How to Understand The Symptoms and Causes of Acid Reflux Disease (GERD)

Diagnosis

Extreme pain in the chest. Horrific heartburn. Burning in the chest. These are all symptoms of acid reflux disease. The correct name for GERD is gastroesophageal reflux disease but it is often shortened to reflux disease or G.E.R.D.   

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

  Trouble Sleeping

 If you have trouble laying down at night, often getting back up moments later with a burning or pressure feeling in your chest, you may be suffering from reflux disease. Anytime you have pain or pressure in the chest, immediately seek medical help. It may pleasantly surprise you though that not all excrutiating pain in the chest is a heart attack. You could be suffering from GERD.

Step 2

  Eating  

When you swallow, the food passes through your esophagus. It travels through the esophagus, passes through the esophageal sphincter at the very bottom and empties into your stomach. The valve at the bottom can weaken or relax to the point of allowing the acid from your stomach to come back into the esophagus. This is reflux.

Step 3

  Symptoms

The backwash of the acid causes inflammation of the wall of the esophagus. Over time, this backwash can cause ulcers, difficulty swallowing, heartburn, coughing, wheezing, asthma and a slight risk of esophageal cancer. It is very important to find out if reflux is the cause so the symptoms can be dealt with immediately.

Step 4

  Surgery

This condition gets worse when bending over or when laying down. The acid has easier access to the esophageal sphincter and will splash back up into the esophagus and possible even into your mouth. There are over the counter drugs that can ease the symptoms but more importantly, you can do things to help the symptoms naturally through diet, exercise and a few lifestyle changes. Ultimately, there is a surgical procedure that can be done to repair the valve. I would only use this after all else fails. Surgery can repair the valve but the weakening and symptoms can return.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not lay flat.
• Never lay down after eating.
• Do not bend over. Bend from the knees.