Acid Reflux & Heartburn

Acid Reflux and Heartburn

Acid reflux, heartburn, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD in the UK or GERD in the US) are a collection of medical disorders in which excess stomach acid travels back up towards the throat and causes a burning sensation in the chest. Acid reflux can be treated with a number of over-the-counter or prescription drugs, depending on how often and how bad your symptoms are.

Advice Regarding Acid Reflux and Heartburn

Be sure to read the following information if you've been experiencing acid reflux and heartburn.

What Causes Acid Reflux and Heartburn?

Acid reflux and heartburn are conditions caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD is a very common condition in which stomach acid leaks into the esophagus (gullet) and can travel as far as the throat.

There are numerous causes of acid reflux and heartburn, with a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter being the most common. This sphincter is composed of a ring of muscles that function as a valve, permitting food to enter the stomach while preventing stomach acid from escaping. If the lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t close completely, stomach acid can escape into the esophagus.

There are known factors that can contribute to acid reflux and heartburn, such as the following:

• Being overweight: Carrying extra weight can increase abdominal pressure. This pressure can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to weaken, allowing stomach acid to travel back up the gullet.
• Pregnancy: Fluctuating levels of hormones can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter.
• Eating a high-fat diet It takes longer for the stomach to eliminate stomach acid after digesting a high-fat meal.
• Tobacco, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, and chocolate can all relax the lower esophageal sphincter.
• Hiatus hernia: the protrusion of a portion of the stomach through the diaphragm.
• Specific medications: nitrates and calcium channel blockers can relax the lower esophageal sphincter. NSAIDs can irritate and inflame the lining of the esophagus, resulting in heartburn.
• Eating large meals or lying down after a meal
• Stress

How Are Acid Reflux and Heartburn Diagnosed?

The majority of the time, a doctor can diagnose GERD based on your symptoms and medical history; this will be covered during your consultation. Self-diagnosis may be appropriate in cases of acid reflux, indigestion, or heartburn that are mild, infrequent, and associated with food, alcohol, or other known causes.

If you’re going through any of the following, your physician will need to perform a physical examination:

• Soreness while swallowing. This condition is also called odynophagia.
• Problems with swallowing. This condition is also called dysphagia.
• Despite taking prescription medications such as omeprazole or ranitidine, symptoms have not improved.
• New-onset symptoms, particularly if you are over 45 years old.
• Other serious symptoms include severe pain, persistent diarrhea or constipation, or blood in the stool.

If necessary, your physician can conduct additional testing on your symptoms using a variety of techniques. Included are:

• Endoscopy: This is performed with the aid of an endoscope, a long, flexible tube with a camera and light at one end. This tube is inserted into the throat and can be used to visually detect esophageal damage.
• 24-hour pH monitoring: This test measures the acidity levels in the environment surrounding the esophagus. A small probe is inserted into the esophagus through the nasal cavity. A wrist-worn monitoring device is connected to the probe. Each time you experience a symptom, you press a button on the device. After 24 hours, the probe is extracted and the data is analyzed.
• Manometry: This is achieved with the help of a small tube containing pressure sensors. The device is inserted through the nose and fed down to the lower esophageal sphincter, where it can measure pressure and muscle performance.

Barium swallow test: This test involves drinking barium solution, a non-toxic liquid. This solution is visible on X-rays. After the liquid has reached the upper digestive tract, a series of X-rays are taken. These X-rays can then reveal any obstructions or issues with the swallowing muscles.

What Acid Reflux and Heartburn Treatments are Available?

There are numerous treatment options for this condition. Occasionally, very mild cases can be treated with over-the-counter medications, such as:

• Maalox
• Pepto Bismol
• Zantac 75 (Ranitidine)
• Alginate preparations, such as Gaviscon and Peptac
• Calcium carbonate preparations, such as Bisodol, Remegel, Rennie and Tums

The majority of over-the-counter antacids neutralize the effects of stomach acid. Gaviscon and other alginate preparations function differently. Alginates provide a coating designed to protect the stomach and esophagus lining from the effects of stomach acid. These are most effective when taken immediately after a meal.

If over-the-counter medications are ineffective, you may want to try a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI). Proton-pump inhibitors are widely used because the majority of patients tolerate them well and they rarely cause side effects. PPIs function by diminishing the amount of stomach acid produced. Examples of PPIs consist of:

• Omeprazole (Losec)
• Esomeprazole (Nexium)
• Lansoprazole (Zoton)
• Pantoprazole (Pantoloc)

When prescribing proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole, you begin with the lowest effective dose to control symptoms. If you find that omeprazole 10mg capsules aren’t helping your condition, talk to your doctor about having your dosage adjusted.

An antagonist of H-2, such as ranitidine, is an additional treatment option. Ranitidine inhibits stomach acid production via a mechanism distinct from proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), but with the same acid-reducing effects. Ranitidine is a well-established and effective treatment for acid reflux and heartburn with minimal side effects.

As Zantac 75mg tablets, ranitidine is available over-the-counter. Tablets of ranitidine 150 mg are available on prescription when the recommended dose is insufficient.

If PPIs, such as omeprazole, and H-2 antagonists, such as ranitidine, have been ineffective or if the prospect of long-term medication use is unappealing, surgery may be an option. You should consult your doctor about this.

What Measures Can I Take to Avoid Acid Reflux and Heartburn?

There are steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of acid reflux and heartburn. These consist of:

• Losing weight may reduce your symptoms because it relieves stomach pressure.
• Adopting a diet consisting of smaller, more frequent meals as opposed to three large meals. Ensure that your last meal of the day is consumed three to four hours before bedtime.
• Avoid trigger foods such as alcohol, coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, and fatty and spicy foods. It is advised that you avoid any of these that have been shown to aggravate your symptoms.
• Cigarette smoking can irritate the digestive system, aggravating symptoms. Quitting smoking reduces the likelihood of developing acid reflux or heartburn.
• Raising the head of the bed by about twenty centimeters (8 inches). Some people may benefit from this technique. Before sleeping in a bed, make sure it is stable and sturdy. Extra pillows should not be used because they can put pressure on the abdomen.
• If you suspect that the acid reflux and heartburn you are experiencing are side effects of a medication you are currently taking, it is recommended that you consult your doctor about alternative treatments. It is not advised to stop taking prescribed medication without first consulting a physician.