What is Acid Reflux?
“Reflux” and “Reflex” are two totally different words, though there’s just one vowel differentiating them. Reflexes are great if we’re talking about your glove hand, but if we’re talking about your esophagus then reflux isn’t so good. When what goes down affects what comes up then you may be a person who suffers from acid reflux and heartburn. What is acid reflux? It is when you have impaired digestion and stomach acid moving back up into the esophagus. For some it’s beyond a discomfort, and they need to know how to reduce acid reflex. A medication like Dexilant is a good choice.
Truth is, though, for a lot of people who get acid reflux, indigestion and heartburn it is also necessary to limit the intake of certain foods. Many of the worst acid reflux causing foods are the ones lots of people are hardwired to crave, which include fried and spicy foods. Even peanut butter can be a problem.
Looking at the causes of heartburn, we note that it may be more complicated than just the foods eaten. Heartburn can be related to the time when individuals eat, as eating closer to bedtime can cause heartburn because the digestive process slows down naturally as the body prepares moves into sleep. Causes of heartburn can also be caffeinated drinks or from mixing alcohol with certain foods. Heartburn and acid reflux are two separate conditions, but the root cause is the same and that’s with hydrochloric acid not staying where it is supposed to.
We’ll look at what is acid reflux in more detail here, and other approaches for how to reduce acid reflux that may involve complementing your use of acid reflux medication. Nobody should have to suffer unnecessarily because of the foods they eat, and especially if that is a part of what you enjoy in life. Acid reflux can be managed, and you may be surprised to learn just how much you can reduce the intensity of it if you have the right med and enjoy foods in moderation.
Good for GERD
A discussion of what is acid reflux will have to make some mention of GERD, the acronym for gastroesophageal reflux disease. There’s nothing to like if a person has acid reflux occasionally, or even once or twice a week, but any more than that and it stops becoming a nuisance and is a real problem. Experiencing acid reflux any more than 2x a week is the standard for having GERD. This means that you’ll have to take more of a structured acid reflux management approach.
Unfortunately, for some people this is a daily reality, and – as you might expect – GERD is very much more a Western World trend given the fact that North Americans tend to have the diet and lifestyle risks that promote a more regular experience of acid reflux. Age and the natural wear and tear that happen on the digestive system are part of what causes acid reflux as well. Especially when it comes to the gastroesophageal sphincter, which for all intents and purposes is a one-way valve design that lets what travels down the esophagus into the stomach, but not out of it.
That is if it’s working as it should, but age and / or hereditary factors can mean that this part where the stomach and esophagus connect to each other begins to malfunction. Still wondering what is acid reflux? Think of it this way, if what goes in can come back up, then it will certainly do so with the acid that is used to break down food. For people with chronic GERD there may be serious structural damage to the esophagus lining or walls and a medication like Aciphex will be needed to treat erosive esophagitis.
Smart Choices
If the person is proactive in managing their GERD it usually won’t to progress to the point that the person has erosive esophagitis. The next consideration with what is acid reflux is to know what to do about it, and while prescription GERD medication is likely your best choice you can add to your regimen by doing other things too. One change could be in terms of changing what you’re beginning your day off with when eating breakfast.
Oatmeal is among many foods that are good to reduce acid reflux, and some people have found that this GERD diet works really well for them to make it so that stomach contents remain stomach contents as best as possible. Sticking to only citrus fruits can be good too.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
