What is Acid Reflux?

Acid Reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a disease that occurs when some of the acidic liquid in your stomach travels back into the esophagus.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of Acid Reflux? Some symptoms of acid reflux may include regurgitation, excess belching, heartburn and general stomach discomfort.

What Causes Acid Reflux?

Common things that cause a person to develop acid reflux disease are stomach abnormalities and certain trigger foods.

What Increases My Risk of Developing Acid Reflux?

There are many different things that can increase the likelihood of developing or causing an onset of acid reflux. These include: smoking, pregnancy, being overweight, carbonated beverages, chocolate, citrus fruits, coffee or tea, fatty or fried foods, foods containing tomato, taking aspirin or ibuprofen, eating close to bedtime, lying down after a meal, and exercise.

How Is Acid Reflux Diagnosed?

There are a variety of methods used to determine if a person has acid reflux. Among these are endoscopy, biopsies, x-rays, examination of the throat and larynx, esophageal acid testing esophageal motility testing, gastric emptying studies, and acid perfusion test.

How Is Acid Reflux Treated?

There are many different acid reflux treatments, depending on the severity and frequency of the condition. Among these are diet change, antacids, histamine antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, pro-mobility drugs, foam barriers, surgery, endoscopy, and prevention of transient LES relaxation.

Medications for Acid Reflux

Some examples of acid reflux medications are Axid, Tagamet, Pepcid, Ranitidine, Aciphex, Nexium.