Acid Reflux

This is the movement of liquid and acid up the food canal also known as the esophagus. This occurs as a result of a faulty lower esophageal sphincter. At the lower end of the esophagus, there is an opening which allows food into the stomach. If this opening is not working properly, liquids and gas flow back into the mouth, a condition known as Acid Reflux. When this happens, an acidic taste may be experienced. Other symptoms of acid reflux are a burning sensation in the chest also known as heartburn, discomfort in the stomach, difficulty in swallowing, feeling nausea and vomiting.

Causes of acid reflux may be different depending on individual lifestyle. These may be pregnancy, overeating, eating acidic foods and lack of exercise.

In order to treat the problem of Acid Reflux, you must first identify the causes. Mostly, lifestyle changes are enough to treat the condition. Exercise helps strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter thus reducing the acid reflux. If the problem persists after identifying and correcting the cause, it is advisable to seek medical assistance. Over the counter medication without a doctor's prescription is also not advised. Acid Reflux in children and infants, might be a little hard to identify. The most common symptoms are belching a lot, lack of appetite, uncontrolled crying and lack of sleep. A doctor's consultation is the only proven way to rule out the problem. In most cases the problem disappears by the time the child is five years. The problem can be reduced by giving the child meals three to four hours before bedtime and using a wedge pillow at night.