Acid Reflux Help

Cool Night Time Acid Reflux Tip

2006-01-13T02:48:00.000-05:00

Relief from Night Time Acid Reflux

If your acid reflux is the worst at night time while you're trying to sleep, check out this tip I found recently on MSN...

Try sleeping on your left side.

Apparently, when you sleep on your right side, your stomach is higher than your esophagus, and it's easier for stomach acid to make it into your throat. When you sleep on your left side, however, your stomach is LOWER than your esophagus and gravity helps keep all of that acid right where it belongs... in your stomach.

You can check out the entire article here. It's full of some really cool tips that, if nothing else, make good conversation at a party. The stomach acid tip is #4.

Can Apples Cure Acid Reflux?

2005-11-18T14:26:00.000-05:00

There's been a lot of talk lately about apples being a possible cure for acid reflux. I wanted to find out the answer on this, so I contacted William Lagadyn, author of the best selling online book Cure Your Heartburn.

Here's an article he wrote on the subject in response...

Apples & Acid Reflux?

Can apples really cure acid reflux? The simple answer is NO! The juice from apples or carrots contain malic and tartaric acid which can help neultralize stomach acids, and the result is less pressure in the stomach. When the stomach pressure is lowered there is less pressure being exerted on the "Lower Esophageal Sphincter" valve, and therefore doesn't force it open and allow the reflux of acidic stomach fumes or gases to enter the esophagus and lead to problems.

Although apples have many nutritional benefits, and even contain anti-cancer properties, they do little or nothing to cure acid reflux or heartburn. They might make you feel better for a little while, just like antacids do, however all you have done is mask the symptoms...your heartburn or acid reflux will return. Guaranteed!

If you are tired of suffering and looking for a permanent solution to your problems I really suggest that you visit www.cureyourheartburn.com and find the answer to your problems, just like this person who is still very grateful.

Subject: Thanksgiving
From: john Cheeseman
Date:Thu, 17 Nov 2005 16:45:37-0800 (PST)
To:support@cureyourheartburn.com

Just wanted to drop a line and wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving with all the things you enjoy. Because of you my girlfriend can now enjoy everything she likes without having to worry about any heartburn. I myself can enjoy her enjoying everything she likes without having to worry about heartburn. It's been quite a while since she started using your system and it continues to work just fine. Thanks again.

Another happy customer, John Cheeseman and Tuyet Kieu and family.

**William's book comes with several bonus books and a money back guarantee. It's available for immediate download on his Cure Your Heartburn website.

Check Your Acid Reflux Symptoms During GERD Awareness Week -- November 23 - 29, 2005

2005-11-17T00:43:00.000-05:00

Track Your Acid Reflux Symptoms this Thanksgiving During Gerd Awareness Week -- November 23rd - 29th, 2005

It's no coincidence that Thanksgiving week is also GERD awareness week. There's probably no better time of the year to be on the look out for acid reflux symptoms in ourselves and our loved ones.

As we've discussed in previous posts, ignoring your acid reflux symptoms can lead to bigger problems that you may not be aware of. So, be proactive in your treatment, but still have fun this holiday season. Try out some of the heartburn free recipes that you can link to from this site, and if you experience symptoms of acid reflux, track them with the handy little diary that the folks over at the aboutgerd.org site have put together.

And for an all natural remedy that 1000's of people have used to cure their heartburn for the last 20+ years, visit William Lagadyn's Cure Your Heartburn website.

Acid Reflux Diet Tips

2005-11-13T23:43:00.000-05:00

Looking for Acid Reflux Diet Tips? Download These 2 Full Color Brochures from the Heartburn Alliance

The Heartburn Alliance has put together two excellent brochures on acid reflux. The Stop and Select Guide offers dieting tips and an easy to use chart that helps you tell the bad acid reflux foods from the good acid reflux foods.

The Get Heartburn Smart brochure provides one of the best explanations I've seen of what acid reflux is, how the various acid reflux remedies work, and steps you can take to control any flare ups. This booklet also comes with an Acid Reflux Log so you can track when you've had problems and determine the causes.

Both of the above booklets are in PDF format. If you would like hard copies of the booklets mailed to you, click here and fill out the order form.

