The ONLY Effective Heartburn Treatment

There are typically three principal kinds of treatment for Heartburn: classical medicine, surgical operations and the natural/holistic solution. These methods are very different in the way that they operate and their approach to resolving the different underlying factors, as well as in their effects over the long-term. It's important to select the correct and most effective solution for you and that means getting precise information on the real reasons that lie behind the symptoms of heartburn.

When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) between the stomach and the esophagus is in a normal state, it lets food pass one way into the stomach, but closes afterwards to stop acidic stomach contents from being pushed back the wrong way. However, when this muscle relaxes at an inopportune moment, that acid content gets back into the esophagus and causes the pain of heartburn. In this way, heartburn is the external sign of acid reflux or GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). GERD is what happens when the muscular valve between the esophagus and the stomach is weakened.

Physicians habitually deal with heartburn and related problems by trying to use conventional medications, some of which are available to anyone over the counter. These acid reflux OTCs can be sorted into three groups:

1. Antacids, examples being Maalox, Rolaids, Mylanta and Tums. They neutralize stomach acid by creating a covering that envelops the food content.

2. H2 blockers to reduce acid creation and diminish acid production in the stomach, examples being Pepcid AC, Axid AR and Zantac 75.

3. PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitors) which break the proton pump action that normally releases the acid in the stomach, characterized by products including Nexium, Protonix and Prilosec.

The Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2004 published research that found that PPIs do nothing to reduce the frequency of reflux attacks for GERD victims. Instead, PPIs simply convert acidic contents into alkali ones. The reflux still happens, but with an alkaline bile which may in fact be worse for the esophagus. Although short-term pain alleviation is promised by such drugs, long-term usage can be a significant problem. These drugs do not address the real issue, only the external manifestations. They set about this by altering the composition of the stomach chemically. These drugs typically only have short-lived effect and can induce long duration patient dependency as well as unwanted secondary effects.

The next option to drugs is surgical operation. This is designed to stop the valve opening when it should remain closed, so as to stop the flow back of gastric contents into the esophagus. The surgeon wraps the upper part of the stomach around the lower esophagus in order to reinforce the muscular valve at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach.

A sufferer who relies solely on this solution is likely to remain a sufferer. If no accompanying lifestyle or diet alterations are made, heartburn symptoms will probably be back. Associated with this solution are other risks including cramps in the abdomen, bloating, diarrhea, nauseous feelings, and glutition difficulties.

The major drawback of these classical methods for resolving heartburn is that they all target local GERD symptoms and give solutions only for reducing the symptom, and not the real cause. They try to decrease the quantity of acid produced, or neutralize the acid or tighten mechanically the LES. Yet in no case are the real causes being addressed.

It is the simultaneous existence of different medical and lifestyle factors that provoke acid reflux. Genetic weakness, fatty foods, being overweight and specific lifestyle and nutrition factors all conspire to weaken the LES which stops it from closing properly. Inner equilibrium can also be perturbed by Candida infection and poor diet and lifestyle habits, including undue stress and inadequate sleep patterns, which lead to excess acidity, toxic accumulation and fermentation. It is the underlying factors that must be tackled to treat heartburn. This is the only possibility for permanently solve acid reflux and to prevent it from happening again.

Article Source: http://www.articleselections.com

Jeff Martin is a certified nutritionist and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, Heartburn No More . To Learn More About Heartburn Visit: What is Heartburn

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