Heartburn Cure

March 30th, 2008 Louise Posted in Acid Reflux Treatment, Reflux Related Conditions | No Comments »

Heartburn Treatment Options

Finding the right heartburn cure can be rather hard to do. Many people find that with so many products out there on the market, that claim to be the way to stop their heartburn, it is overwhelming to find the answers to their needs. Yet, others find that they can successfully find what that they need by really knowing what the products are and what they actually do. There are several things that you can do as a treatment for your heartburn.

1. Prevention - The most important thing to do is to stop your heartburn from coming back. For example, you can stop eating certain foods that cause heartburn. Or, you can limit the amount of them that you eat. If you know that you generally suffer discomfort when you lay down, then try not to eat unsuitable foods when you are heading to bed. Propping your head and shoulders up with pillows may also act as a hearburn cure is this situation.

2. Antacids- These are some of the most commonly taken medications for heartburn. Generally speaking they can work well for you if you are not taking them every day. They do for about 30% of heartburn patients. Those that have infrequent or mild cases of heartburn will get the most benefit.

3. Proton-pump inhibitors - This is a type of medication that may work for many more people than antacids. Actually, those that find no relief from antacids may find it here. These help to block the acid from being made and can provide relief from the acid that is already building.

4. Diet - Your diet is probably what is causing you to have heartburn. This is the case for 95 out of 100 patients. Most people can even tell you what foods it is that cause them to have heartburn. Some foods may provide for a higher level of heartburn than others so restricting yourself from these will act as a simple cure for heartburn.

Because heartburn can cause other health conditions, such as asthma, it is important that you do whatever you can to stop it from happening. When you feel that you have tried everything and nothing has helped you, consider taking the time to speak with your family doctor. They can help you to know exactly what is happening and triggering the heartburn in your body. Then, you can find the best heartburn cure and treatment option for you.

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Acid Reflux In Children

March 27th, 2008 Louise Posted in Infant and Child Acid Reflux | No Comments »

Acid Reflux In Children Is Commonly Undetected

The common belief is that acid reflux is a malady that affects only adults. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, acid reflux in children is very common. Unfortunately, the regular adults do not know too much about this, complicated by the fact that children do not know how to express themselves and explain what they feel, making this an often hidden disease.

How Can You Discover If Your Child Is Suffering From Acid Reflux?

Before you go for diagnostics, learn a little about what characterizes acid reflux in children. This occurs when the acid contained in the stomach for the digestion of food, with or without food, rises up the alimentary canal which is also called as esophagus.  There is a ‘little gate’ at the upper end of the stomach, which is meant to keep the food inside till it is digested. There is another ‘little gate’ at the end of the mouth which is meant to keep the food in the mouth till it is ready to be swallowed.

These two little gates are the most crucial players in children's acid reflux. While the upper esophageal sphincter (the gate at the end of the mouth) opens to let the food in, many times the other gate, the lower esophageal sphincter, also opens. This is totally independent of the upper gate’s movement, but when it happens, the acid and food from the stomach, will come up in the alimentary canal. This upwards movement creates a strong burning sensation which the adults recognize and interpret as acidity.

Unfortunately, acid reflux in children can often go undetected for a long time simply because the child does not know what is happening nor how to express themselves well. By the time they are able to explain, the symptoms may have already disappeared.  Watch closely the child when he/she is eating, and when they are on empty stomach. Ask them if they feel the food coming back into the mouth, if they ever feel their chest burning after eating. If any of these answers are, “yes”, then it would be good if you take your child to a specialist or pediatrician.

Diagnosing Acid Reflux In Children

The diagnosis is based on a series of tests which include Barium and X-ray Test and/or endoscopy. These tests will help the doctor identify where and what could be the problem, for which the food regurgitated.  If the diagnosis is found to be positive, then there would be another test following, i.e. the test which would measure the amount of acidity the stomach contains, so the doctors can judge what type of treatment he/she should prescribe.

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