When we eat, the food passes down the
esophagus into the stomach. The cells in the
stomach produce acid and other enzymes to help
digest the food. The stomach cells also make mucus
to protect them from the acid. The esophagus has
no such protection. A band of circular muscles at
the junction of the esophagus and stomach, called
the "lower esophageal sphincter" relaxes to allow
the food to go down but tightens again to stop the
contents of the stomach from refluxing back.
Malfunctioning of the sphincter causes acid
reflux. Sometimes, the increase in pressure in the
stomach also causes the sphincter to relax, for
example, during pregnancy, after a large meal,
bending, hiatus hernia etc. Regular heartburn is
also common in smokers, pregnant women, heavy
drinkers, obese people, and older people.
The main symptoms of acid reflux are
heartburn, acid taste in the mouth, bloating, and
belching. Other symptoms may be a persistent cough
at night, hoarseness, asthma, or even severe chest
pain which may be mistaken for a heart
attack.
If the acid reflux is adequately
controlled, most patients do not develop any
complications. However, in people with severe
acid
reflux, serious problems may
develop:
·
Ulcers. The stomach acid can cause
ulcers in the sensitive tissue of the esophagus.
There may be bleeding from the
ulcers.
·
Stricture. Persistent damage can cause
the esophagus to scar and become narrow, causing
blockage, called "stricture" that can cause
difficulty in swallowing the food.
·
Lung and throat problems. Sometimes the
acid refluxes into the throat and causes
inflammation of the vocal cords, a sore throat, or
a hoarse voice. In extreme cases, the acid may be
aspirated into the lungs causing pneumonia or
asthma-like symptoms. Chronic acid reflux in the
lungs can lead to pulmonary
fibrosis.
·
Barrett's esophagus. Repeated damage to
the esophageal lining causes the normal squamous
cells to be replaced by precancerous cells.
·
Esophageal cancer. A small percentage
of people with Barrett's esophagus develop
adeno-carcinoma.
While an occasional bout of heartburn
after a heavy meal is common and no cause for
concern, frequent attacks call for medical
intervention. But drugs like antacids and acid
blockers relieve only the symptoms without
removing the cause. So, acid reflux is best
treated by holistic treatment. It takes into
account the entire body and not just the symptoms.
Small lifestyle changes along with dietary
modifications, stress relief measures, and weight
management will get rid of the root cause of the
acid reflux. Holistic treatment is also perfectly
safe as it does not cause any side-effects and
works in alignment with the natural functioning of
your body. It is the ideal and the safest way to
attain an acid-reflux-free life
forever.
