Causes and Treatments for Acid Reflux Disease

Have you ever experienced heartburn? You know what I’m talking about. The painful burning sensation in the chest and throat, and the bitter taste in the mouth. It will usually creep up after a really large meal, or when you eat certain foods that are spicy or acidic. Most of us have been there, and many of us have found relief through over the counter antacids or other types of heartburn medication. It comes, it goes and we forget about it. However, there are a number of people who can’t forget about it. That’s because their heartburn symptoms keep recurring, multiple times a week, and sometimes almost every day. These symptoms can become so severe and painful that regular medications can’t eliminate the problem. If you know heartburn like I’m describing, you may have acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux disease is basically frequent, painful heartburn that often does not respond effectively to the standard, over the counter medication choices. If you find that your heartburn is occurring twice a week or more, it is probably time to talk to your doctor about the possibility of acid reflux disease. Once your doctor confirms this diagnosis, he can check for any damage that might have been done to your esophagus from the condition, and he can put you on an effective treatment program that consists of lifestyle modifications as well as medications to treat your symptoms and control your disease.

Acid Reflux Disease Treatments

Part of the treatment for acid reflux disease involves looking at the possible causes of the condition and doing what you can to eliminate them. For example, obesity raises your risk of acid reflux disease, due to the excessive pressure that is placed on the digestive system. By losing weight, you can do much to reduce or even eliminate your painful symptoms. Smoking can be a contributing cause and irritant for this condition as well, so kicking the habit may be another effective treatment option. You can also avoid the foods that you know will contribute to the symptoms of your acid reflux disease. This can include spicy foods, tomatoes, citrus fruits, onions and garlic, and alcoholic beverages. There are other foods that might be specific to your condition. By eliminating these foods from your diet, you can also effectively treat your acid reflux disease.

Medication is yet another treatment option, and can consist of over the counter choices as well as prescriptions for the harder to treat symptoms. The good news is that there are many things that you can do to relieve your painful acid reflux disease symptoms. Talk to your doctor today about the best treatment choices for you.