Why Acid Reflux GERD Causes Burning in the Chest

Unbelievably, the acidity in your stomach is much the same as the acid used in your car battery. Knowing that fact, it should come as no surprise, that heartburn is so painful when that same acid comes up into the oesophagus. In some cases, vomit arises resulting from a weakened or relaxed oesophageal valve. In other cases, the acid vapours cause tightness in the chest and temporarily disrupts oxygen flow to the heart, making many people fear they are having a heart attack. Every year, over four and a half million Americans visit their doctors with the symptoms of acid reflux GERD otherwise known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

We all experience heartburn sometime in our lives. It may just be a one-off unpleasant burp. It may be "swallowing something down the wrong pipe" or dysphagia, difficulty swallowing. At its worst, heartburn symptoms include debilitating chest pain. If you experience these symptoms on a regular basis over several months, then you may have acid reflux GERD.

When you see your doctor about acid reflux, there are several tests to determine if your heartburn may damage the oesophagus or internal organs. The first test is called an Endoscopy, where a thin, flexible tube and video camera are passed into the mouth, down the oesophagus and into the stomach. Do not worry though since you will be under sedation and you will not feel a thing!

The second test your doctor may perform is called a Barium Esophagram. This test observes the shape of the oesophagus, looking for abnormalities in the stomach and throat. You will drink a chalky liquid containing barium, which coats the oesophagus and stomach, and allows them to be viewed in an X-ray.

A third procedure, known as Oesophageal pH Monitoring, tests for the amount of acid in the oesophagus over time. In one variation of this test, a tiny tube goes in through the nose, into the oesophagus and an acid monitor on the tip measures acid levels over a 24-hour period. The other way to monitor consists of attaching a medicine capsule sized monitor during an endoscopy, which tests acid over a forty-eight hour period. The monitor is then passed out like food. While these options may seem uncomfortable, it is far better than dealing with a damaged oesophagus further down the line!

The treatment options for acid reflux GERD vary from patient to patient. Some people take antacids, which neutralize the stomach acids and helps to control acid reflux symptoms. Other patients take mucosal protective agents to protect the oesophagus. Sucralfate suspension, available only by prescription, acts like a gel layer that blocks stomach juices from rising out of the stomach. The thick Alginic acid is an over-the-counter method where the heartburn medicine floats on top of stomach acid to block oesophagus contact. A third treatment involves Promotility or Prokinetic Agents (prescribed Metoclopramide), which encourages the stomach to empty acid before it becomes a problem. A fourth option helps you reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces by giving patients Acid-suppressive H2 Receptor Antagonists or Proton Pump Inhibitors.

In addition to these measures, doctors usually advocate that patients try to lose weight, quit smoking, wear looser fitting clothes, eat smaller meals, buy new pillows and avoid eating several hours before sleeping. Trigger foods like chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, caffeine, citrus, tomatoes and high fat foods are also to be avoided. It may seem like a hefty price to pay, but consider that the ultimate cost is your life!