Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease: is there a REAL Solution?

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By: Jeff Martin

Gastro esophageal reflux disease, known simply as acid reflux of GERD, is recurring, painful and discomforting medical ailment with a pronounced negative effect on one's quality of life. Typical symptoms of gastro esophageal reflux disease include heartburn and regurgitation, but can also show up as pains in the chest, dry coughing, reactive air passage problems, pain when swallowing, indigestion and a feeling of something being stuck in your throat. Over time, neglected GERD can cause grave complications such as ulcers Barrett's esophagus and a cancer that originates in glandular tissue known as adenocarcinoma.

Gastro esophageal reflux disease is a widespread scourge in developed western society especially in the US. About 60% of individuals have GERD symptoms at least once per month. Locke, Talley and Fett published their research in 1997 in the Gastroenterology journal to show that acid reflux symptoms happen weekly to up to 20% of people. Prevalence of 30% to 40% was shown for the public in general by other studies.

Gastro esophageal reflux disease is a medical conundrum with complex etiology, meaning that it is brought on by several factors, both inner and outer. Direct contributing factors are: debilitation of the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) muscle which causes stomach juices to travel back from the digestive system to the esophagus with an excess of stomach acidity.

Substandard diet plans can stress out the digestive system, giving it too much work to do when the system is trying to digest properly to prevent excess acidity or back flow of contents. Aging also makes the problem more difficult as general aging of all muscles including the LES means that acid reflux is more and more difficult to control as a person gets older. Several underlying causes also engender acid reflux condition in addition to these other physiologically evident factors. Diet and lifestyle can have a direct or indirect impact and the same is true for genetic characteristics, which then show up as the context in which GERD develops. As an example, specific foodstuffs have been pointed out as affecting the LES and being direct contributors to acid reflux.

Solutions for acid reflux can be considered as being one of three types: surgical operation, remedies by medicaments and all natural holistic treatments.

To prevent refluxed content from the stomach from meeting the esophagus, surgery is possible, but has significant drawbacks: after operation, complications such as difficulty in belching, dysphagia, diarrhea and flatulence are all possible. Death can also follow in 1 in 1,000 patients even though the mortality rate is relatively low. Surgery for GERD only targets local repair of the malfunctioning LES. The operation consists of enveloping the gastric fundus (parts of the stomach) around the lower part of the esophagus so that the natural valve can be assisted in its action between the stomach and the esophagus.

Medications of GERD have been designed to bring temporary relief by targeting the ailments of the digestive system that are related to acid reflux. For instance, antacids have been designed to neutralize esophageal acidity, while Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) inhibit the stomach cell mechanism that generated acid in the stomach. Regrettably, many medicaments only tackle GERD symptoms, and the underlying causes are simply ignored. The effect of acid reflux medications is only temporary and a long-term dependency is often created while the real reasons for gastro esophageal reflux disease go unchecked. GERD medications used for the long term also cause numerous secondary effects.

Many medical studies published over the last decade have pointed to the use of several all-natural holistic protocols to positively deal with gastro esophageal reflux disease and even allow for full restoration of health. Solutions in these programs include; elevation of the head of the bed by six inches, reducing the eating of fat, quitting smoking, stopping alcohol intake, weight loss, elimination of toxins and eradicating parasites, as well as avoiding eating large meals or food that weakens the LES.

Holistic treatments can bring amazing positive changes to your well being and quality of life. Did anyone tell you? There is an all-natural holistic solution to stop gastro esophageal reflux disease and effectively and safely keep GERD away from you.

Information about the Author:

Jeff Martin is a certified nutritionist and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, Heartburn No More . For Further Information Visit: Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease

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