Have you ever suffered a burning sensation of heartburn caused by stomach acid that travels back to your mouth into the esophagus? Acid reflux is a common issue that affects one in every five adults. Many people don’t understand acid reflux symptoms and prefer over-the-counter medications to stabilize them. However, acid reflux can seem out of control and impact your daily life to the point you need to see a specialized doctor for treatments.
Fortunately, you have no further reason to panic, as Cypress acid reflux treatments will alleviate your symptoms and provide long-lasting relief. Besides treating acid reflux, staying knowledgeable about this condition helps you navigate life and avoid it’s contributing factors. If you’ve been struggling with this condition, this guide provides you with what you should know about acid reflux.
Understanding acid reflux
Acid reflux develops when acid from your stomach backs up into the esophagus and your mouth. Usually, acid reflux occurs when the sphincter – the valve that keeps your stomach acid from entering the esophagus doesn’t close properly. Since your esophagus can’t withstand the harsh symptoms caused by acid reflux, you will experience discomfort and pain. This condition can cause heartburn, chest pain, indigestion, stomach discomfort, and trouble swallowing.
The major contributors to acid reflux
Acid reflux can occur due to several factors that cause the sphincter to stop working properly. Such factors cause the muscle at the top of your stomach to weaken and allow stomach acid to move into your esophagus. Typically, acid reflux occurs because of lifestyle factors like being overweight, smoking, eating large meals, laying down after meals, eating lots of spicy foods, and drinking caffeinated, alcoholic, or carbonated beverages. Furthermore, hernias and pregnancy, and other factors contribute to acid reflux.
When and why you should see a specialist for your acid reflux
While you shouldn’t overlook any acid reflux symptoms, you should seek medical intervention if your symptoms worsen and don’t improve with over-the-counter medication. Besides heartburn, you should seek treatment for acid reflux if your symptoms involve difficulty breathing, nausea or vomiting, pain when swallowing, and bad breath or taste in your mouth.
Overlooking to seek treatment can give birth to more health problems like asthma, severe coughing, dental problems, ulcerations, and persistent inflammation. However, your provider can perform a diagnosis to determine the appropriate treatment to help improve your condition.
What you can do to improve your acid reflux
Although acid reflux has many contributing factors, there are ways you can improve your condition. Avoid eating before bedtime, consuming large meals, and lying down after eating to reduce the likelihood of acid reflux. Furthermore, work on losing weight, quit smoking, and focus on your diet. Also, some medications may contribute to acid reflux, so reviewing your prescription with your doctor can help.
In most cases, the best way to manage and overcome acid reflux is to combine lifestyle changes with treatments. Therefore, if your acid reflux doesn’t seem to improve with medications, you should seek specialist intervention to diagnose and treat your condition effectively. If your sphincter is severely damaged, your provider can recommend treatment options to boost its functionality. Acid reflux is treatable, and you, too, can overcome this condition. Schedule your treatment session today!