It is estimated that approx 15
million people in theUnited States
suffer from daily heartburn
symptoms, whereas more
than 60 million Americans experience these symptoms on a
monthly basis. These surprising statistics place
heartburn as one of the most prevalent medical disorders
in the western world.
What is
Heartburn?
Heartburn
is a burning sensation in the chest and/or throat, often
accompanied by a bitter or sour taste in the back of the
throat. While healthy individuals can occasionally
experience heartburn, persistent heartburn, experienced
twice a week or more, is considered to be the most
familiar symptom of a medical condition called acid
reflux, of GERD (gastro esophageal reflux
disease).
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)-a ring
of muscle that acts as a valve between the esophagus and
the stomach-does not close properly and stomach contents
leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus. When refluxed
stomach contents touch the lining of the esophagus
, heartburn strikes. These
stomach contents are a mixture of digestive enzymes,
acid, and other substances that can irritate the lining
of the esophagus, causing painful burning.
It's important to note that
heartburn is the most common acid reflux symptom, yet
isn't the only GERD symptom. Additional typical symptoms
of gastro esophageal reflux disease include: indigestion
syndrome, chronic dry cough, chest pain that mimics a heart attack
, voice
change, hoarseness, globus pharyngis (the feeling of a
lump at the back of the throat) and otalgia (ear
pain).
Complications
of Acid Reflux.
In
addition to the typical symptoms, untreated and
neglected acid reflux can lead to various complications;
some can be extremely severe. For instance, untreated
GERD can develop into peptic stricture - the narrowing
of the lower esophagus as a result of injury and
scarring of the area. Peptic strictures typically
manifest as difficulty to swallow and the sensation of
food sticking at the bottom of the throat. For those
reasons, peptic stricture sufferers tend to avoid eating
and may lose weight.
Another
severe complication of acid reflux is Barrett's
esophagus. Since the lining of the esophagus is exposed
to the leakage of stomach acids on a regular basis, the
human organism tries to protect itself by growing cells
similar to those found in the lining of the intestine
(condition known as Barrett's esophagus). This tissue
helps relieve heartburn symptoms. However, while
Barrett's esophagus itself may be asymptomatic, about 2%
of patients develop a deadly type of cancer called
esophageal adenocarcinoma as a result of that process.
Men over 45 with a history of at least 10 years of
experiencing heartburn symptoms share the highest risk
to develop cancer.
GERD
related pain could be temporary relieved using
prescription medications or over-the-counters that are
mostly aimed on diminishing heartburn symptoms by
suppressing acid production in the stomach. However,
this approach to treating heartburn tends to overlook
the root internal causes of acid
reflux.
What
triggers Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux
is a multi-dimensional condition that is
triggered by several underlying factors, including: lifestyle and
environmental related factors, dietary patterns, ,
genetic tendencies, over acidity and toxins in the
blood, sluggish digestion etc. For this reason alone,
medications that deal with the symptoms of GERD would
almost always fail to provide a long-term and effective
solution to acid reflux sufferers.
Did you
know that your painful, distressing heartburn
symptoms could be completely and permanently stopped
following an all-natural holistic therapy? This type of
therapy combines specific dietary alternations and
comprehensive lifestyle changes along with the intake of
specific herbal and vitamin supplements as well as
detoxification and Candida control
protocols.
Only by choosing the holistic
approach, you will be able to eliminate your acid reflux
from the root and permanently prevent its
recurrence.
