People
who believe in the maxim that 'Prevention is
better than treat', try their best to keep away
from this distressing disease than regretting
later for not doing so by becoming a victim.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD has
affected too many Americans and is going on
unabated despite all the preventive measures being
regularly published in premium dailies and
displayed in various television channels. The
worst part is that most people suffering from the
disease aren't even aware that they are victims of
GERD. This indeed is very sad, particularly now
that people are more conscious of their health and
well being.
However,
this is not the end of the world nor is the
disease not preventable. But to prevent a disease
and its manifestation, one must have some idea of
how it affects and what are its symptoms. From its
nomenclature which is appropriately termed acid
reflux, it is apparent that two issues are
primarily responsible for the disease to take
effect - the Acid and the
Reflux.
Here
the acid referred to means the stomach acid
(Hydrochloric acid) and the reflux indicates the
backflow of the acid. What really happens is that
a small little valve or sphincter situated at the
end of the tube (the esophagus) which carries all
the food and beverages that we consume through our
mouth to the stomach occasionally malfunctions.
This makes a part of the acidic stomach contents
to backflow or reflux into the esophagus,
irritating its inner lining. As it climbs upper
into the esophagus where the tube is most
sensitive, it creates a burning sensation,
popularly called
"heartburn".
A
few occasional heartburns may be quite normal but
when the frequency escalates, it becomes a sure
sign of acid reflux or GERD. While repairing the
sphincter is a difficult proposition, controlling
the acid is not. Since acid secretion in the
stomach is essential, excessive acid secretion
aggravating acid reflux may be regulated to
prevent the reflux. But how to control the acid
secretion in the stomach can pose a difficult
question. But looking at it dispassionately, it is
as simple as the breeze. Discarding acidic fruits
and vegetables like the tomato and it derivatives
(tomato sauce, tomato ketchup, tomato soup, etc)
as well as oranges and other citrus fruits,
including their juices will solve the problem to a
great extent.
But
merely discarding acidic fruits and vegetables
will not solve acid reflux problem as certain food
items like spicy or fatty food also induce higher
acid secretion. Besides, certain types of meat and
other food items also trigger acidity in many. In
order to categorize which food item triggers a
person, one has to go on experimenting through
trial and error method to establish a list of
items that should be discarded from his or her
menu in order to prevent GERD for
good.
To
prevent GERD, one may also reduce body
weight since obesity is a prime factor for the
spread of the reflux problem. Also important is to
eat several smaller meals than having three major
meals as the stomach has to work lesser, producing
lesser acid to digest smaller meals. Going to bed
immediately after a major meal may also ward off
GERD for most people.
So
go ahead and do everything possible to prevent
GERD. However this may not be possible always.
When it goes out of hand, the problem needs to be
treated, and the best way to do it is through
holistic remedies, as they work better than
conventional medications. There are many
contributing factors of acid reflux and some of
them are even genetic. Since holistic remedies
treat the body as a whole, all these factors can
be identified and treated, rather than just
treating the symptoms of the
ailment.
If just the symptoms are
treated without delving deeper into the real
causes, then the symptoms tend to come back, even
after they are gone with the initial treated. But
this is not the case with holistic remedies, which
is why they are so much more
effective.
