One estimate is that 40% of the US population has some degree of esophageal reflux, with 20% of adults complaining of weekly episodes of heartburn and 7–10% complaining of daily the backward flow of acid, bile, and other contents from the stomach into the esophagus.
Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach itself), peptic or duodenal ulcers, and chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can result in reflux. A hiatal hernia may also result in esophageal reflux. Stress is a major factor in reducing the flow of stomach acid. During stressful situations, blood flow is shunted from the digestive organs to the brain and muscles, so they can be ready to react in case of emergency. If there is stress all the time, the stomach will never receive enough blood to adequately function in producing sufficient acid.
Age is another factor in acid production. It has been well documented that acid production decreases as we age. Some studies have shown that, on average, acid production is significantly decreased in about 50% of those over the age of 60. That doesn't mean that if you are under that age, you are producing enough acid. There are other factors that come in to play as well.
Also infections will work to reduce the production of acid. Two common culprits are H. Pylori, now known to be a major cause of stomach ulcers, and Candida Albicans. Both of these organisms like an acid free environment and will work at shutting down stomach acid production.
The most obvious symptom of esophageal reflux is heartburn. It occurs after eating and can last from a few minutes to a few hours. Heartburn feels like a burning sensation in the pit of the stomach. The pain may also move up into the chest and throat. GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) can cause esophageal scarring or Barrett's syndrome, a chronic irritation from acid-bile reflux that causes the normal esophageal lining cells to be replaced by precancerous cells. These cells are associated with an increased risk for development of cancer.
Diagnosis
An endoscopy test is used for the diagnosis of GERD. This test involves examining the esophagus through a flexible viewing tube, which can also take a biopsy to correctly identify acid reflux.
Conventional Treatment of GERD
H2 antagonists (Tagament, Pepcid, Zantac, and Axid) and antacids (Tums, Maalox, etc.) are usually the first line of treatment. If these fail to work, then proton-pump inhibitor drugs (Nexium, Prevacid, or Prilosec) are initiated. However, many physicians now prescribe proton-pump inhibitor drugs as a first-line therapy. These medications block the absorption of zinc, folic acid, B12, calcium, and iron.
Long-term use of these medications can block all stomach acid (hydrochloric acid). The stomach needs hydrochloric acid to break down proteins for digestion. Failure to do this can lead to all sorts of problems, including intestinal permeability, anemia, fatigue, increased allergy disorders, depression, anxiety, and bacterial and yeast overgrowth.
Many minerals and vitamins appear to require adequate concentrations of stomach acid to be absorbed optimally—examples are iron, zinc, and B-complex vitamins,4 including folic acid. People with achlorhydria (no stomach acid) or hypochlorhydria may therefore be at risk of developing various nutritional deficiencies, which could presumably contribute to the development of a wide range of health problems.
One of the major functions of stomach acid is to initiate the digestion of large protein molecules. If this digestive function is not performed efficiently, incompletely digested protein fragments may be absorbed into the bloodstream. The absorption of these large molecules may contribute to the development of food allergies and immunological disorders.
Are Antacids the Answer?
No! First, the esophageal sphincter is stimulated to close by the release of stomach acids. When there’s not enough stomach acid present—because antacids have neutralized them—the esophageal sphincter may not close properly. This allows acid to travel back up into the esophagus and cause heartburn, also called esophageal reflux or gastro-esophageal reflux disease—GERD. GERD is usually treated by antacids, but antacids could make the GERD worse. Acid receptors are found in the lower end of the stomach and they control the function of the Pyloric Sphincter. The Pyloric Sphincter controls how fast or slow the stomach empties. If the acid level in the stomach does not reach the right level, the Pyloric Sphincter will not open. The food is trapped in the stomach and will start to ferment. The fermentation causes gas and creates a different kind of acid that the acid receptors are not sensitive to, and the gas wants to go up. The stomach wants to empty, and the peristalsis will increase in an attempt to force the food out of the stomach. The sphincter at the top of the stomach is weaker then the Pyloric Sphincter and will give way first, letting the food and gas go up into the esophagus. This causes heartburn. This may occur without the excess acid from fermentation so no burning will occur, but damage to the esophagus can still occur.
Second, the stomach needs an acidic environment for hydrochloric acid to turn the enzyme pepsinogen into pepsin. No acid equals no pepsin, which is needed for digestion, especially protein. No protein digestion means no amino acids. No amino acids, no neurotansmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, etc.).
Last, an acidic environment is one of the body’s first lines of defense, destroying viruses, parasites, yeast, and bacteria.
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