›› Cures For Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is that
painful burning sensation in your chest shortly after eating that is
sometimes called heartburn, probably because it can feel like your
heart is on fire. Of course, it’s your esophagus
that is ‘burning’, due to acidic fluids backwashing
out of your stomach. Most people will experience some kind of
acid reflux in their lives, but for many it is a common occurrence and
falls under the category of Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease.
Cures for acid reflux of this kind unfortunately don’t
exist. Once you’ve been diagnosed with GERD you are
more than likely going to have acid reflux for your entire life.
The reason there are
no cures for acid reflux is that once the sphincter muscle separating
the stomach from the esophagus begins to leak it is very hard to
correct it. Almost all of our recent research into cures for
acid reflux has therefore been focused on reducing or eliminating the
symptoms of the disorder. Fortunately, there have been a
number of breakthroughs in this area, and there are now a variety of
different medications that in my opinion are as good as cures for acid
reflux. The only problem is you have to keep taking them.
Acid reducers, such as Ranitidine and Famotidine, have been out for
some time now and are available over the counter. For mild
forms of acid reflux, having a stock of some of these medications may
be all you need. If you are only prone to getting occasional
heartburn after eating, taking an acid reducer prior to a big, spicy or
greasy meal will probably prevent it.
If you suffer from
heartburn daily, even without having eaten recently, you’ll
probably want to talk to your doctor about a proton pump inhibitor
(PPI). PPIs are the more serious and effective acid reflux
medications. They take a day or more to begin working
effectively, but they are safe and have few side effects. One of them,
Prilosec, is now even available over the counter. You can
also safely take PPIs along with acid reducers. I take a
Prilosec everyday, as well as occasional acid reducers, and the
combination for me is like a cure for acid reflux.
Avoiding big meals, avoid excessive grease or fats, waiting several
hours after eating before laying down, and even elevating your bed 8 or
more inches, all will help lower symptoms, and for milder cases may
alone act as a cure for acid reflux spikes you have. For
everyone else, medication is our only hope at the moment.
There are some surgical procedures on the horizon that may be the cures
for acid reflux we’re hoping for, but it’s too soon
to tell if they’ll work or not.
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A Healthy Dose of Good Advice
