{A relative came to me complaining of acid reflux
and so I am delving into this subject as seems to be common (Paddock, 12/25/11). I am interrupting my current series on
cancer prevention, to discuss this probably common disorder! While my current term in school is
winding down, and I plan to take a month-long break from school, I am going to
try to publish a post on this blog every week. —Shelley Dryden}
Several factors may increase your risk for acid
reflux disease.
Stomach abnormalities. One
common cause of acid reflux disease is a stomach abnormality called a hiatal hernia,
which can occur in people of any age....When it works correctly, the diaphragm
normally helps keep acid from rising into your esophagus. But if you have a
hiatal hernia, it is easier for acid to move up into your esophagus.
Pregnancy .
Many women experience acid reflux for the first time during pregnancy. This is
caused by increasing levels of hormones combined with pressure from the growing
fetus. Worst during the third trimester,
the symptoms almost always go away after delivery.
Smoking. Smoking may contribute to acid
reflux disease by doing any of the following:
·
Impairing muscle reflexes in the throat
·
Increasing acid secretion
· Reducing salivation, which neutralizes the effect
of acid.
Acid reflux foods. Eating
large meals or lying down right after a meal can trigger heartburn or other
symptoms of acid reflux disease, such as a dry cough or trouble swallowing.
These are some of the common acid reflux foods that trigger symptoms:
ü
Alcohol
ü
Carbonated beverages
ü
Chocolate
ü
Citrus fruits, such as oranges or lemons
ü
Coffee or tea (regular or decaffeinated)
ü
Fatty or fried foods
ü
Foods containing tomato, such as spaghetti sauce,
salsa, or pizza
ü
Garlic and onions
ü
Mint
ü
Spicy foods, such as those containing chili or
curry
{I think that giving up
these foods temporarily, then re-introducing each type of food individually,
and seeing which ones lead to acid reflux symptoms, makes sense!—S.D.}
Other causes of acid reflux disease. Other
common causes of acid reflux disease include:
v
Being overweight or obese
v
Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or
bending over at the waist
v
Snacking close to bedtime or lying down right after
a meal
v
Taking aspirin or ibuprofen, some muscle relaxers,
or certain blood pressure medications
Exercise may cause acid reflux by increasing the pressure in the
abdominal cavity (WebMD, 2012).
{Do you practice any of these traits? Do you think that you might have acid reflux disease? Let me know, either by email (shelleydryden@gmail.com) or in a comment on this blog! I might be able to provide guidance to you; especially doing this after a doctor has diagnosed your exact disorder.--SD}
{DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed healthcare
provider. If you have a health
concern please consult an MD, naturopathic doctor/ND or nurse practitioner.}
Reference:
Paddock,
C. (2011, December 25). Acid
reflux 50% more common than ten years ago. Medical news today. Retrieved 1/29/13 from: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/239665.php
WebMD. (2012). Common causes of acid reflux disease. Retrieved 1/29/13 from: http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/common-causes-acid-reflux-disease
