The story of nighttime heartburn
>> Wednesday, January 2, 2013 –
Acid Reflux,
Article,
Heart
An article by
Dr Asghar Ali Shah
Homeopathic Physician
Published in The News International on May 17, 2010
Acid reflux is a condition in which the stomach refluxes or backs up its liquid content to the esophagus i.e. food pipe and causes severe heartburn right in the middle of the chest. This discomfort is also known as GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease). According to one study, nearly three-quarters of patients with frequent GERD symptoms experience them at night. Patients with nighttime GERD also tend to experience more severe pain than those whose symptoms occur at other times.
One study found that patients with night-time pain reported levels of severity that were similar to those reported in angina and congestive heart failure. Physiologically speaking acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter or LES, (the valve between stomach and esophagus) does not work properly, and allows acid to seep upwards from the stomach to the esophagus. The severity of the acid reflux depends on LES’ muscle tone, the type and quantity of liquid that refluxes from the stomach and the natural ability of the esophagus muscles to cleanse the bottom of the esophagus.
It’s interesting to note that with most individuals who suffer from acid reflux, the concentration of acid in their stomachs is much higher than with people who don’t experience reflux. Moreover, it has been found that among heartburn sufferers, the acidic liquid of the stomach comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus and stays there longer than it does among persons who do not suffer from this problem. Patients with acid reflux say that the spicy food, fizzy drinks, tea, coffee and smoking increase their suffering.
Some more common causes of acid reflux are hiatal hernia, obesity and numerous allopathic medicines. Acid reflux is a complex condition triggered by many factors.
Physicians are still finding this incapacitating condition so hard to eliminate using OTC and prescription drugs. Conventional treatment consists of antacids, which cause sometimes a lot of unwanted side effects like headache, dryness, hypersensitivity and confusion.
Different studies have indicated, and many experts concurred, that the drugs that reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid from stomach also reduce a very important defence mechanism against food poisoning. Two studies conducted by scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School indicate that reducing the amount of hydrochloric acid in stomach could be a wrong thing to do. Not digesting food properly also increases risks for nearly every other chronic degenerative disease. Many of us may have forgotten that the drug ‘Propulsid’ was often used for this acid reflux and subsequently pulled from the market a few years ago after it caused many deaths.
Disappointed by the allopathic treatment of acid reflux, many people look for alternatives such as homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies are prescribed by symptoms rather than the name of disease, as each case of a particular illness can manifest differently in different people. Pain, for instance, can be dull, sharp, burning, stinging, stabbing etc. A patient can help his/her homeopathic physician by giving the minute details regarding his/her feelings.
A homeopathic physician can prescribe with accuracy if he gets the exact emotional and physical symptoms from the patient. Homeopathic system of medicine tackles the problem holistically i.e. from the root and restores the inner natural intestinal and esophageal environment balance. Homeopathic treatment is safe and gentle, without side-effects. And it treats in totality, leading to an actual cure, rather than a temporary suppression of symptoms.
Dr Asghar Ali Shah
Homeopathic Physician
Published in The News International on May 17, 2010
Acid reflux is a condition in which the stomach refluxes or backs up its liquid content to the esophagus i.e. food pipe and causes severe heartburn right in the middle of the chest. This discomfort is also known as GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease). According to one study, nearly three-quarters of patients with frequent GERD symptoms experience them at night. Patients with nighttime GERD also tend to experience more severe pain than those whose symptoms occur at other times.
One study found that patients with night-time pain reported levels of severity that were similar to those reported in angina and congestive heart failure. Physiologically speaking acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter or LES, (the valve between stomach and esophagus) does not work properly, and allows acid to seep upwards from the stomach to the esophagus. The severity of the acid reflux depends on LES’ muscle tone, the type and quantity of liquid that refluxes from the stomach and the natural ability of the esophagus muscles to cleanse the bottom of the esophagus.
It’s interesting to note that with most individuals who suffer from acid reflux, the concentration of acid in their stomachs is much higher than with people who don’t experience reflux. Moreover, it has been found that among heartburn sufferers, the acidic liquid of the stomach comes into contact with the lining of the esophagus and stays there longer than it does among persons who do not suffer from this problem. Patients with acid reflux say that the spicy food, fizzy drinks, tea, coffee and smoking increase their suffering.
Some more common causes of acid reflux are hiatal hernia, obesity and numerous allopathic medicines. Acid reflux is a complex condition triggered by many factors.
Physicians are still finding this incapacitating condition so hard to eliminate using OTC and prescription drugs. Conventional treatment consists of antacids, which cause sometimes a lot of unwanted side effects like headache, dryness, hypersensitivity and confusion.
Different studies have indicated, and many experts concurred, that the drugs that reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid from stomach also reduce a very important defence mechanism against food poisoning. Two studies conducted by scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School indicate that reducing the amount of hydrochloric acid in stomach could be a wrong thing to do. Not digesting food properly also increases risks for nearly every other chronic degenerative disease. Many of us may have forgotten that the drug ‘Propulsid’ was often used for this acid reflux and subsequently pulled from the market a few years ago after it caused many deaths.
Disappointed by the allopathic treatment of acid reflux, many people look for alternatives such as homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies are prescribed by symptoms rather than the name of disease, as each case of a particular illness can manifest differently in different people. Pain, for instance, can be dull, sharp, burning, stinging, stabbing etc. A patient can help his/her homeopathic physician by giving the minute details regarding his/her feelings.
A homeopathic physician can prescribe with accuracy if he gets the exact emotional and physical symptoms from the patient. Homeopathic system of medicine tackles the problem holistically i.e. from the root and restores the inner natural intestinal and esophageal environment balance. Homeopathic treatment is safe and gentle, without side-effects. And it treats in totality, leading to an actual cure, rather than a temporary suppression of symptoms.
