GERD, or acid reflux, is a serious problem for many people and can sometimes lead to an aggressive form of cancer so it is not to be taken lightly. Since some of the pharmaceuticals for GERD have serious side-effects, it makes sense to attempt to fix the problem at the source.
Symptoms
In the healthy digestive system, food enters the stomach through the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) on the upper right side of the stomach. The LES closes and remains closed while the muscles in the stomach wall contract rhythmically to mix the food with hydrochloric acid and enzymes. In a person with mild GERD, the sphincter does not close firmly enough to prevent acid and food from rising up into the esophagus and irritating the lining of the esophagus. With more severe GERD, the LES may be deteriorated by stress or repeated acid exposure so that the patient experiences pain more frequently.
The symptoms can be mild to severe “heartburn,” a burning pain behind the sternum. If the reflux extends to the throat, the damage can cause laryngitis, and, if the acid and food enters the lungs, even pneumonia. Significant damage to the lining of the esophagus is known as Barrett’s mucosa. According to a CNN article on heartburn, if left untreated GERD can lead to ulcers and is considered to be a slight risk factor for esophageal cancer. In a 1994 Medical Sciences Bulletin it was reported that acid reflux can also contribute to asthma and pulmonary fibrosis.
What Causes Acid Reflux?
While science has not identified a single cause of GERD, a logical cause is overeating – especially overeating and then lying down, which stresses the LES by increasing the pressure differential between the esophagus and the stomach. Other possible contributing factors are high fat diets which remain in the stomach longer, lack of exercise, and genetic predisposition.
What to try before pharmaceuticals or surgery
There are several simple behaviors which can reduce the symptoms of GERD.
- Eating small meals and avoiding eating within two hours of lying down are two obvious examples. Some doctors recommend waiting 5 hours before lying down so the stomach will empty.
- Chewing food thoroughly will avoid stretching the sphincter.
- Drink a glass of water about ½ hour before a meal and avoid drinking liquids at mealtime. Liquid during a meal increases the pressure differential at the LES. By not flushing the food down with excess liquid, the person is forced to eat slowly and properly masticate each bite of food.
- Drinking water between meals, or whenever symptoms occur, will dilute acid in the esophagus and wash it down into the stomach. It’s important to rinse the esophagus whenever reflux occurs so that acid doesn’t burn the top of the LES.
- If reflux occurs, stay upright, or, if lying down is a must, elevate the head and chest.
- Simply lying on one’s left side creates less pressure on the LES than lying on the right side. See photos 1 and 2.
- If there has been mild sphincter damage, fasting one day each week can give the sphincter a chance to heal.
- Diet changes will be helpful, but the correct healing diet for each patient will vary according to the patient’s constitution. Consulting an holistic nutritionist would be better than adopting a healing diet that worked for someone else.
Resources
- Heartburn, acid reflux linked to cancer risk. (1999). a href="http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9903/17/heartburn.cancer.risk/index.html">(CNN)
- Managing Acid-Reflux Disorders. (1994, Nov). Medical Sciences Bulletin, Pharmaceutical Information Associates, Ltd.
Ronald K. Frazer - Ron has been studying the natural approaches to physical, mental and spiritual health for 32 years. His particular interests at the moment ...