Heartburn Free Foods for the Holidays -- Part 3

2005-11-12T11:55:00.000-05:00

The Author of Cure Your Heartburn Talks About the Biggest Mistake Acid Reflux Sufferers Make During the Holidays

*Don't Let Heartburn Ruin Your Holidays*

by William Lagadyn, author of Cure Your Heartburn

The biggest mistake I see many people making during the holidays is thefood and alcohol that they are consuming. Some of you folks already suffer from heartburn or acid reflux and the holiday season tends tomake things worse. Why?

Picture yourself arriving at a party, and the host has prepared a lavish display of goodies to snack on. The table is laden with all kinds of snacks and several varieties of alcohol just waiting for you to indulge in.

Wow! It's the holiday season and there are crackers, pretzels, chips, nuts, chocolate, cookies and several other delicious foods that we justcan't wait to sample.

Well, let's get at it...pour a drink and head on over to the snack table. With so many choices of snack foods displayed we just can't help but sample some of them. Mmmm!

There are several people gathered around the snack table, many of them talking, laughing, eating, drinking, and basically just having a good time. Have a snack and wash it down with a drink of alcohol. Have another snack and more booze. What a great party!... Yahoo!

Then suddenly you start to experience a little chest pain, and you wonder what is happening to you. Your good time has now turned into physical pain and discomfort. Was it the food that brought this on? Was it the alcohol? Was it holiday stress? What? What? What could possibly be causing the pain? Frustration now begins to set in, and your happy evening you were really enjoying is ruined. Sound familiar? What can you do?

There are several things you can do to prevent or lessen your heartburn and acid reflux this holiday season. Remember those snack foods that you were munching on, and the alcohol you were drinking? Well all of those things can contribute to your heartburn and reflux problems.

The crunchy snack foods that we ate will actually scratch and damage the inside of our esophagus if they are not chewed up completely. Our food is moved from our mouth to our stomach via "peristalsis", which is a wavey squeezing motion that moves our food down our esophagus and onward to the stomach. Any little bits of crunchy type foods that have not been completely chewed up will actually scratch and damage the delicate walls of the esophagus and "Lower Esophageal Sphincter" valve when we swallow.

Once the esophagus has sustained some damage you will experience chestpains or a burning sensation when you drink or eat anything that is acidic. The acid in those products are coming in direct contact with the sores in your esophagus.

Alcohol is very acidic and the more we consume the more acidic we get. When we are too acidic the stomach has increased pressure and this increase in pressure will force the "Lower Esophageal Sphincter" valve open, and allow the reflux of acidic stomach fumes or gases to enter our esophagus.

If these stomach fumes or gases come in contact with the damage in your esophagus you will experience heartburn. Guaranteed!

Enjoy your holiday season and remember to chew up your crunchy snacks as fine as you can so you don't cause any harm to your esophagus and digestive organs. A couple of drinks of plain water during the party will also help cleanse the esophagus of any acidic residue, and reduce the pain symptoms.

If you would like more information on curing your heartburn or reflux once and for all, go to CureYourHeartburn.com.

Thanks, and enjoy your holiday

Heartburn Free Foods for the Holidays -- Part 2

2005-11-11T01:32:00.000-05:00

How to Enjoy Great Food Without the Heartburn This Holiday Season

Ahhh, the holidays... a time of friends, family, and for all too many people...

Heartburn!

If you're one of the 60 million Americans who suffer from acid reflux disease you know how one meal of indulgence can lead to a day or night of misery.

The problem is that during the holidays we allow more things into our diets than we do the rest of the year. We eat more sweet and rich foods, drink more alcohol and coffee, and quite often can pay the price with increased heartburn.

But be of good cheer, dear holiday party-goer, you can still eat well, have a great time, and avoid your heartburn problems!

The secret lies in knowing what foods are bad so you can limit them or substitute something in their places.

The bad heartburn foods come in two varieties...

1. Those that cause an increase in stomach acid, some of which can spill over into your esophagus causing heartburn.

2. Those that relax the esophageal sphincter. The esophageal sphincter is a little muscle at the base of the esophagus that acts as a lid that prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus.

