If you are wondering where this particular disease originates, you will have to understand that the main body organ that is affected by this particular disease is the esophagus. This organ is somehow like a tube and this is where out food travels from the throat and into our stomachs. There is this certain muscle which stores a certain kind of acid which is being prevented to flow back to the esophagus. Now the condition which is more known as a Gastroesophageal reflux or GERD is wherein the acids stores in that muscled goes to the esophagus and irritate its lining.
You probably are wondering why this happens, right? Well, because of the failure of the lower part of the esophageal sphincter (or more known as the LES), this acid reflux goes back to the esophagus. This particular condition can be caused by eating foods which are very oily and acidic as well as drinking alcoholic and caffeinated beverages all the time. These activities weaken the LES which leads to this particular condition.
There are various symptoms that one may encounter as per having this Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). The symptoms are heartburn and a little discomfort of the chest. If the acid reaches the breathing tube which called the larynx, there will be other symptoms to consider which includes shortness of breath, hoarseness of voice and coughing. Food is more often the culprit of this particular disease and that is why for those who are currently suffering from GERD must be mindful of the food that they eat and even the beverages they drink before further damage is done to the esophagus.
Probably you are wondering which foods and drinks to avoid, right? As much as possible you should avoid foods that can weaken the muscle which controls your acid reflux such as oily foods, soup, creamed foods, fatty foods, spicy foods, chocolate, mint and alcohol. There are also irritants that can trigger acid reflux such as pineapple, coffee, citrus fruits and even tomato.
There are various treatments that you can consider looking into to resolve your Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) problems. Probably the first option that you may want to look into is over-the-counter medications. More often these are anti-acids which help stabilize the condition of acid present in the muscle that holds it to avoid refluxes. Aluminum hydroxide is one of the most popularly used over-the-counter medications, it is more known with its brand name Maalox.
However, even if aluminum is known to resolve certain acid reflux issues, this may as well cause constipation. On the other hand, if you choose to take in magnesium, side effects may lead to diarrhea. These over-the-counter options mainly help coat the stomach to protect it from any excess acid activity which may lead to ulcer and bleeding which can surely be a threat to life.
Just to make sure that you'll be able to prevent yourself from having Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) problems, you should look at the possible symptoms and consult your doctor for the right treatment. You may also set a guideline on the type of diet that you should get yourself into to avoid further problems that this disease can cause to your stomach and esophagus.