Symptoms of Heartburn Acid Reflux Disease

Acid reflux disease is an uncomfortable ailment afflicting millions of folks each month. Suddenly, you cannot eat your favorite foods anymore without doubling over in pain. Or perhaps you find that bitter taste in your mouth more often than not and a searing chest pain makes you wonder if you are having a heart attack. While the symptoms may be shocking, there are just as many remedies for heartburn as there are causes, so suffering is not an option!

As we get older, our ability to produce HCL (High Density Lipoprotein) digestive acids diminishes. After 65, we begin to produce 80% of what we had just thirty years ago.

While it was once widely believed that acid reflux disease stemmed from overproduction of amino acids, recent research suggests that sometimes a lack of strong acids can affect our system's natural triggers that facilitate mineral absorption, protein storage and waste removal.

Another cause for this disease is diet choices. As previously mentioned, when you eat a lot of fatty foods or enormous meals all at once, the body has trouble breaking down the proteins, which putrefy in your stomach as a result. Other times, too many spicy foods, citrus fruits, caffeine, garlic, onions, peppers, fried food, alcohol, red wine and mint simply exacerbates our system.

It is not necessarily always what we consume but the time we eat as well. People that eat two or three hours before bed time frequently suffer tremendous heartburn and acid reflux symptoms. They may be up coughing all night from inhaling the acid, they will often snore as well as feel congested or they might have an asthmatic reaction, unable to breathe, not to mention fall asleep! Nearly three quarters of folks with heartburn acid reflux disease suffer night time effects as well. Another common oversight people make is actually quite the opposite and that is bending, lifting and working immediately after dinner. All of the moving around can help force food back from where it came.

Surprisingly, various medications you are already taking might be upsetting your stomach. Calcium channel blockers, Theophylline (Hydrophed, Marax, Bronchial, Quibron), Nitrates and Antihistamines can all relax the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, which is the valve that keeps food and liquids down after swallowing. If you are taking medications for bronchial asthma, high blood pressure, seizures, angina, discomfort, urinary tract disorders or allergies, take advice from your physician to see if heartburn is one of the unwanted side effects.

For women that are pregnant, elevated hormone levels naturally relax ligaments in your body at this time, including the LES. Given that additional pressure is shifted around your midriff, it is normal for food or stomach acids to get pushed back up.

On a more serious note, acid reflux disease could arise suddenly as a symptom of underlying issues. For example, a hiatal hernias can cause the retention of strong acids in the stomach and may block alternate paths for the acid's exit. Peptic ulcers (stomach lining sores) and Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) can also be sinister culprits of your pain. If you find reflux symptoms coming up on a daily or weekly basis, check with your doctor to be sure you are digesting as you should be.