Here are some of the heartburn causing foods you should look out for this holiday season.

Peppermint

What candy is more associated with the holidays than the red and white striped candy cane? Yet, peppermint is one of those foods that relaxes the esophageal sphincter and allows acid up into your esophagus.

Instead, try a stick of red licorice. You can buy these sticks in bulk, or individually wrapped.

Chocolate

Yes, I'm afraid it's true; chocolate is another "relaxing" food that can open the way for stomach acid to reach your esophagus. Instead of chocolate, though, try substituting...

Just kidding. True chocoholics know that there's no substitute for chocolate, but there are people who are thinking of creative ways to make chocolate heartburn free.

See part 1 of this series for a collection of heartburn-free recipes, including one for fudge!

Alcohol and Coffee/Tea

Between the office holiday party, Christmas with the family, and New Year's Eve, alcohol consumption for many people sky rockets during this time of year. And, even non-drinkers can over indulge with higher than normal levels of coffee or tea (regular and decaf).

All of the above beverages can increase the acid production in your stomach and give you heartburn. Instead try substituting hot cider (in moderation) for the coffee or tea, and non-alcoholic beer or wine for your other favorite alcoholic beverages.

Hors d' Oeuvres

Spicy and fatty foods are notorious for generating stomach acid production, and no place are these foods more conveniently and neatly presented than on the hors d' Oeuvres trays and tables at holiday parties.

Foods to look out for include cheese, salami, beef sticks, and, of course, spicy buffalo wings. Instead, stick with pretzels, apples, or carrots and broccoli dipped in low fat ranch dressing.

Brunch Food

Lastly, another meal that friends and family share together during the holidays--and one that's loaded with heartburn traps and snares--is brunch.

From the coffee, to the eggs prepared in butter and garnished with bacon or sausage, to the donuts and fruit juices, brunch offers heartburn foods at every turn. Even here, just a few modifications can result in a very satisfying meal followed by a pleasant, heartburn free day.

Here are a few tips for making your brunch selections...

Egg white omelets are better than those made with whole eggs, and if you like to have some sort of bread with breakfast, try a whole grain bagel with low fat cream cheese.

Apples and bananas are the best choices for fruit and, if you want a fruit juice, apple is probably your best bet there, too.

As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities for acid reflux and heartburn sufferers to enjoy delicious heartburn-free food this holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Spitz Cures Heartburn and Acid Reflux

2005-11-08T11:20:00.000-05:00

American Olympic Swimming Champion Mark Spitz Cures His Acid Reflux After Years of Suffering

I just found this article about former Olympian Mark Spitz. Apparently, he's struggled with acid reflux for years--even going back to his competitive swimming days.

He finally decided to do something about it and consulted his doctor about available acid reflux cures and treatments. His doctor prescribed for him a PPI, Nexium, and now he is progressing, well... swimmingly. :)

Read the full article on Spitz' acid reflux struggle and treatment by clicking here.

Heartburn Free Foods for the Holidays -- Part 1

2005-11-04T13:31:00.000-05:00

Don't Let Heartburn Foods Ruin Your Holidays: Heartburn Friendly Recipes and Cooking Tips for Your Holiday Meals

Yes, you can enjoy great food this holiday season without heartburn! Just use these heartburn-free recipes and cooking tips to create meals that the whole family will love.

Holiday Recipes Makeover

This is a five star article for anyone who likes to cook during the holidays and doesn't want to abandon their favorite recipes, but wants to make them more heartburn friendly. It gives you cooking tips for making your favorite recipes heartburn friendly.

Includes "made-over" recipes for Creamy Green Bean Bake, O?Brien Potato Casserole, and Cranberry Walnut Dressing.

Hold the Heartburn: Recipes that Relieve

Recipes from dietitian Elaine Magee's book Tell Me What To Eat If I Have Acid Reflux. Sweet potatoes are a staple at most tables during the holiday season. Among the other recipes is a killer one (a heartburn killer, that is) for Apple Sweet Potato Bake.

Heartburn-Friendly Recipes

Sharon Gillson over at About.com has a website full of good information on preventing and treating acid reflux and heartburn.

