What Are The Symptoms of Acid Indigestion?

Posted on January 23, 2012 by ElenaJayson

Most people suffer from acid indigestion from time to time. It is commonly used to describe a feeling of fullness after eating. In more severe cases, pain in the stomach or even a burning sensation (otherwise known as heartburn), may also be present.

When felt occasionally, acid indigestion is not usually something to worry much about. But, when these symptoms crop up more often – or are accompanied by other signs – than something more serious like gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or even an ulcer may be present.

What Does Indigestion Feel Like?

Acid indigestion is sometimes called dyspepsia. It is usually caused when the stomach begins to produce too much acid after a large meal, making you feel uncomfortable for a time – or until the digestive system can process it (and the food you have eaten).

So, how do you know that what you are feeling is just acid indigestion nd not something more serious? Some of the most common signs and symptoms of acid indigestion include:

Bloating – your stomach and abdomen may look physically bloated after eating, or you may just have a full feeling that won’t go away.
Burping (or gas) – this is temporarily caused by the influx of stomach acid in the digestive tract that is working its way through the body. While it may be embarrassing, allowing yourself to burp (or worse) can offer real relief.
Nausea or Vomiting – in severe cases of acid indigestion, the acid production in the stomach may be so heavy that it actually causes purging by the body to get rid of it.
A sour taste in the back of the throat – when acid production is high, you may actually be able to taste it in the back of your throat; especially when acid reflux or GERD is also present.
Stomach growling – this is a sign from your stomach that there’s more going on in there than normal digestion.
Pain or Burning in the stomach – Some people experience a burning sensation in the stomach with indigestion; while others get an actual stomachache. Note; heartburn, or a burning sensation in the chest is another problem altogether, although it does begin with acid indigestion. When heartburn occurs, those stomach acids are actually beginning to back up into the esophagus.

Danger Signs of Acid Indigestion

In most cases, acid indigestion comes and goes without causing any real medical trouble. However, in some rare cases, ulcers, infections and even thyroid disease could be an underlying cause of your tummy troubles and need to be treated by a doctor.

If you are experiencing any of the following danger signs with acid indigestion, call your doctor right away:

Vomiting that resembles coffee grounds
Bloody vomit
Weight loss
Black, tarry stools
Severe pain (especially in the upper or lower right side of the abdomen)
Stomach discomfort that is not related to eating

How to Avoid Acid Indigestion?

If you find that acid indigestion is becoming more common, you may need to make a few alterations to your eating habits and lifestyle in order to relieve your symptoms. Here are some common things you can do right away to help stop acid indigestion from forming.

Eat Smaller Meals

The less food you give your stomach at one sitting, the less it has to work and this is a good way to keep it from going into overdrive when it comes to producing digestive juices. Most doctors recommend eating smaller amounts of food more often throughout the day when experiencing bouts of acid indigestion.

Eat Slowly

When you eat too quickly (or on the run), you tend to swallow more air, and this can lead to higher acid production in the stomach.

Take a Break After Meals

Take time out to relax after meals. Not only can it relieve stress, but it can help aid digestion and keep you from feeling full and uncomfortable.

Don’t Drink During Meals

Take fluids after meals; not while eating. This too will help aid proper digestion.

Avoid Alcohol and Spicy Foods

Both can bolster acid production in the stomach, which causes indigestion and reflux.

Acid indigestion is so common, that most of us will experience its painful side effects some time in the next few months. But, knowing its regular symptoms and comparing them to how we are feeling can help each of us make a determination in regards to whether or not to seek medical help for our discomfort.

When handled correctly, acid indigestion can be nothing more than an occasional nuisance that needs rest and antacids. But, left untreated for long periods of time, it can become a real medical problem that needs to be dealt with before it causes serious risks to your well being.

Acupuncture and GERD (Acid Reflux)

Posted on January 20, 2012 by JadeShea

For many sufferers, GERD is a persistent problem, despite changes in diet and lifestyle. Even medication may not be fully effective at treating GERD. Surgical procedures are both expensive and invasive, leaving many people to suffer from chronic GERD without relief. They may increase their GERD medication to try and achieve some form of relief but this comes with dangerous consequences.

Dangers of PPIs

Proton pump inhibitors, otherwise known as PPIs have been found to damage your body’s ability to absorb calcium. This can lead to other health conditions, like osteoporosis – deterioration of the bones. While you can counteract this effect, somewhat, by increasing your carotenoid intake, the fact remains that PPIs are not safe to continue for long periods of time. As recommended by Mayo Clinic, if you are taking PPIs for more than a year, you should be tested for calcium absorption.

The problem is that PPIs are the most commonly used method of treatment for GERD, despite the fact that not all GERD issues are related to stomach acid. PPIs inhibit the production of stomach acid but since approximately half of all GERD occurrences are not related to stomach acid production, it makes sense why so many GERD sufferers fail to find relief from PPIs.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has been used for centuries to heal various ailments. It is done by stimulating focal points on the body through the use of needles. The focal point is determined by the specific ailment of the sufferer. It has been used to treat everything from intestinal problems to fertility issues.

Acupressure is similar to acupuncture in the fact that it uses specific points on the body. It is different, however, because it does not implement the use of needles for treatment. Instead, pressure is placed on the specified focal points to achieve healing and treatment.

Acupuncture for GERD

Because acupuncture aims to heal the entire digestive system, not just GERD, the results are not dependent on the reason that GERD occurs. This means that, whether your GERD is a result of a weakened esophageal sphincter or it is because of excessive stomach acid production, acupuncture may be able to help.

Does it Really Work?

Of course, the real question is, does it work? For individuals that have never participated in holistic, natural or homeopathic healing, making the jump to believe that a few needles in the body could treat a health condition might be pretty challenging. There is, however, some evidence that acupuncture may be beneficial for GERD sufferers.

