Acid reflux disease or gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition when the acid in our stomach flows up to the esophagus. This can happen when the tube which functions to deliver food from the esophagus to the stomach fails to hold back the acid. The most common of acid reflux symptoms is heartburn. Heartburn is the burning sensation that originates from abdominal area which goes up to the chest and esophagus. This symptom can occur occasionally or frequently in some people. If it happens frequently for a week or two and the condition does not improve even after medication, then you can be sure that you are suffering from GERD.

However, heartburn is only one of the many acid reflux symptoms. People suffering from GERD also display other signs of the disease include chest pains (due to acid traveling up the chest), nausea (feeling of discomfort in the stomach and the urge to vomit), regurgitation or vomiting, dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), dyspepsia or indigestion (which often leads to regurgitation), chronic sore throat, asthmatic symptoms (such as wheezing and coughing), and recurrent hiccups. Needless to say, acid reflux symptoms can be really discomforting and it is hardly possible to do perform daily activities with ease when one is suffering from this condition. Medications will only help ease the symptoms for a while and they can reoccur in the future. To prevent the disease from happening again, you are advised to make some changes to your diet.

As the first step, a person with GERD has to avoid or decrease the consumption of foods that can trigger the disease such as alcohol, citrus fruits, tomatoes and derived products, foods containing peppermint, peppers, raw onions, raw garlic, spicy and fried foods, chocolate, as well as coffee and other caffeinated drinks. Rough-textured foods such as cereals, crackers, and potato chips should also be avoided as they can irritate the esophagus. Smoking will not help to lessen the acid reflux symptoms as it will allow the acid to travel up the esophagus. Read the rest of this entry »