The Apple Pancakes or Apple Cinnamon Coffeecake will be a hit at any holiday brunch, and the Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting sound like they'd be good ANY time of the year. As you can tell, she's got a full section of dessert recipes for you, but there are also heartburn free recipes for main dishes, pasta dishes, and more.

Holiday Recipes from Heartburn Alliance

Not only do they have a stuffing and gravy recipe that to complement your turkey dinner, they've also got recipes and tips that you can use for the other holidays throughout the year.

Heartburn Medicine, Tagamet's Healthy Living Guide

Heartburn medication maker, Tagamet, has put together a healthy living guide for heartburn sufferers. Go to the heartburn free recipes page, and then click on the "Select a Recipe" bar to see holiday recipes that include sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and even fudge that won't cause heartburn.

One Man's All Natural Remedy that Can Cure Acid Reflux and Heartburn Fast!

2005-11-03T10:58:00.000-05:00

How would you like to cure your heartburn and avoid the damaging conditions that acid reflux can cause--without doctors or prescription medication?

William Lagadyn says he can help you do just that, and judging from the results his readers have gotten -- many of them who've battled the symptoms of acid reflux for years -- he may be right.

See for yourself what a few of them have said about William's all natural acid reflux and heartburn remedy...

Dear William,

I must thank you.Your simple methods in two days have fixed what 2.5 Months of PPI's and Numerous visits to a GP and Gastroenterologist couldn't. The Gastro said, "Don't worry plenty of people take PPI's for the rest of their lives, it's normal".

I can not believe this treatment is not used by doctors or more widely by the community, as I speak to many sufferers of heartburn who are on PPI's, H2 Blockers and Antacids long term.

May your methods be more wide spread and your business grow as you deserve it, as you are a true humanitarian.

Thank you sincerely,

Aaron Smith

Dear William,

This is way overdue.

Last October, after months of taking six ibuprofen tablets a day (at my doctor's orders), my esophagus became severely "burned", resulting in some pretty intense heartburn/reflux symptoms. I tried various antacids (which induced 24 hours of diarrhea), and finally persuaded my doctor to prescribe "the purple pill" . . .but nothing seemed to make much difference.

One Sunday afternoon I found your website. I read the testimonials, and almost paid the fee . . . but I was afraid it was some kind of rip-off deal and changed my mind. Later, feeling miserable with the heartburn, I decided to take the chance and bought the e-book. I read it immediately as soon as I'd downloaded it and it seemed so simple but it made so much sense. I immediately began following your instructions and felt better within three days! So much better that, when my "purple pill" samples ran out, I told my doctor I didn't think I needed them anymore.

Well, that was over four months ago and I have been heartburn-free ever since! I constantly follow your advice and I am amazed: I'm back to normal. I can even eat foods that formerly had upset me quite a bit (like Mexican food--in moderation, of course!).

I'm so glad I took the plunge and purchased your information. You have saved me many times the purchase price of your e-book in my not having to buy antacids or "purple pills". And I feel way better than those things ever made me feel. As I said, I'm back to normal, with no acid reflux symptoms whatsoever.

Just wanted to say a heartfelt "Thanks!"

Sincerely,

David Tyra

And here are two more testimonials from William's Heartburn Cure site...

After 72 hours with only 6 hours sleep from raging esophageal burning, I luckily found
your web site, talked with you on the phone, got thebook; then, in less than 24 hours, all symptoms disappeared.

You basically saved my life. I'll be forever grateful.
William Lillott

Hello William,

It has been approximately 6 weeks since I've been following your advice. It has been amazing. I have not taken a drug since the day I began, Although it all sounds too good to be true, it isn't. I see my doctor on Dec. 20 and am prepared for him to pooh-pooh the whole idea but hey, I'm not sick and I'm not getting up in the night. I've not got that choking cough nor a hoarse voice. Thank you. It was worth the $39.97.

Diana Walters

And these are just a few of the unsolicited testimonials from folks who've found heartburn and acid reflux relief as a result of using William's method. The book's an easy read, come's with several bonus books and with a 45 day money back guarantee, you've got nothing to lose -- except your heartburn!

