Causes and Treatments for Severe Acid Reflux

GERD or gastroesophageal acid reflux can lead to the development of different healthy conditions that can manifest in various symptoms. Heartburn is considered as one of the most prominent symptom of the condition, wherein the affected individual feels a burning and painful sensation in the chest or throat. The person afflicted with the condition can also experience regurgitation as the gastric juices flows back to the mouth or throat. In some cases of the condition, the affected person may also vomit the contents of his stomach and experience difficulty or painful swallowing. Other symptoms that can be considered as indications of severe acid reflux are burping, bloating, bloody or black stools, nausea, persistent hiccups, acid reflux cough, abrupt weight loss, sore throat, wheezing and hoarseness.

Causes

There are casual factors that can be considered as the primary triggers for the malfunctioning of the lower esophageal sphincter. These factors include pregnancy, obesity, peptic ulcer, hiatal hernia, asthma and lack of digestive enzymes. Eating large meals before going to bed at night, lying down or bending forward after eating can also be considered as factors for the condition. Aside from that, consumption of carbonated and alcoholic drinks, milk, garlic, spicy or fatty foods and onions can also aggravate the condition. Certain medications and excessive cigarette smoking can also lead to the development of severe acid reflux.

Treatments

There are home remedies for acid reflux available but one of the best things that the affected person can do is to avoid the triggers of the problem. Instead of having a large meal, it would be advisable to divide this meal to smaller proportions and consume it throughout the day. In case the condition is due to an underlying health problem, proper diagnosis is necessary to determine what causes acid reflux.

Patients afflicted with the condition should also follow a healthy diet that excludes foods that can exacerbate the problem. Patients may look for acid reflux recipes and use it for their meal planning. As much as possible, trigger foods should be avoided, such as citrus fruits, chili and chili powder, coffee, caffeinated tea, tomatoes, tomato juice, tomato sauce and ketchup. These foods are considered as the common trigger foods of the condition, based on the reports given by those afflicted with acid reflux.

However, take note that the trigger foods for one individual may not be the same on another individual. Aside from following a proper diet and maintaining healthy eating habits, there are medications available for the condition as well. However, in case all the remedies or treatments mentioned above failed to manage the condition, an acid reflux surgery might be necessary to deal with it.