Overweight, Diabetes and Acid Reflux

One Relationship the worst aspects of being extremely overweight and/or diabetic is the hidden problems Beverages That Cause Acid Reflux, Change Your Lifestyle$anchor$ Beverages That Cause Acid Reflux, Change Your Lifestyle$anchor$ be affecting your health in ways that Howacid often not apparent or visible Acid Refluxthe Right And Effective Home Remedy For Acid Reflux considerable damage has already been done.

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), caused by acid reflux, is one example. Gerd is more than just frequent heartburn, although heartburn is usually a symptom of the problem. It's even possible Beaware have GERD and not experience heartburn that frequently, since the Acid Refluxthe Foods To Avoid That Causes Acid Reflux of heartburn can depend on what kind of foods you eat, degree of overweight and other factors.

What is GERD?
GERD happens when stomach acid flows back into your esophagus--the "tube" through which food enters your stomach. This happens more often when you bend over, or when you're lying down at night. Worst of all, it can continue during the night, bathing your esophagus in stomach acid over several hours and hastening the damage. Over time, this can result in acid burns to your esophagus and even your vocal chords, resulting in scar tissue that narrows your esophagus, causing difficulty swallowing and even trouble breathing. Asthma-like wheezing, chronic laryngitis, and--infrequently--cancer of the esophagus can also result if left uncorrected. Since the cause of these problems is not immediately apparent--especially if you're not experiencing frequent bouts of heartburn--they often go undetected until substantial damage has been done.

What causes GERD?

Overweight
When you swallow, a strong band of muscle around the lower part of your esophagus (called the esophageal sphincter) relaxes long enough to allow the passage of food to your stomach, then tightens again to keep stomach acid where it belongs--in your stomach. If you are extremely overweight, the excess weights pushes your stomach and diaphragm--the big band of muscle between your stomach and chest that helps you breathe--against the esophageal sphincter, forcing it open and Acid Reflux Medication stomach acid to flow backward into your esophagus.

Diabetes
One of the lesser-known side effects of diabetes is gastroparesis, which simply means your stomach takes longer than normal to empty. Food that stays in your stomach too long can regurgitate, sending the acid-drenched contents into your esophagus and causing heartburn.

Unhealthy Habits:
Eating the wrong foods (see "Ways to Prevent GERD" below) can make heartburn/GERD worse. Drinking alcohol, smoking, very large meals and lying down too soon Acidreflux eating are other GURD "triggers".

How Can I Repair the Damage from GERD?
Over-the-counter antacids such as Maalox, Milanta, Tums or Rolaids will usually control heartburn by neutralizing stomach acid. Weaker versions of prescription drugs available over the counter, like Tagamet, Pepcid and Zantac, which reduce the amount of acid in your stomach rather than neutralizing it, may be more effective. But if you already have damage to your esophagus, you may need a prescription-strength medicine to slow the flow of stomach acid and help heal the damage. These types of drugs usually need to be taken at least half an hour before eating to work.

Are there ways to prevent GERD?
Apart from medications, there are things you can do to prevent the acid reflux that causes GERD:

Lose weight

Eat smaller meals

Elevate the head of your bed 6-9 inches by inserting a foam wedge under your pillow or putting cement blocks under the front legs of the bedframe.

Quit smoking and avoid alcohol

Eliminate acid reflux "triggers" from your diet. Fried or fatty foods, onions, garlic, chocolate and coffee are frequent culprits.

Avoid bending over

Don't lie down right after eating. Wait 3-4 hours after eating before going to bed.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended, nor should it be used as medical advice. Consult your physician for advice about diagnosis or treatment of acid reflux and/or GERD.

Copyright 2008

JoAnn Graham is Webmaster of http://recipesdietsandmore.com, a website featuring quick, easy and free family recipes, diabetic and glycemic index recipes, and articles about diabetes, insulin resistance, glycemic index dieting, and other health, diet and nutrition issues.

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