The medical term for “Acid Reflux” is referred to as GERD or Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease. When someone is suffering from GERD, their body produces an abnormal amount of stomach acids. These acids burn the oesophagus, causing damage to the delicate mucous membranes. GERD is considered to be a chronic condition, whereas acid reflux may happen to any of us at any time. Some of us may be fortunate to only ever have one or two episodes of acid reflux in their lifetime.
The usual cause of acid reflux is the increase in acidity or gastric acid production in the stomach. Being overweight or obese, during pregnancy or even wearing tight fitting clothes can all add to the increase in acid production. It is also thought that yeast infections can also be one of the causes of GERD-like symptoms.
Acid reflux is an uncomfortable condition that will affect most of us at some time in our lives. In most cases acid reflux is found predominantly in infancy or adult life, although sometimes children can suffer as well. Other names for acid reflux that you may be more familiar with are heartburn or indigestion.
In medical terms, to be classed as suffering from GERD you need to be experiencing more than one episode of acid reflux in a week. If these episodes went on for a period of time it would be possible that you would then develop GERD.
Each person is unique in how their bodies respond to foods that they eat. What may cause pain and discomfort for one person may not be an issue at all for someone else. Interestingly enough, different stages in our lives cause our reactions to food to vary as well.
Some of the more common triggers for acid reflux are considered to be eating spicy, acidic foods, going to sleep after a heavy meal and consuming alcohol on an empty stomach.
The symptoms of acid reflux include:
- Burning at the back of the sternum
- General discomfort in the lower chest region
- Coughing
- Voice changes & hoarseness
- Constant earache
- Sinusitis
While it is certainly an uncomfortable condition, acid reflux is something that we will all experience at some stage in our lives. Being aware of what foods we need to be eating can contribute to our management of the condition. It is certainly worth finding out all we can so that we can avoid developing GERD later.
