Acid Reflux Disease

Acid reflux disease is also called heartburn and is very unpleasant. It can be caused by many things: bad diet, stress, or just a wonky stomach which produces too much acid. Basically, it is when stomach acid is too strong and bubbles up into the throat, causing pain and burning. It can potentially damage the esophous and its walls, which is really dangerous over the long run. The way it is usually treated is with medicine that reduces stomach acidity, causing the pain to dissipate. According to the website of Nexium, a pill used to treat acid reflux disease, “Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter – the valve separating the esophagus and stomach—does not close properly, allowing acid to back up into the esophagus.”

I've always found that pills are unnecessary to treat this damaging condition acid reflux disease, which I used to suffer from myself. Basically, I would overeat fatty, or starchy foods, and there would be the acid, slowly burning a hole in my esophogus. When it got too bad and I couldn't put up with it any more, I decided to do something about it: I switched to a diet of nothing but vegetables, grains, and an occasional bit of starch, and began to eat smaller and more frequent meals instead of huge fatty meals which I used to eat.

I still get acid reflux disease sometimes when I'm under lots of stress. This is common, according to many doctors, who say that stress is a chronic contributing factor to many diseases of the stomach. Instead of worrying until my stomach twists itself into knots and propels acid reflux disease upwards into my throat, I stop and take several deep breaths to calm myself. I then think of something peaceful. One of my favorite is a lovely blue sky shining over a placid, beautiful beach with the ocean in the background. Even telling it to you right now, I can see it and hear the gentle lapping of the waves on the beach as the ocean falls and rises, falls and rises. When I picture this placid scene, combined with the calls of seaguls and the feel of the breeze on my cheek, and the warmth of the sun, I just can't stay stressed out, and my whole body and mind calm down immediately. This loosens my stomachs violent churning, and makes the acid settle down right to where it is supposed to be, instead of getting all up in my throat.