What is acid reflux?

Acid reflux disease, or GERD (Gastro-esophageal Reflux
Disease), is a common ailment, affecting between 5%-7% of the population. In order to
understand what acid reflux, it is important to be familiar with how the esophagus
works. The oesophagus is a long muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the
mouth to the stomach. The average adult esophagus is around ten to thirteen inches long
and approximately half an inch in diameter. Acid reflux is caused by the backflow
of acid from the stomach into the esophagus, usually because the lower esophageal
sphincter does not close properly. When this happens for a long time, the lining of this
tract becomes eroded, causing discomfort and pain.

Symptoms
of the disease are fairly straightforward and similar to the symptoms of heartburn. Acid
reflux often includes a frequent burning sensation, right behind the breastbone, which
sometimes worsens when lying down for extended periods of time. While most cases
of heartburn are not life threatening, it is important that you visit your doctor at the
onset of symptoms. Unfortunately, the symptoms of both indigestion and acid reflux can
also imitate those of heart disease, so it is very important that you seek medical
attention to make sure that you get the correct
diagnosis.

There are a number of medical tests which your
doctor can perform which will confirm the diagnosis of acid reflux. After your doctor or
healthcare professional has studied your medical history, he or she will most likely do
an endoscopic test, allowing the doctor to visibly examine your
esophagus.

If you are diagnosed with Acid Reflux disease,
there are a number of treatment options available: making changes to your diet, reducing
stress, and taking over-the-counter antacids. Serious cases of acid reflux may require a
prescription drug to reduce the acid being produced by your stomach, but lifestyle
changes are often sufficient to control symptoms successfully.