I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux disease (also known as GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) several years ago.   I wasn't surprised when the doctor made the diagnosis. My mother suffers from it, and I suspect that whether he knew it or not, my late grandfather did as well. So, what follows here is my knowledge and experience as a sufferer of Acid Reflux syndrome.   It should not be construed as medical advice or treatment guidelines. For that, you should seek the advice and services of a qualified medical professional.

What is Acid Reflux?

If you've ever had a "burp" that brought a little something to the back of your throat, that was most likely acid reflux, where some of your stomach contents were sent back up your esophagus and into the back of your throat. It's unpleasant to say that least, but it's much more than that.

What are the Symptoms of Acid Reflux?

Depending on the degree to which the condition affects you, the acid reflux symptoms you may experience could include:

• Discomfort behind your breastbone that seems to come up from your stomach
• A burning sensation at the back of your throat
• A bitter taste (acidic) in your mouth, especially when you wake up in the morning
• Difficulty swallowing
• Stomach pains that last for prolonged periods and occur fairly often

If you think you might have acid reflux, you should see your health care professional to be certain, as many of these symptoms could indicate a more serious (or for that matter, a less serious) health issue. 

What Causes Acid Reflux?

In people without Acid Reflux, when food enters their stomach, a small valve at the top of the stomach closes off and prevents stomach contents from re-entering the esophagus. In people with Acid Reflux, this valve malfunctions and allows stomach contents back into the esophagus. The main problem here is that the esophagus was never designed to handle all that acidity.   Acid Reflux can also be caused, doctors believe, by hiatal hernias. These hernias cause acid to be kept inside the esophagus instead of the stomach.

Acid Reflux can be aggravated by the foods and drinks we consume. My doctor specifically mentioned caffeine, chocolate (which contains caffeine), mint, greasy or fatty foods, coffee, alcoholic beverages, tomato sauces, and other acidic foods as potentially making my symptoms worse.   Obesity and pregnancy are also believed to cause it.

What's the Harm in Acid Reflux?

Left untreated, acid reflux can do a lot of damage. It can erode the lining that protects your esophagus. It can get into your mouth while you sleep and eat away at the enamel on your teeth. Under longer-term, more extreme conditions, it can cause the cells in your esophagus to change (a condition called "Barrett's esophagus") which can in turn lead to cancer. On the less severe side, acid reflux can also give you bad breath.

How Can Acid Reflux Be Treated?

For some people, treating acid reflux can be as simple as watching their diet to make sure they don't consume foods and drinks which trigger their symptoms. Most people require some type of medication in addition to watching their diet and their weight. That was the case with me.

There are a wide variety of acid reflux medications available as acid reflux treatments. These include, but are not limited to, Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium, Omeprazole, Zegerid, and Aciphex. I've personally taken all of these medications at one time or another. I've changed primarily because of the cost of these medications.   Although I have a good prescription plan where I work, some of these medications have a very hefty co-payment. Others didn't seem to work as well for me. The one I use most often is generic omeprazole. On our prescription plan, this generic medication has a co-payment of only $9 for a 30-day supply. That's far cheaper than the others, whose co-payments range from $27 to $84 for the same quantity. While your experience may differ, I found omeprazole to handle my acid reflux as well as any of the other products. However, when I'm having my worst symptoms, I've switched to Nexium or Aciphex temporarily. My doctor advised me against taking Zegerid because it contains sodium bicarbonate, which he feels could raise my blood pressure.

How Does Someone Live with Acid Reflux?

In addition to the medications, there are some other things I do to help control the symptoms of acid reflux:

• I try not to lie down soon after I eat.  When you are lying down with a full stomach, this puts more strain on the valve that prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus. Since that valve is typically weak in acid reflux sufferers, lying down means you could be forcing stomach contents into your esophagus.
• I stay away from "trigger foods" as much as possible. (It seems that what foods trigger one person do not trigger another, so your situation may vary.)  There's no hard and fast "acid reflux diet" everyone follows, though there are common threads.   I've noticed, for example, that when I drink more than a few ounces of iced tea my reflux kicks into high gear. So I avoid iced tea as much as I can. The same is true for tangy tomato sauces. I generally don't experience the problem from coffee or chocolate, though I try to enjoy both in moderation anyway.
• If my stomach seems affected by what I eat, I  may take a mild antacid to help calm it down. For instance, if my stomach feels like it might reflux on me I will chew a couple of Gaviscon tablets to settle it. There are dangers to taking antacids too often, though, so I try not to overdo it.
• I try not to bend over more than I have to. When I need to get lower to the ground, I lower myself by bending at the knees instead of at the waist whenever possible. That keeps me from having my stomach at a higher level than my esophagus, which might lead to reflux.

These actions help me keep my acid reflux in check, but they don't cure it. They only make it more manageable. Acid reflux in and of itself can't be cured as I understand it.

For More Information about Acid Reflux 

I'm betting that Google AdSense is probably displaying a list of helpful links to the right of this page about acid reflux.   But if not, here are a few resources that I think are worth giving you:

• HeartburnHelp.com: This site provides good information for helping you determine if you have the problem, as well as options for treatment and management.
• WebMD.com: Another site with good information about the condition and treatment, as well as research being done.
• MedicineNet.com: Has some good diagrams and detailed information.

I hope you found this article useful and/or informative.