How To Use Pillows And Positional Therapy For Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is a chronic disease that seldom goes away once you have got it. Acid reflux occurs after eating. After a non-sufferer of acid reflux eats, the food passes down the throat and esophagus and through a one-way trap-door into the stomach where acids begin the process of breaking down the food before letting it flow on into the intestines for further processing.
However, after a sufferer of acid reflux eats, the food goes through that trap-door, mixes with the acids and then somehow pushes against the trap-door which gives way, permitting the food and acid to re-enter the esophagus. Now, since these acids are designed to attack and dissolve tissue, this is very bad news for the sufferer as his esophagus will be attacked as well.
This acid reflux (or flow of acid) into the esophagus can cause inflammation and discomfort, heartburn, and regurgitation. Unfortunately, once the hinges on that trap-door have been broken and have started to permit the door to open both ways, there is not much chance that they will repair themselves on their own. In fact, the chances are that they will just get worse.
In truth, everyone gets a bit of reflux from time to time, but the acid in the sufferer is stronger and the mixture remains in the esophagus longer, which is what causes the situation to become a difficulty.
The body has developed a natural way of countering the mild acid reflux in healthy people and it is known as saliva. Saliva is alkaline, so while you swallow hundreds of times a day, your saliva counteracts the acid. Most people experience reflux after eating, which is obviously normally done during the day when we are usually in an upright position. Swallowing saliva also happens usually in the daytime.
I am certain that you can see a pattern here: reflux is in the daytime when we can swallow saliva to counteract it and while the force of gravity will inhibit the acid rising up from the stomach.
Most sufferers of acid reflux get difficulties at night, whilst gravity cannot help and the swallowing of saliva is at a minimum. Therefore, the acid, untreated by alkaline saliva, stays in the esophagus burning and irritating it.
The pregnant and the obese are most at risk of experiencing acid reflux because of the extra abdominal mass.
So, how do you deal with this chronic condition? Well, you should obviously consult your doctor, who may recommend alkaline tablets, but if you want to help yourself as well, you could lose weight if you are obese; not eat late at night or even late evening; reduce the fat you ingest and sleep with more pillows to raise your head and torso. You will need to carry out trials with these home remedies to find out what suits you.
You may find that not eating after eight is OK for you, or it may be six o’ clock. You might find that not eating meat or cheese after lunch will do it for you and you may find that raising your head six or eight inches on extra pillows at night will help too.
Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a variety of subjects, but is now involved with Marriott bedding. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Modern Throw Pillows For Sale.