Acid reflex is a digestive disorder suffered by millions of people when the contents of the stomach after eating including the gastric acids rushes back into the esophagus and throat. This disease is also referred as Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). The patient experiences heartburn due to the back flow of the gastric acids very often in a week. This back rush of the gastric acids occurs due to the underperformance of the esophageal sphincter muscle and the gastro esophageal valve.
The most common symptom observed is the heartburn. Other symptoms like dry coughing, difficulty in swallowing, chest pain, wheezing, sleep disturbances, bitter taste in throat and bad breath. Sometimes the acids regurgitates into the mouth upon bending or overeating.
Causes
This digestive disorder occurs when the percentage of the acid in the blood increases, affecting the digestive system of the body leading to indigestion. Other causes are
1. Taking too much of rich, oily and spicy food.
2. Eating in a hurry without properly chewing the food.
3. Stress and sleep disorder.
4. Intake of liquor and habit of smoking.
5. Obesity leading to improper digestive function.
6. Hormonal imbalances during pregnancy.
7. Going to bed just after the meals or having large meals.
8. Too much consumption of carbonated drinks.
9. Irritable bowel movements and constipation.
10. Weakening of the esophageal sphincter muscles due to some diseases.
Natural Remedies and Cures
The best way of curing acid reflux is to adopt a healthy diet that will produce the gastric acids at minimum level. Drugs do provide relief, but change in life style and food habits go a long way in curing this disease. Apart from these some natural remedies can be applied to get rid of acid reflux.
1. Adding few drops of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and sipping during the meals.
2. Taking ginger root capsule after dinner cures acid reflux as this herb absorbs stomach acid and calms down the nerves.
3. Chewing gum is a good and fast remedy for this disease, as this helps in increased production of saliva which neutralizes the acids produced by the stomach.
4. Chewing fennel seeds after meals relieves from the troubles of acid reflux
5. Having Aloe Vera juice before meals also gives good results.
6. Fruits and vegetables like bananas, pineapples, apples, papaya, figs and carrot, cabbages, nuts, almonds keeps the acid reflux well in control.
7. Cutting down of sugar rich foods and high carbohydrate foods helps in reducing weight and curing acid reflux.
Whatever mode of treatment or cure one adopts, but it is necessary at the same time to get a check up done by medicos to prevent any serious turnout of the disease. But it is true that change in lifestyle and exercise can do the maximum in treating acid reflux.
