Although almost everyone experiences reflux at some time, it occurs when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus. Also called Acid Reflux Disease. If these reflux symptoms happen more than twice a week typically you would fall into a catagory of gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD.

Living with GERD can cause you to have heartburn, regurgitation, bloating, burping, nausea, coughing and sleepless nights. If you ever have had that feeling of wanting to go to bed at night but every time you would lye down you begin to feel the stomach acid backing up into your throat, that's GERD. It can wear you out by being sleep deprived. So you prop up your head with two or three pillows and try to go back to sleep. GERD can put a burden on a person's quality of life.

Often times people resort to anti-acids of acid blockers to get some symptomatic relief, although they may feel better it doesn't solve the problem. So the question is, how do people get GERD in the first place? You might think that if acid is backing up the esophagus and anti-acids help relieve the symptoms, the cause is that you have to much stomach acic. Well, in the majority of people, we produce less HCL and pepsin as we age and it is actually the low stomach acid that creates indigestion, allowing the lower esophageal sphincter ( the muscle at the lower part of your esophagus) to relax and allow the acid to back up.

Although acid blockers and anti-biotics may be necessary for the treatment of stomach ulcers or gastritis from bacterial infections, the majority of people can be helped with lifestyle changes. Remember that the stomach is designed to produce acid that is an important part of your digestive process. Low stomach acid called hypochlorhydria can lead to sluggish gallbladder, bacterial infections and undigested proteins that can lead to food allergies and a host of chronic degenerative diseases such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, depression, eczema just to name a few. Also, a bed partner to GERD is hiatal hernia which part of  the stomach is pushed above the diaphram where food gets stuck and has a difficult time passing down to the stomach. Sometimes one condition can lead to another.

Treatments for GERD would involve not lying down within three hours of eating, avoid items that would cause the LES to relax, which are peppermint, chocolate, soft drinks (soda) coffee, tea, smoking, alcohol, and fried foods. NSAIDS ( pain pills can destroy the lining of the esophagus and stomach) so only use when absolutely necessary and try to determine the cause of your pain so you don't have to rely on these medications.

Water, licorice extract, ginger tea, Gentian root (stomach tonic), fruits and vegetables (for fiber and minerals), a high quality probiotics, enzymes, along with avoiding sugar will help. Get Chiropractic care. Chiropractors have a soft tissue technique to treat hiatal hernia and spinal manipulation has helped reconnect the nerve supply to the esophagus and stomach.

Loose weight if you are over weight. Extra weight puts pressure on your stomach and can cause or magnify the acid reflux symptoms. Our office has a program called First Line Therapy which would be ideal for this.

Finally, guard your stress levels, stress plays a significant role in the state of your digestive health. Practice stress reduction daily.

Dr. Richard Haas DC,FACO