BELFAIR —Many people have experienced some sort of heartburn in their life. In fact, it is among the leading conditions for which people seek prescription medication to help combat it. once thought to be caused from eating spicy food or overindulgence and only on occasion, it is now happening to people regularly.
There is even a new condition called GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD occurs when food in the stomach is pushed upward into the esophagus, or “food pipe.” Stomach juices consist of acids that break down proteins and enzymes that break down protein, fats and carbohydrates. The esophagus is not designed to handle stomach acid and so when food gets pushed back up into it, it creates that burning sensation.
There is a prevailing philosophy that if you suffer from GERD, your stomach produces too much acid. The problem with acid reducing medications is that the stomach is supposed to be acidic and so the medication causes the condition to worsen with time! Acid in the stomach is needed to break down protein. if the protein is not completely broken down and gets into the blood stream, your body can develop an allergy against that protein. This can cause both food allergies and autoimmune disease.
Yet, here is the bigger problem: Continual irritation of the esophageal lining can cause changes in the esophageal lining, which can lead to a precancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus. Rates of esophageal cancer are increasing in industrialized nations at a rate faster than any other cancer. This is related to poor dietary habits, stressful lifestyles and lack of physical activity.
Because many people do not know what is causing their GERD or they want the quick fix, they turn to drugs for help in reducing their symptoms.
Drugs used for GERD fall into several categories: H2 receptor antagonists (Tagament, Zantac), proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Prevacid) and antacids (Tums and baking soda). all of these decrease the acidity of your stomach. The problem with H2 receptor agonists is that while they relieve symptoms, they may do nothing to stop the reflux.
Proton pump inhibitors do, however, actually stop the production of acid in your stomach. Then, nature takes over and in response to the low-acid environment created by the drug, the stomach secretes large amounts of the hormone gastrin (a hormone that stimulates the proton pumps to create acid). This is another formula for digestive tract cancers, because high levels of gastrin are associated with esophageal, pancreatic and stomach cancer.
All this being said, there are times when the aforementioned pharmaceuticals may be appropriate to treat GERD. Discuss this with your doctor. Get the crisis under control, then start working to get your body healthier and hopefully reduce medications as they are no longer needed.
Below are a few tips to help reduce the symptoms of GERD.
Don’t lie down within three hours of eating. Being vertical allows gravity to help your stomach contents to stay where they belong. Avoid the following: peppermint, chocolate, soda, coffee, tea (herbal teas are OK), smoking, alcohol and bad fats, especially fried foods.
Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), sodium naproxin (Alleve) and other pain pills destroy the lining of your stomach and esophagus. Use these only when absolutely necessary.
Manage your stress! Have your spine checked; spinal problems can cause your body to stray from balance and health and into distress and disease. Lose weight if you’re overweight. The extra weight puts pressure on your stomach contents and can actually “push” the contents back up into the esophagus. (Our office has an excellent weight loss program.)
Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies. these foods contain the vitamins and minerals needed for digestive health. Supplement your diet with fish oil, probiotics and vitamin D for overall health and wellness.
GERD can pose serious risks to your health over time. Don’t wait until it is a huge crisis — your body may be giving you warning signals now.
Carl E. Ehresman II, D.C., C.C.W.P. is a local chiropractor and certified chiropractic wellness practitioner. He may be reached at (360) 275-4401 or go to belfairwellness.com.