When we eat, the stomach's contents typically go into the intestines with the help of contractions of the digestive muscles. However, patients who have acid reflux disease have esophageal reflux of digestive fluids. Additionally, a patient may have throat inflammation due to the digestive materials' acid content, which may also cause pain in the breastbone and belly. Dyspepsia, vomiting, regurgitation, and signs relating to the respiratory system are other symptoms.
A persistent health problem is acid reflux. Once it has begun to spread inside the body, it will stay there permanently. Although there are therapies available, symptoms typically persist. And because of this, therapy must also be used often.
It's typical for stomach fluids to back up into the esophagus. People who do not have acid reflux disease can also experience it. However, in patients with acid reflux, the stomach contents contain more acid than is typical, and the acid has a tendency to linger in the esophagus for a longer period of time.
Of course, the human body has its own defenses against the damaging effects of the refluxed acids. The salivary glands in the mouth are one example of such. Saliva is a fluid that is produced by these glands and includes bicarbonate. Bicarbonate-containing saliva travels into the esophagus when we swallow.
Bicarbonates have the power to neutralize acids that can still be present in the body from a previous regurgitation. Additionally, research has indicated that the majority of reflux cases occur during the day. People are typically standing upright at this time. Gravity helps to reduce reflux because it forces the stomach contents to come back down. Additionally, when awake, people frequently swallow. The advantages that saliva has in lowering the level of acids in the throat are maximized by this procedure.
The maintenance of the esophagus depends on the body's inherent defense mechanisms, which have been highlighted. However, a human must be upright in order for gravity, swallowing, and saliva to function. Gravity isn't much of a help while people are asleep at night. Additionally, swallowing is prevented, and saliva output is reduced. Because the acids stay in the esophagus longer and inflict more damage, acid reflux that occurs at night worsens and causes more serious sores.
Obese and pregnant women are more likely to get acid reflux. Because the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that keeps stomach contents from flowing back to the esophagus, is under less pressure during pregnancy and with high levels of fat in the body, these factors can produce acid reflux. Because less force is needed to hold the partially digested contents down, they will return more easily. Additionally, because of the growing fetus in the womb, pressure in the belly increases in pregnant women.
The body can be assisted in reducing the frequency of reflux by a variety of means. Positional therapy is among the simplest to apply. When sleeping, you can achieve this by raising your head and body. Pillows, which are readily available, can be positioned to raise the torso by about six to eight inches. The most efficient way to prevent reflux is in this position. According to surveys, using the higher recommended height leads to greater efficiency.
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