcerated stomach. Other causes of abdominal pain in women include disorders of the lining of the uterus, infection of the fallopian tubes, and ectopic pregnancy.

Diagnosing abdominal pain

Since different problems can cause abdominal pain, doctors ask many questions when they try to find the cause. These questions are being asked by the physician to determine the quality of the pain and to identify the parts of the abdomen that causes the discomfort.

Has the pain occurred before? How frequent does it happen?
Does the pain remain in one part of the abdomen and what other parts are painful?

After the questions, the doctors will start performing physical examination. He might require the patient to undergo some kinds of laboratory, radiological, and even endoscopic examinations to make sure that his assessment is right. He may also require surgical procedure, if there is a need for it.

Kinds of abdominal pain

Abdominal pain has different kinds. The most common ones include:

Upper abdominal pain. This is a kind of sharp or acute pain which may include vomiting, nausea and diarrhea that may indicate food poisoning.
Recurring pain and mild or severe discomfort in the upper abdomen. If this kind of pain is accompanied by nausea, indigestion and intolerance to fatty foods, it may mean that you have stones forming in your gallbladder.
Sharp pain anywhere in the abdomen. This may be due to poisoning, an overdose of strong drugs, or deficiency disorders such as pernicious anemia.
Burning pain. This is a kind of pain that is caused by an ulcer or an open sore anywhere in the upper abdomen.
Lower abdominal pain. This may be due to an inflamed appendix. It may begin in the center of the abdomen then usually (though not always) moves to the lower right sector.

Abdominal pain must not be ignored. You must not try to diagnose and treat the pain by yourself. Always go to your doctor for proper scrutiny of your plight. You should entrust yourself to experts before it’s too late. Otherwise, you may encounter severe difficulties including but not limited to acid reflux.