The reflux of stomach gas and fluids during the night, even on a modest level, inhibit proper sleep patterns. It is a known fact that sleep is the most important factor affecting the aging process. If you do not get enough quality sleep at the r.e.m. level, you face each day with low energy, which can be described as a form of chronic fatigue. This syndrome will eventually drag you down and make you feel and look older than you should. It may even shorten your life. Many people are not even aware that they suffer from this condition.
Acid reflux or gerd (gastroesophageal reflux disease) occurs when the LES (lower esophageal sphincter) relaxes and allows gas and fluids from the stomach to move upward into the esophagus. The LES is a ringed muscle at the bottom of the esophagus. It opens in order to allow food to enter the stomach, and then closes in order to keep the digestive fluids where they belong. It is when this muscle is too relaxed or damaged, that the contents of the stomach can escape up into the esophagus thereby causing acid reflux.
The medical community would have us to believe that drugs are the only answer to the problem of gerd. Of course this is not true. Antacids are, at best, a temporary fix and are loaded with harmful ingredients such as sodium and aluminum. PPI drugs (proton pump inhibitors) like Nexium and Prilosec should only be used for eight weeks, at most. It says so right on the label. Furthermore, these drugs only mask and hide the symptoms and they have hundreds of harmful side effects.
The acid reflux condition can be the result of poor eating habits or even the aging process itself. We all know that certain foods can trigger indigestion; tomato sauce, raw garlic and onions, chocolate, coffee and alcohol. The ingestion of these foods can make you acidic in nature, resulting in acid reflux. Yet most of us can’t resist one or more of these items on a daily basis. Besides eliminating “trigger" foods from our diets, there are many natural herbs and supplements that can be helpful in staving off this malady.
Chronic indigestion can also be caused by a lack of hydrochloric acid. Some people produce insufficient amounts of stomach acid as they grow older. Besides the proper digestion of food, hydrochloric acid is necessary to keep harmful bacteria, which are found in the digestive track, in check. Without this defense, infections can develop which make the acid reflux condition even worse. This particular condition can be improved with hydrochloric acid supplements, or even ingesting small amounts of apple cider vinegar. Although these conditions are different in nature, they both cause acid reflux and can result in premature aging.
Other things that should be considered in dealing with this condition are:
* Smoking cessation (Smoking creates an acidic body)
* Loosing weight
* Eating small portions of food throughout the day
* Chewing food well and eating slowly
* Eating at least three hours before retiring
There are many subtle changes in lifestyle which can remove the threat of the acid reflux condition. By eliminating this unnecessary and harmful strain on the body, one can live a more healthy life. Getting better quality sleep will increase your chances of retaining life-force, which means living a longer and more youthful existence.
Acid reflux symptoms are hard to miss. The burning and discomfort can sometimes be mistaken for other things, but for the most part, those who suffer know exactly what is going on, and usually why it is happening. However, they may be experiencing secondary conditions that are painful and irritating, but what they don't know is that these conditions can be a result of leaving GERD unchecked and untreated. Few realize that acid reflux and sinus problems can be related.
Most people know that acid reflux is where acid from the stomach splashes back up into the esophagus and eats away at the delicate tissues. That leads to pain and damage in the area.
What isn't so well known is that this acid can reach up as far as the sinus cavities in the head. When that happens, sinus problems will ensue.
The most common symptoms are pain and pressure in the sinus cavities. When this happens, sufferers usually have no idea that their GERD is the cause, and that by getting it under control, they may lessen the severity of sinus problems, if not eliminate them all together.
The most obvious way to relieve sinus problems associated with GERD is to get the acid reflux under control. There are a number of medications your doctor can prescribe that can help, and the ones that usually work the best are proton pump inhibitors (PPI's).
PPI's stop acid from being produced within the stomach. Some will still be there to help digest foods, but the excess will be stopped. The idea is to allow the esophagus a chance to heal and greatly lowers the possibility of acid seeping up into the throat and sinuses. PPI's can be bought over-the-counter, but doctors can prescribe a stronger version for those with really bad GERD symptoms.
If you're not keen on taking medication then relief might be found for acid reflux and sinus problems simply by changing the way you sleep at night. Even when taking medications, you can still have some problems in this area.
Try sleeping with your head and chest elevated at least six inches from the bottom half of your body. Stacking pillows can work, but using a dedicated ?wedge pillow? or lifting the mattress so the entire top half of the torso is elevated is generally more comfortable. You could also try putting blocks under the head end of the bed, but make sure whatever you use is secure. Elevating you head and chest possibly won't stop acid reflux entirely, but gravity can do wonders for keeping acid down and in the stomach where it belongs.
Along with medications and changing your sleeping position, you can also alter your diet to avoid foods that seem to give you the most problem. Common triggers are spicy foods, fatty foods, and foods that are slow to digest.
After having acid reflux for a while, most people become aware of what foods do them the most harm and which ones leave them feeling relatively good. By focusing on the foods that cause the least pain and discomfort, the sinuses might feel some relief from the erosion and pain.
Even when acid is under control, damage already done to the sinuses can cause problems. This is why you should seek simple treatments for acid reflux and sinus problems. Some relief can be found with humidifiers and saline nasal sprays. These can calm and soothe by adding moisture back into the damaged areas of the sinuses. If nothing seems to help and your sinus problems seem to be getting worse rather than better, it might be time to talk with your doctor about more aggressive treatment. In the meantime, see if the small changes listed above offer you at least some measure of relief.
Both Charles Stewart Richey & Kathryn Whittaker are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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