| You need to know what the GERD symptoms are. | | | | information you can find on the web, one single fact |
| The fact that you're reading this article tells me that | | | | emerges: |
| you're a little antsy. You think you may have the | | | | Acid is escaping from your stomach and attacking |
| dreaded Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. | | | | your esophagus. |
| Here's the best piece of advice anyone can give you: | | | | And there is only one thing that can cause GERD |
| | | | Symptoms, and that's a defective lower esophageal |
| 1. Turn the computer off. | | | | sphincter (LES). |
| 2. Grab your things. | | | | The food pipe or esophagus is a muscular tube |
| 3. Head out the door. | | | | extending from the throat to the stomach. There is |
| 4. See your doctor ... today! But wait! It could be a | | | | a ring of muscle surrounding the pipe where it joins |
| loved one that you're worried about. A spouse, | | | | the stomach. This is called the lower esophageal |
| relative, friend, child, and yes, even a baby. Okay, | | | | sphincter (LES). |
| scrub # 4 and do this: Get whomever you're worried | | | | Mother Nature designed the LES to keep digestive |
| about to the doctor ... today. | | | | acids from backing up into the esophagus and injuring |
| Think I'm being too dramatic? Do a Google search | | | | it. In a healthy person the acids are kept at bay by |
| and check out 'esophagitis' and 'Barrett's esophagus'. | | | | the sphincter opening and closing, allowing food to |
| Scary huh? | | | | pass through without acid escaping upwards. |
| But seriously, you don't want to procrastinate or | | | | In a GERD patient, the LES is defective and this |
| take any chances when it comes to your health or | | | | deficiency is often augmented by a Hiatal Hernia. |
| the health of a loved one. You need to know the | | | | Other Causes and Treatment |
| difference between GERD and heartburn, as well as | | | | A number of factors may cause GERD. Apart from |
| all the GERD Symptoms, and if you're concerned, you | | | | lifestyle changes and adopting a sensible diet, there |
| need to do something about it right away. | | | | are a variety of medications and procedures that can |
| What are the GERD symptoms? | | | | ease GERD symptoms before lifestyle changes kick |
| If you just happen to be a health conscious individual | | | | in. |
| looking for information, fine. However, if you're a | | | | For example, your digestive system may be |
| heartburn sufferer, start worrying of you have any | | | | producing too much acid. If this is the case, your |
| of the following symptoms: | | | | doctor may recommend the temporary use of acid |
| - Heartburn twice a week or more. | | | | suppressants such as histamine-2 (H2) blockers or |
| - Nighttime heartburn interferes with your lifestyle by | | | | proton pump inhibitors (PPI's). |
| lowering your daytime efficiency. | | | | Once a balance has been restored, you should stop |
| - Chest pain. This may be a dull, burning discomfort | | | | using PPI's or H2 blockers... they have some rather |
| that spreads across the chest. This is probably | | | | nasty side-effects. There are a number of natural |
| heartburn, but it may be signs of a heart attack. To | | | | remedies that will allow you to taper off and finally |
| avoid confusion, look up the heart attack symptoms. | | | | quit this dangerous medication altogether. |
| - Trouble swallowing. | | | | If you have GERD, the problem with the LES could |
| - A feeling that you have something stuck in your | | | | be augmented by one of three conditions: |
| throat. | | | | |
| - A persistent cough. | | | | 1. Sclerderma. |
| - Continuously having to swallow extra saliva (this is | | | | 2. Mixed connective tissue disease. |
| called water brash). | | | | 3. Or as mentioned above, a hiatal hernia. Of the |
| - Frequent Nausea. | | | | three, hiatal hernia is the most likely culprit and the |
| - Sudden weight loss and/or diminished appetite. | | | | easiest to correct. Non-evasive treatment usually |
| - Frequent bouts of diarrhea. | | | | helps, and this allows your system time to recover |
| - Your stools are black or bloody. | | | | via the natural healing process. |
| - Troublesome sore throat, hoarseness or laryngitis. I | | | | In extreme cases, a surgical procedure called Nissen |
| know, I know... It's a long list, but an important one! | | | | fundoplication, may be called for. |
| Bottom line? If you cut through all the medical | | | | |