One study, conducted by the Neuroenteric Clinical Research Group, tested to see if the use of acupuncture was more effective at treating GERD than doubling the dose of PPI inhibitors. Thirty patients who were not receiving relief from a once-a-day PPI dosing participated in the study. Participants were divided into two groups – one group received a second dosing of PPIs and the other group received their once daily dosing along with acupuncture. According to the results of the study, the group that received acupuncture and once daily dosing received more GERD relief than the group that was given a double dose of PPIs.

A recent Australian study also took a look at GERD treatment via the use of acupuncture. In this study, however, there was no comparison made to PPI use. Instead, researchers used a focal point on the wrist to actually induce relaxations of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, which is the set of muscles that often weakens in GERD. After they induced the relaxations, they used a current to reduce the number of sphincter relaxations. In the study, relaxations of the sphincter were reduced by 40%. This study still needs more evidence to prove its promising results but it does add evidence to the efficacy of acupuncture to treat GERD.

Acupuncture vs. Acupressure

It is not clear whether acupuncture or acupressure is more effective. Personal preference may be a determining factor in which treatment option is best. Those that are nervous about the use of needles may prefer acupressure, but they may or may not find relief.

Should You Use Acupuncture to Treat Your GERD?

Since the evidence is not clear as to whether or not acupuncture is truly effective at treating GERD, it would be more of an experimental option. Be aware, however, that many people have found GERD relief through acupuncture. Just be certain that, if you do choose acupuncture, you see only a licensed professional. If performed incorrectly, acupuncture can be dangerous or harmful.

Overall, as long as you are seeing a licensed professional, the effects of acupuncture are harmless. Even if it does not work, then you lose out on nothing more than some of your time and money. Unlike PPIs, there are no health conditions that can occur, as long as acupuncture is conducted professionally and safely. For those that are not finding relief through the use of PPIs or have been taking PPIs for a long period of time, it may be an alternative to try.

Baby GERD (Acid Reflux) Symptoms and Treatment

Posted on December 29, 2011 by JadeShea

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD, is often considered an adult condition. However, infants and children can suffer from GERD as well. In fact, it is estimated that around 50% of infants have mild to severe acid reflux. It is also estimated that around 85% of premature infants have some form of acid reflux.

GERD in infants is often misdiagnosed. This is due to, in part, the fact that few people – including doctors – consider the presence of GERD in a baby. It is also due to the fact that the baby cannot articulate where they are hurting or why. It is because of the frequent misdiagnosis that you, as a parent, should be aware of the symptoms of infant GERD as well as the treatment methods that may be used. By doing this, you can help your child manage, heal from or cope with their acid reflux disease.

Symptoms of GERD in Infants

Infants generally cry when they are in pain and this is the most common symptom of GERD. When an infant cries from GERD pain, it is generally sudden and it can closely resemble the cry that an infant might make if they have colic. This is one of the barriers to effective diagnosis of GERD in infants.

Other symptoms can include irritability, trouble sleeping or frequent night time waking, arching of the neck or back during or after feeding, frequent ear infections, wheezing, sinus congestion, excessive drooling, spitting up frequently, vomiting, wet burps, frequent hiccups, anemia, aversion to food, food refusal or small meals, sinus infections, apnea, asthma, pneumonia, intentional gagging with fingers or fist, weight loss, failure to thrive, poor weight gain, frequent red throat without infection, chronic hoarseness, dental erosion and bad breath.

Infants with GERD do not need to display all symptoms to have GERD. One or more symptoms can be an indicator of GERD, particularly if the symptoms persist. If you notice any of these symptoms in your infant and they do not subside within a few days, you should contact your child’s pediatrician.

Lifestyle Changes for Infant GERD

Lifestyle changes are usually the first plan of action when treating an infant with GERD. While some of the natural treatments may seem a little inconvenient, they often lead to a happier baby, which means that you will spend less time consoling a cranky, fussy baby.

Breastfeeding is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for at least the first six months of life. Breastfeeding is also extremely beneficial for babies with GERD. This is because breast milk is digested faster and easier by babies than formula. If you cannot breastfeed, then you should choose an infant formula that is not milk based. A wide variety of formula options now exist and you should try different formula options until you find one that works best.

You may also find that your baby responds well to thickening of their liquid feedings. This is done by adding a small amount of infant cereal to breast milk or formula. Thickening helps by adding more weight to the liquid feeding, preventing it from sloshing around in the stomach as much and making it harder for it to come back up through the esophagus. It can also add extra calories for babies that are having a hard time gaining weight because of their GERD. Before using this treatment option, however, you should talk to your child’s pediatrician.

Babies with GERD should be propped up for at least 30 minutes after feeding. This will ensure that food has time to digest before you lay them down. This will reduce the severity and occurrence of food regurgitation.

Restrictive clothing and car seats that allow your baby to slouch should be avoided. Restrictive clothing can put unnecessary pressure on the stomach and aggravate GERD. Slouching can also place pressure on the stomach.

You are also likely to find that your baby suffers less if you hold them more often. Studies have shown that infants that are held more often cry less. Less crying means that there is less air in the stomach, which can help to reduce GERD symptoms.

Sleeping positions of infants can also be changed. Infants with GERD often sleep better when they are propped up. They may also enjoy sleeping on their tummies but this sleeping position increases the risk to SIDS. Infants with GERD are already at a higher risk for SIDS. You should talk to your child’s doctor before placing them in any position other than a supine (back) position to sleep.

Infant massage is often soothing for baby and it can help move food through the digestive system. To perform an infant massage, use your hand to gently rub in a clockwise position on their belly. You should not perform this shortly after eating since it may cause reflux.