William Lagadyn asked:


What Is Acid Reflux?

The dictionary defines reflux as a “flowing back”

or “abnormal backward flow of body fluids”

To Investigate acid reflux or what the medical community terms acid reflux disease the first thing we have to look at is the “stomach” to understand what is happening. The stomach contains both an acidic liquid which helps us digest our food and it also contains acidic gases that are present over the liquid. The stomach contents are under pressure.

Reflux or acid reflux is a natural body function for lowering the pressure in our stomach and digestive system. It is much like a pressure relief valve on your hot water tank. If the pressure in your water tank increased too much and the tank was in danger of exploding the valve would be forced open and allow the pressure to escape through the valve. Thereby lowering the pressure in the tank.

The stomach is much the same way and the “stomach pressure” can be increased by several different things such as gastric or peptic ulcers, bowel problems, H.pylori bacterium, indigestion, food, or liquids or swallowing air. Remember back in school where some little guy was always swallowing air, just so he could buurrrp and gross the girls out. All he was doing was increasing his stomach pressure.

When we swallow and the food enters our stomach and it displaces the liquid contents and the level of liquid rises. When this happens it compresses the acidic gases that are above the liquid and greatly increases the pressure that is being exerted against the Lower Esophageal Sphincter valve.

Once the pressure against the LES valve builds up enough it will force the LES valve open and the gases will reflux into the esophagus. As the gases start refluxing into the esophagus you may experience a pressure buildup in the chest. This pressure may become uncomfortable until the pressure overcomes the Upper Esophageal Sphincter valve and the gases are expelled through our mouths and we Buurrrrp After we burp or belch we relieve the pressure in the esophagus and the stomach.

Sometimes when we burp, we might notice a burning or painful feeling in our chest. This is because the acidic stomach gases are refluxing and coming in direct contact any sores or lesions that are present in the esophagus. It’s much like spilling vinegar on a cut it will cause pain.

We may have even developed “esophagitis” which is an inflamed esophagus and can make swallowing difficult. Although there are other things that can cause esophagitis the constant assault of acidic stomach gases or what we know as reflux or acid reflux can irritate the delicate cells of the esophagus and cause pain!.

People who have esophagitis may also experience difficulty in swallowing, and pain when consuming acidic drinks such as orange or tomato juice, because the acid in these beverages is coming in direct contact with the sores or lesions that are present in your esophagus.

The Esophagus doesn’t have a protective coating or lining like your stomach does to protect it from the hydrochloric acid or acidic stomach gases, and this constant assault of acid on your esophagus will cause further damage to the delicate cells if it is allowed to continue.

In order to be successful with an acid reflux treatment, you have to first locate and then correct the root cause. This can be anything from the LES valve failing to close properly, to a stomach or bowel problem which is increasing the pressure being exerted against the valve, forcing it open, and allowing the reflux to take place.



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