There is a valve that opens and closes immediately after food passes through at your stomach’s entrance. If the valve opens regularly or fails to shut, your stomach acid moves up into your esophagus. Though your stomach’s lining is strong enough to handle the acidity, your other parts are not. AMI Surgery specialists offer relief for several health complications like GERD and acid reflux in Port Chester. The Experts know that the acid could have several symptoms that could affect your life and use cutting-edge techniques to relieve your symptoms.
What makes you experience acid reflux?
Hiatal hernia is one of your acid reflux’s common causes. This abnormality in your stomach happens when your stomach’s upper part and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) move above your diaphragm. Typically, there’s a muscle that’s supposed to separate your chest and abdomen (diaphragm) which helps to retain acid in your stomach. However, when you have a hiatal hernia, the acid from your stomach can quickly move upwards to your esophagus resulting in acid reflux symptoms.
You are also at risk of developing acid reflux because of several other factors like:
- Obesity
- When you snack close to bedtime
- Eating large meals
- Lying down immediately after you have had a meal
- Drinking particular beverages such as coffee, alcohol, tea, acidic juices, and carbonated drinks
- Low intake of dietary fiber
- Eating spicy and fatty foods
- Being pregnant
- Smoking
What are the symptoms you are likely to have when you have acid reflux?
When your stomach’s acid flows towards your esophagus, you will experience common symptoms like:
- Heartburn
- Regurgitation (a sour-tasting acid backing up in your throat)
- Bloating
- Burping
- Dysphagia
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bad breath
- Throat complications like hoarseness and soreness
- Chest and abdominal pain
- Pain or difficulty swallowing
- Wheezing
How will your doctor help alleviate your acid reflux symptoms?
Avoiding beverages and foods that are likely to trigger reflux symptoms is the most effective way to minimize your chances of having an acid reflux episode. During treatment, your doctor will advise you to eat food in smaller portions and modify the foods you eat. Your treatment may include:
- OTC remedies. The specialist could recommend OTC treatments (antacids) to reduce your stomach’s acidity if you infrequently have heartburn and indigestion linked to food and drink triggers. Though antacids offer you short relief, the drugs will give you rapid relief.
- Alginate drugs. Alginic acid works by forming a mechanical barrier against your stomach’s destructive acid by creating a foamy gel resting on your gastric pool. In case of reflux, the harmless gel will rise to your esophagus instead of the harmful stomach acid.
- Other options your doctor could recommend include pain modulators, H2 blockers, prokinetics, and proton pump inhibitors.
- If medications fail to ease your acid reflux symptoms making your life miserable, your doctor might recommend surgery. The most common procedures the expert will advise are:
- LINX device placement. The procedure will prompt your doctor to place the device around your esophagus’ lower end. The device will prevent your stomach’s contents from rising in your esophagus.
- Fundoplication. The procedure entails wrapping your stomach’s upper part around your LES to strengthen it and shield you from reflux.
Acid reflux can adversely interfere with your life. Contact the experts to know how you can resolve stubborn acid reflux.