Click here to grab his book, Cure Your Heartburn, and start seeing results today!

Acid Reflux Symptoms You Should Know About

2005-11-01T22:56:00.000-05:00

The Obvious and Not-So-Obvious Symptoms of Acid Reflux

In our previous two posts we answered the question, "What is acid reflux," and discussed the dangers that can arise if left untreated. Today we're going to take a look at some of the symptoms of acid reflux that can alert you to potential problems.

But aren't all acid reflux symptoms pretty obvious?

Not always. Some are more subtle and could be mistaken for something else, and some may not be detected at all.

The Most Obvious Acid Reflux Symptoms

For simplicity's sake, let's start with the most obvious symptoms of acid reflux.

Heartburn

Heartburn is, of course, the burning, sometimes sharp pain that you can feel deep in your chest. I've never had angina pains, which are symptoms of heart trouble, but apparently the feelings can be pretty similar.

What you're feeling with heartburn is the acid from your stomach coming into contact with the lining of your esophagus. This acid can eat away at the lining of your esophagus, causing tears, bleeding, and scarring.

Regurgitation

Another fairly obvious acid reflux symptom is regurgitation. This is when small amounts of acid, food, and other stomach contents actually make it back up into your mouth.

Difficulty in Swallowing

Finally, the last pretty obvious symptom of acid reflux is difficulty in swallowing. Because of prolonged exposure to stomach acid, the lining of the esophagus can develop scar tissue, and actually get smaller.

Either of these acid reflux symptoms, especially a severe case of heartburn, is hard to ignore. But as we also discussed in the previous post, there are other conditions and diseases that can be brought about by acid reflux where the symptoms aren't as obvious as massive heartburn.

Less Obvious Symptoms of Acid Reflux

As we discussed in the "Hidden Dangers of Acid Reflux," acid reflux can cause a host of potential problems including tooth decay, sinusitis and a variety of ear/nose/throat problems. Yet one study showed that less than half of patients who had ear/nose/throat problems caused by acid reflux, actually showed any of the classic symptoms of acid reflux disease.

Here is a list of the lesser known acid reflux symptoms...

Recurring Hoarseness

Acid that makes it into the throat and comes into contact with the vocal chords can actually damage the vocal chords causing hoarseness or raspiness.

Bad Breath

We've all got bad breath from time to time. Bad breath that's worse after you eat, or that gets better after taking antacid tablets may be attributable to acid reflux.

Repetitive Throat Clearing

This is yet another sign that acid reflux is forcing acid up into the throat.

Now that you know some of the apparent and subtle symptoms that cause acid reflux, hopefully you'll be better informed when it comes to analyzing your own symptoms, and talking to your doctor about treatments.

Acid Reflux Resources

The articles below served as the sources of information for this post.

Digestion and Bad Breath: Reflux May Be The Culprit

Reflux May Cause Sinusitis and Damage Teeth

What Are The Hidden Dangers of Acid Reflux?

2005-11-01T19:29:00.000-05:00

What are the Hidden Dangers of Acid Reflux Disease?

In our previous post we defined what acid reflux is, what it causes (heartburn), and what it isn't (indigestion). Now that we know what acid reflux is, and what's going on in our bodies when we have this condition, let's take a look at what can happen if we let acid reflux go without treating it.

If you're like most folks, you probably only know of acid reflux as the pesky, yet sometimes very painful, heartburn that you can experience after certain meals. What you might not know is that persistent and untreated acid reflux can cause conditions that are much more serious than occasional heartburn.

Here's a list of conditions that could develop as a result of untreated acid reflux disease.

