{"id":277,"date":"2021-11-08T18:21:28","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T23:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westernmichiganent.fm1.dev\/providing-comprehensive-ear-nose-throat-care\/acid-reflux\/"},"modified":"2022-09-22T13:30:31","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T17:30:31","slug":"acid-reflux","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westernmichiganent.com\/ent\/acid-reflux\/","title":{"rendered":"Acid Reflux"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [{\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is acid reflux?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a chronic digestive condition that causes painful heartburn and regurgitation for millions of Americans every year. It occurs when the contents of the stomach seep backward into the esophagus.\"\n    }\n  }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What causes reflux?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Following a meal, a valve on your esophagus \u2013 the sphincter \u2013 closes, preventing hydrochloric acid produced in the digestive process from backing up (refluxing) into the esophagus. When reflux occurs, this valve fails to seal properly, and the stomach contents flow freely into the throat and esophagus. This damages the esophageal lining and causes a variety of painful symptoms.\"\n    }\n  }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What are the risk factors of acid reflux?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Risk factors include eating large meals or lying down afterward, eating certain foods (spicy and fatty foods, citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic and onions), drinking certain beverages (alcohol, caffeine, carbonated liquids), smoking, obesity and pregnancy.\"\n    }\n }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What are the symptoms of reflux?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Heartburn is most commonly associated with GERD. Also known as acid indigestion, this burning pain radiates from the stomach to the abdomen and chest, and may last for up to two hours after a meal. It is frequently accompanied by regurgitation, a sour taste in the mouth, and dyspepsia or general stomach discomfort. Other symptoms often include belching, bloating, coughing, wheezing, hoarseness and nausea.\"\n }\n }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"How is reflux treated?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"An effective way to treat acid reflux is to avoid the triggers that cause painful heartburn and other symptoms. Stay away from those foods and beverages that are likely to cause a negative reaction. Change your eating habits: stick with smaller, more frequent meals, and avoid eating too closely to bedtime. Quit smoking, and ask your doctor if the medications you are taking might be responsible for your symptoms. If you are overweight, exercise to take off excess pounds. Over-the-counter antacids taken immediately after meals will help neutralize stomach acids and can prevent heartburn from occurring, or relieve the symptoms. For serious cases that do not respond to medical treatment, surgery may be recommended.\"\n }\n }\n ]\n  }\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a chronic digestive condition that causes painful heartburn and regurgitation for <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23853213\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">millions of Americans<\/a> every year. It occurs when the contents of the stomach seep backward into the esophagus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Causes Reflux?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"973\" src=\"https:\/\/westernmichiganent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/compressed-iStock-646361360-1280x973.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/westernmichiganent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/compressed-iStock-646361360-1280x973.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/westernmichiganent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/compressed-iStock-646361360-768x584.jpg 768w, https:\/\/westernmichiganent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/compressed-iStock-646361360-1536x1167.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/westernmichiganent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/compressed-iStock-646361360-256x195.jpg 256w, https:\/\/westernmichiganent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/compressed-iStock-646361360.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Normally, following a meal, a valve on your esophagus \u2013 the sphincter \u2013 closes, preventing hydrochloric acid produced in the digestive process from backing up (refluxing) into the esophagus. When reflux occurs, this valve fails to seal properly, and the stomach contents flow freely into the throat and esophagus. This damages the esophageal lining and causes a variety of painful symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other risk factors can help to exacerbate the condition. These include eating large meals or lying down afterward, eating certain foods (spicy and fatty foods, citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic and onions), drinking certain beverages (alcohol, caffeine, carbonated liquids), smoking, obesity and pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Symptoms of Reflux?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Heartburn is most commonly associated with GERD. Also known as acid indigestion, this burning pain radiates from the stomach to the abdomen and chest, and may last for up to two hours after a meal. It is frequently accompanied by regurgitation, a sour taste in the mouth, and dyspepsia or general stomach discomfort. Other symptoms often include belching, bloating, coughing, wheezing, <a href=\"https:\/\/westernmichiganent.com\/ent\/hoarseness\/\">hoarseness<\/a> and nausea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Symptoms occur most frequently after eating, when lying down or when bending over. They are most common at night. One common cause of GERD is a <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25965127\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hiatal hernia<\/a>, a stomach abnormality that causes the sphincter valve and upper portion of the stomach to move above the diaphragm, allowing stomach acids to reflux more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Is Reflux Treated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An effective way to treat acid reflux is to avoid the triggers that cause painful heartburn and other symptoms. Stay away from those foods and beverages that are likely to cause a negative reaction. Change your eating habits: stick with smaller, more frequent meals, and avoid eating too closely to bedtime. Quit smoking, and ask your doctor if the medications you are taking might be responsible for your symptoms. If you are overweight, exercise to take off excess pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over-the-counter antacids taken immediately after meals will help neutralize stomach acids and can prevent heartburn from occurring, or relieve the symptoms. For serious cases that do not respond to medical treatment, surgery may be recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drs. Mendians and Hengy may order several tests to determine the cause of the reflux, including esophagram and endoscopy. Treatment may involve eating smaller meals, quiting smoking and losing weight along with over the counter medications to keep the reflux under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><div class=\"content-cta\">\r\n<p>Call Western Michigan ENT at <a href=\"tel:+12313989536\" class=\"phone \"><span class=\"phone-number\">(231) 398-9536<\/span><\/a> for more information or to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a chronic digestive condition that causes painful heartburn and regurgitation for millions of Americans every year. It occurs when the contents of the stomach seep backward into the esophagus. What Causes Reflux? Normally, following a meal, a valve on your esophagus \u2013 the sphincter \u2013 closes, preventing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":233,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"[phone format=&quot;&lt;phone&gt;&quot;] | Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can lead to complications. Discover treatment options. 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