The truth about acid reflux disease

The disease in question is also known under the name of GERD, i.e. the Gastro esophageal reflux disease, and it represent a condition characterized by the irritation of the esophagus, and also by its inflammation, due to the acid that gets back from the stomach up to the esophagus. For those who are not that much familiar with it, esophagus as such, represents a tube that goes from the person’s throat and all the way to one’s stomach. Of course, once the food is ingested, it travels straight to the esophagus. In addition, in order to help the entire digestion process, our stomach produces hydrochloric acid, once the meal is finished. As stated above, this condition induces the liquid content located in one’s stomach to go back into the esophagus itself. Important to mention is that it can be both irksome and cause pain.

That time of the day

This condition is regarded as the one that most frequently occurs in the day time and most of all, once the person in question takes an upright stance, sits straight and/or stands. In case a person experiences a lot of difficulties during night time, the main reason for this is that, in the course of a sleep, the gravitational forces do not take their usual course of action due to lying down. As a result of this, that constant swallowing comes to a halt, thus reducing the production of the saliva.

Those who should particularly be on the lookout for GERD are pregnant women. It is considered that the increase in the hormone levels, which is a direct consequence of pregnancy, induces GERD most likely in the way that it lowers the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter. Furthermore, the baby who is in the growing phase pressurizes the woman’s abdomen to a great extent, thus also causing the occurrence of the condition in question. Additionally, a person might come down with milder symptoms in case the acid reflux is the byproduct of some underlying condition such as heartburn, nausea, as well as regurgitation.

Treatment techniques and tips

One of the fairly effective ways of reducing acid reflux is by sleeping at night on a pillow that will lift the person’s chest a bit, thus making it much easier for the gravity force to bring the acid back more effortlessly, than it is usual the case. Given that acid reflux tends to appear once the person’s stomach is food-jammed, another way of avoiding it is by eating not only earlier, but also far less in order to avoid the unwanted over-fullness.