What is GERD (acid
reflux)? Heartburn,
the burning sensation in the middle of the chest that is
usually triggered after eating, is actually the most
common symptom of a more complex disorder called GERD
(Gastroesophageal reflux disease) or acid reflux
- a condition where the stomach
refluxes or backs up its liquid content to the
esophagus.
Since
the stomach contains acid, in addition to bile and
several digestive enzymes such as pepsin, the liquid
returned to the esophagus comes into direct contact with
the lining of the esophagus, causing agitation and a
burning sensation.
If the body cannot prevent the
acidic mixture from backing up into the esophagus, in time it
can seriously damage the esophagus and lead to dangerous
complications.
What Happens
During Acid Reflux?
The esophagus is a muscular tube in
which food is transported using muscular contractions
from the mouth to the stomach. Normally, the lower
esophageal sphincter (LES), located at the bottom of the
esophagus, serves as a one-way valve that opens
automatically to allow food to enter the stomach and
closes automatically to prevent the acidic content of
the stomach to reflux into the esophagus. However, when
the LES "relaxes," is weak or loose and doesn't operate
accordingly and in appropriate times (e.g., stays open
when it needs to be closed), the content of the stomach
flows back into the esophagus.
The severity of the acid
reflux
depends on three
factors:
·The LES' muscular tone
·The type and quantity of
liquid that refluxes from the stomach
·The natural ability of the
esophagus muscles to cleanse the bottom of the
esophagus.
It's interesting to note that with
most individuals who suffer from acid reflux
, the concentration of acid
within the stomach's content liquid is much higher than
with people who don't experience reflux. Moreover, it
has been found that among heartburn sufferers, the
acidic liquid of the stomach comes into contact with the
lining of the esophagus and stays there longer than it
does among non-reflux sufferers.
Acid Reflux Damage
To The Esophagus
To protect itself from prolonged damage to the esophagus, the body uses
the effect of the saliva, which contains water,
electrolytes, enzymes and mucus to neutralize the damage
to the esophagus inflicted by the acid reflux
.
Moreover, during waking hours when the body is in an
upright position, the force of gravity pushes the
liquids back into the stomach.
However, at night as the body
produces less saliva, the lack of swallowing due to the
body's position and as gravity works against us, the
reflux liquids
stay longer in the esophagus, increasing the
damage and injury to the lining of the
esophagus.
G.E.R.D is a complex condition
triggered by many factors. This is one of the reasons
why physicians still find this debilitating condition so
hard to eliminate using OTC and prescription drugs.
Luckily, there is an alternative treatment of GERD
- the holistic way that tackles the problem
from the root and restores the inner natural intestinal
and esophageal environment into balance.