Tooth and Gum Erosion
Gastric (stomach) acid that makes it past the esophagus and into the mouth can eat the enamel off of teeth and erode the gums. Studies show that the average number of people with dental erosion varies from 2 to 18%, but that the percentage of acid reflux disease (GERD) sufferers with erosion ranges from 20 to 55%!
Sinusitis
Acid reflux disease has been linked to sinusitis in both adults and children. A study of chronic sinusitis sufferers who've had surgery to relieve their condition, showed that those with acid reflux disease were less likely to see relief as a result of the operation.
Though the stomach acid may not reach the sinuses themselves, it can get as high as the pharynx (the opening leading from the nose and mouth to the esophagus) and play a role in irritating mucous membranes and blocking sinus passages.
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is the inflammation of the vocal chords that can a person's voice to sound raspy and hoarse. Like the other acid reflux ailments, this condition is a result of acid reaching the vocal chords, which are located in the larynx at the top of the trachea (windpipe).
Esophagitis
Of course, to reach any of the previously mentioned places (the larynx, pharynx, or mouth) the stomach acid must travel through the esophagus. Repeated contact with the esophagus can cause swelling, bleeding, and ulcers. If left untreated, acid reflux can also cause the following conditions.
Strictures
Acid reflux can cause scar tissue to build up in the esophagus which makes the passageway for food and liquid smaller. These build-ups are known as strictures.
Strictures can make it for difficult to eat and drink, and even prevent food from reaching the stomach.
Barrett's Esophagus
Repeated exposure of the esophagus to acid reflux can cause a condition known as Barrett's esophagus. Here, the cells in the esophagus actually change into different cells, and can potentially cause cancer.
Cancer
As many as .5% of people with Barrett's esophagus develop cancer. Acid reflux is not the only cause of esophageal cancer, but because it's even one, it requires attention, treatment, and prevention.

Now that you know what acid reflux disease is and its potential dangers, you owe it to yourself to be on the lookout for acid reflux symptoms, to find the best acid reflux treatments and cures for yourself, and to learn how to prevent re-occurrences of acid reflux in the future.

Acid reflux Resources

Below are a list of the acid reflux articles that served as the sources for the information in this post.

Complications of Untreated Heartburn and GERD from WebMD

Reflux Disease May Cause Sinusitis and Damage Teeth from Healthlink

Disorders of Vocal Abuse and Misuse

Experts Lay Down the Law on Acid Reflux from WebMD

What is Acid Reflux Disease?

2005-11-01T13:20:00.000-05:00

Answering Some Basic Questions About Heartburn and Acid Reflux.

Sometimes it seems like you hear about acid reflux disease everywhere. You only have to sit down for a few minutes of night time television to see several commercials for various acid reflux and heartburn treatments, cures, and remedies.

Still, people are left with many questions about acid reflux disease. Questions such as...

What is acid reflux?
What is GERD?
Is acid reflux the same as GERD?
How is acid reflux different from heartburn or indigestion?
And most importantly, what are the dangers of acid reflux disease?

The Acid Reflux Help Blog will attempt to answer all of those questions and examine some treatments that are available to acid reflux sufferers. Let's get started with some definitions that should answer many of your questions about acid reflux disease.

Acid Reflux Disease

As defined in this excellent acid reflux article on web MD acid reflux is a condition that occurs when

"the muscle between the stomach and the esophagus gets weak or relaxes at the wrong time. This lets the contents of the stomach, including acid, splash up into the esophagus. The esophagus doesn't have the same kind of protective coating as the stomach, so stomach acids burn it."

GERD

GERD is an abbreviation of the official medical name for acid reflux disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Heartburn

Heartburn is the condition caused by acid reflux, or GERD. This, of course, is the irritating, painful feeling caused by gastric acid (which is actually hydrochloric acid that is about a million times more acidic than pure water) splashing from the stomach up into the esophagus. It should probably be known as "Esophogeal Burn" but since the feeling takes place in the middle of the chest, it got the name "heartburn."

Indigestion

Indigestion occurs in the stomach itself and is different from heartburn. Officially known as dyspepsia it's defined as "a persistent or recurrent pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen." While it can be caused by acid reflux disease, it can also be an indication of ulcers or gall bladder disease, or none of the above.

For our purposes here, we're going to deal with acid reflux disease and heartburn. (To find out more about indigestion, check out the Web MD page that served as the source for this information.)

Now that you know what acid reflux is, it's time to discuss the dangers of acid reflux disease, and we'll do that in our next Acid Reflux Help blog post.

Acid Reflux Resources

Here's a listing of the acid reflux articles that served as the sources of information for this post.

Experts Lay Down the Law on Acid Reflux

Indigestion on WebMD

Ask a Scientist: Stomach Acid