Caffeine
and GERD are in fact related. In fact,
those suffering from ulcers or GERD, heartburn,
etc. might be surprised learning that caffeine
might be the reason of their condition getting
aggravated. They are advised to kick the coffee
habit (coffee mostly contains caffeine), so that
the symptoms of GERD can be reduced. Let the
adverse effects of caffeine consumption be studied
in details:
Interference
with ability of feeling
good
Gamma-amino
butyric acid (GAMA) is the 'feel good' brain
messenger of the body. It plays a major role in
stress and mood management. GI tract is also
believed to be calmed by GAMA. Intake of caffeine
might interfere with ability of GAMA of performing
the calming function.
Caffeine
is also said to interfere with role of GAMA in
management of stress, which might worsen the
symptoms as psychological stress contributes to
the above-mentioned conditions. Evidence has
suggested that exhaustion resulting out of
continuous stress, along with anxiety, are linked
with oesophageal reflux and aggravation of
heartburn. The only solution to these problems is
quitting the habit of intake of caffeine. Thus,
caffeine and GERD are in turn
related.
GERD
GERD,
medically known as gastro esophageal reflux
disease is triggered when LES (lower esophageal
sphincter) opens with a spontaneous effect, for
various spans of time, or doesn't close right, and
contents of stomach rise up in to oesophagus. The
common name for GERD is acid regurgitation or acid
reflux. This can be attributed to the fact that
digestive juices, known as acids rise up along
with food.
The
oesophagus is a tube carrying food from mouth to
stomach. LES is a muscle ring located at
oesophagus's bottom acting like valve between
stomach and oesophagus. Whenever there is an
occurrence of acid reflux, it becomes possible to
taste food in back of mouth. Stomach acid, when
happens to touch oesophagus lining, a smoldering
sensation might be caused in throat or chest
called acid indigestion or
heartburn.
Summary:
Caffeine and GERD
Connection
Acid
indigestion, also known as frequent heartburn, is
one of the common symptoms of GERD (in adults). A
person experiencing heartburn at least twice/week
is likely to have GERD. It's not necessary to
always have heartburn to get diagnosed for GERD.
One might have trouble in swallowing, asthma
symptoms, or dry cough to have GERD.
While
caffeine can trigger GERD
aggravation, it is not enough to quit
caffeine or take medication for acidity, as this
only deal with the symptoms of GERD. It is
important that you remove the root cause of GERD
and not only fight the symptoms. Thus, so as to
ensure that the condition of GERD does not keep
returning, you should approach the holistic
approach of treatment.
Even
when you do consult a physician to cure GERD, you
must ensure that the method of treatment that is
advised by him or her is in accordance with the
holistic approach of treatment of GERD. This will
provide for permanent cure from the GERD
problem.
