There are typically three principal kinds of treatment for Heartburn: classical medicine, surgical operations and the natural/holistic solution. These methods are very different in the way that they operate and their approach to resolving the different underlying factors, as well as in their effects over the long-term. It's important to select the correct and most effective solution for you and that means getting precise information on the real reasons that lie behind the symptoms of heartburn.
Heartburn is the external manifestation of acid reflux or GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). GERD is what happens when the muscular valve between the esophagus and the stomach is weakened. This valve is also known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES is in a normal, healthy state, it allows food to pass one way into the stomach, but shuts afterwards to prevent acidic stomach contents from being pushed back the opposite way. It is when this muscle relaxes at the wrong moment that acid content refluxes into the esophagus and causes the pain and burning that is known as heartburn.
Physicians habitually deal with heartburn and related problems by trying to use conventional medications, some of which are available to anyone over the counter. These acid reflux OTCs can be sorted into three groups:
1. Antacid, canceling out stomach acid by covering over the food content, and characterized by products such as Maalox, Rolaids, Mylanta and Tums.
2. H2 blockers to reduce acid creation and diminish acid production in the stomach, examples being Pepcid AC, Axid AR and Zantac 75.
3. PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitors) which break the proton pump action that normally releases the acid in the stomach, characterized by products including Nexium, Protonix and Prilosec.
The Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery published information in 2004 to show that PPIs do not combat the frequency of reflux attacks for GERD sufferers. Instead, PPIs simply transform acidic contents into alkali ones. The reflux still occurs in the esophagus, but with an alkaline bile that may in fact be worse. Although short-term alleviation of discomfort can be brought by such drugs, long-term usage can be highly problematical. These drugs do not treat the real causes but only the external signs. They do this by changing the chemical composition of the stomach. These drugs typically only have a temporary effect and can also make a patient dependent on them in the long term, not to mention the many undesirable secondary effects.
The next option to drugs is surgical operation. This is designed to stop the valve opening when it should remain closed, so as to stop the flow back of gastric contents into the esophagus. The surgeon wraps the upper part of the stomach around the lower esophagus in order to reinforce the muscular valve at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach.
This solution is not without its problems however. Risks and secondary effects include cramps in the abdomen, diarrhea, nauseous feelings, bloating and problems in swallowing. A patient who relies solely on this is likely to be disappointed as without the right lifestyle of diet alterations, heartburn symptoms can come back again.
The solutions mentioned either attempt to slow down the quantity of acid produced, or cancel it out or use physio-mechanical means to artificially reinforce the LES. However, none of them deals with the real cause. The major disadvantage of these conventional methods for treating heartburn is that they all address local GERD symptoms, their only action being on the external signs and not the real cause.
Inner body balance can also be severely impacted by Candida infection as well as lifestyle and bad diet habits, including major stress and incompatible sleep patterns, leading to excess acidity, fermentation and toxin overstocking. For a real measure of progress, it is the underlying causes that must be dealt with be rid of GERD and heartburn. Acid reflux is the direct result of the simultaneous existence of diverse medical and lifestyle elements. Genetic weakness, high fat food intake, excessive weight and particular lifestyle and nutrition factors all band together to strip the LES of its muscular force which stops it from closing correctly. The only possibility to really get rid of acid reflux and to prevent it from happening again is to suppress these root causes directly.
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