What Is Acid Reflux Disease?
Acid Reflux Disease, also known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, is a very common chronic problem where gastric acids reflux into the esophagus. This reflux is due to the weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). As a result, the patient suffers from painful and uncomfortable symptoms that can lead to serious conditions such as respiratory infections, ulcers, and even esophageal cancer. Even though there are no known causes for acid reflux, it is found that several contributing factors may weaken or relax the lower esophageal sphincter. Among those are:
* Obesity
* The use of alcohol or cigarettes
* Medications such as antihistamines, nitrates, Tedral, Hydrophed, Marax, Bronchial or Quibron
* Eating large meals or soon before bedtime
* Other medical conditions such as pregnancy, rapid weight gain, Hiatal hernia or diabetes
* A diet consisting of fried or fatty foods, garlic and onions and chocolate, citrus foods, tomatoes, spicy foods and mint flavorings as well as beverages containing caffeine.
How Do I Know That I Have Acid Reflux Disease?
The most common symptom of Acid Reflux Disease is persistent heartburn. Heartburn is a burning sensation that you might experience that radiates from the stomach to the chest and throat. This symptom […]

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If you regularly suffer from heartburn, you know that there is not much worse in life than the pain of an acute attack. Perhaps you have paid your druggist a visit in search of help or you have seen your doctor, yet you still suffer intermittent attacks. What more can you do to get relief? Overhaul your diet! You may not need to make extreme changes in what you eat, but you must be attentive to which types of foods can trigger an attack. The following list underscores which foods may trigger an attack:

Beverages: Beer, colas, and nonalcoholic wines are some causes of heartburn.

Dairy: Yogurt, frozen yogurt, milk, certain types of cheeses, and cottage cheese.

Fats and Oils: Ketchup, especially spicy ketchup.

Fruit: Many berries can cause problems including blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Other triggers include: orange juice, peaches, grapes, and apple juice/cider. For orange juice lovers you can still drink your favorite beverage, but select low-acid orange juice when visiting your grocer.

Grains: Garlic bread, granola cereal, and many types of muffins may cause an attack.

Meat: Beef, fish, tuna, ham, hot dogs, egg, and chicken salad can cause heartburn. For some folks chicken by itself is just fine, but added ingredients such as mayonnaise can cause heartburn.

Sweets and Desserts: Low fat cookies. You may save on calories when eating low fat cookies, but the artificial ingredients contained within them can set off heartburn.

Vegetables: The big triggers in this category are onions, leeks, garlic, scallions, and sauerkraut.

Besides avoiding certain types of foods, there are medications that can stop heartburn including Nexium and Prevacid. Alternatively, some heartburn sufferers have found relief through natural remedies such as Acidgone.

By drinking plenty of water throughout the day, some heartburn sufferers have found relief. In addition, avoid excessive use of caffeinated products, alcohol, and nicotine. Finally, by selecting smaller food portions and eating less you can thwart future attacks.

You don’t need to be held hostage by heartburn; see your doctor if attacks persist as it could be a sign of some other problem.

Copyright 2006 - For additional information regarding Matt Keegan, The Article Writer, please visit his blog for wit, quips, and freelance writing tips.

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