Getting to know Acid Reflux Disease
Acid reflux disease is a problem that arises when the
liquid in the stomach goes back or refluxes to the esophagus. This condition is also known as
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
These liquid which is composed of acid, pepsin, and bile are produced by
the stomach to aid in digestion but can cause damage when it goes back to the
esophagus. Pepsin is responsible of
digesting protein in the stomach while bile is from the duodenum part of small
intestine which is vital for fat absorption.
Among the three components, acid has the biggest role of damaging the
esophagus lining and eventually cause inflammation.
According to the study conducted by experts, any human being
have a tendency to experience reflux of liquid from the stomach, the only
difference is that, people suffering from GERD have more acid in the liquid and
tend to reflux higher compared to normal beings. Once you are suffering from this chronic
disease, the treatment should be taken consistently because the problem seems
to recur when you stop the designed treatment, though there are some who
believes that the solution to this disease is by treating it
symptomatically. This means that you
will only have to take medication or follow prescribed diet once any symptom
occur.
Like in any untoward situation, the body always compensates
to keep the normal function intact. With
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, most cases happen in day time when the
position assumed is upright. Because of
this, the gravity allows the refluxed liquid to go back to the stomach. Swallowing and the saliva produced by the
salivary gland in the mouth plays an important role in neutralizing acid. Every time you swallow, saliva becomes
equipped with bicarbonate which travels through the esophagus and causes
neutralization of acid. This leaves the
esophagus with less acid at the end of the day.
On the other hand, attacks of GERD happen most of the time
at night, when the person is no longer on upright position thus impeding the gravity
to work. Another fact is that, the
production of saliva is lower, which means there is no enough bicarbonate to
neutralize the acid and swallowing is not happening as well. This means more acid is stuck in the
esophagus which can create chronic damage in it.
There are many causes of Acid Reflux Disease and
sometimes it is only secondary to the existing problem or changes in the
body. Take for example during pregnancy,
there are certain hormones that can lower the pressure in the lower esophageal
sphincter thus causing regurgitation, the presence of the fetus is also putting
more pressure, therefore can cause reflux of liquid to the esophagus as
well. Another disease is scleroderma;
this is one condition of the connective tissues which causes weakening of the
esophageal muscles thus aggravate GERD to develop.
No comments:
Post a Comment