acid reflux

Acid Reflux

At least 50 million Americans suffer from acid reflux at least once a month and half that number experience acid reflux every day. The pain of acid relfux is the result of the splashing up of fluids from the stomach into the esophagus. These stomach fluids are composed of hydrochloric acid (HCL), pepsin and occasionally bile from the liver. Stomach fluid helps break down the food we eat so that it can be digested. The hydrochloric acid in the stomach fluid helps prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying in the stomach and intestines.

Although hydrochloric acid also helps the body absorb vitamins and nutrients, it is very strong and corrosive. The stomach holds this powerful acid in check with a special protective lining. The esophagus, however, does not have this protection. It is when acid splashes up through the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) into the esophagus that we have the problems of acid reflux.

As food travels from the mouth down to the stomach, the LES opens and allows food to enter the stomach. Then it narrows and closes, and restricts the food from returning up into the esophagus. When the LES is not operating properly and opens when it should not, hydrochloric acid and other stomach fluids splash up into the esophagus. This causes the burning sensation of acid reflux, gerd, heartburn and indigestion.

Acid reflux can be a very dangerous condition. If left unchecked, acid reflux can develope into Barrett's Esophagus which it the precursor to esophageal cancer. The symptoms of acid reflux can be treated with drugs, hower they do not heal acid reflux. They only mask the symptoms of acid refux. Drugs that disable the acid pumps in the stomach actually impeede the proper digestion of food and allow dangerous bacteria to over populate the digestive track. Acid reflux can best be treated with natural cures and remedies.

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