Everything you need to know about Acid Reflux: Heartburn, regurgitation and dyspepsia

Understand, prevent and naturally treat acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion and regurgitation

There's nothing worse than eating a hearty, delicious meal, only to start feeling burning sensations travelling up your chest! Your delight of enjoying a tasty meal quickly turns to regret as the discomfort and pain sets in. You might even regurgitate a little bit of bitter-tasting liquid (yum) into your mouth. Congratulations, you have a condition called acid reflux.. But don't worry, millions of people suffer from acid reflux on a daily basis, and the great news is that it can be treated! In order to treat acid reflux, you need to first understand what's causing it!

What is acid reflux

Acid reflux is the term used to describe when gastric contents travel upwards into the oesophagus (food pipe). This happens when the valve at the entrance of your stomach, which opens to let the food down, doesn't close completely once the food has travelled past. This then allows for your stomach acid to escape and travel up the oesophagus, which may result in painful symptoms such as heartburn or regurgitation. Please note: people often use the terms 'heartburn' and 'acid reflux' interchangeably, however, heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux! 

Acid reflux is caused by various things, such as:

• Eating greasy, spicy, acidic or fatty foods
• Drinking caffeine and alcohol
• Eating too late at night
• Consuming large portions of food
• Being overweight or pregnant (your stomach contents put pressure on your stomach and forces the valve open after meals)
• Having a weakened valve
• Your stomach producing too much acid and not enough protective mucous

Heartburn, dyspepsia (indigestion) and regurgitation are common symptoms of acid reflux, all of which can be rather painful or uncomfortable. Although acid reflux is fairly common, your body is telling you something, i.e. you may want to consider a few lifestyle changes! Acid reflux can be managed and completely cured if you change your diet, strengthen your digestive system, lose some weight, or do whatever needs to be done in order to eliminate the cause of your acid reflux.

How to tell if you suffer from acid reflux

Everybody's body is different. Some people who get acid reflux experience completely pain-free symptoms, while others are seriously affected! Similarly, some people may experience many of the symptoms mentioned below, while you might only experience one of these symptoms! 

Symptoms of acid reflux:

• Heartburn
• Regurgitation
• Indigestion (dyspepsia)
• Pain and discomfort in upper abdomen
• Nausea
• Bloating or fullness in stomach
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Asthma
• Hoarseness
• Dental erosion
• Bad breath (halitosis)

How to combat acid reflux - the natural way!

Depending on the cause of your acid reflux, there are certain precautions and lifestyle changes one can take in order to naturally treat acid reflux. Most people turn to antacids to combat their acid reflux. Antacids are over-the-counter medications that neutralize the acid produced by your stomach and offer instant relief in the short term. However, regular use of antacids can cause constipation, osteomalacia (softening of the bones) and other unwanted side effects. Plus, they can also worsen your digestive problems in the long run! The good news is that there are healthier, more natural steps that one can taker in order to treat acid reflux.

How to naturally prevent and treat acid reflux:

• Eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day can help to aid digestion
• Food selection is crucial, as some foods (such as most condiments, spicy foods and junk foods) can contribute to common burning sensations in the stomach and oesophagus
• Eating before bedtime can also prove problematic, as gravity is then working against the stomach and may cause common acid reflux
• Maintaining a healthy weight and wearing loose fitting clothes can also help your digestive system to function properly
• Relaxation is key – activities like yoga and meditation can help to soothe the nerves and support calm digestion, because digestion is often affected by stress
• Regular exercise also helps to reduce stress and improve digestion
• Natural remedies, such as PureCalm, can help to support the nervous system and keep nerves settled and soothed – which then enables us to digest our foods properly and with little discomfort, supporting the healthy functioning of the stomach, and digestive system in general
• Acid Free-Flux is a 100% natural homeopathic remedy that addresses heartburn and acid reflux quickly after meals, and effectively soothes and combat acidity in the stomach and oesophagus
• AllisOne Nat Phos is a lactose-free tissue salt that acts as an acid neutraliser and reduces the discomfort of heartburn

If you have any health-related questions, please contact us or leave a comment below for FREE health advice. Our team always loves hearing from you!