So much happens in your digestive system, from ingestion to excretion, so that your body can absorb, retain, and remove waste. As a result, acid reflux is one of the common issues that affect the digestive tract. This chronic digestive disorder occurs when the food pipe lining gets acidity irritations from bile or stomach acid. These pains that usually commence after eating and aggravates when you lie flat can only be dealt with by a gastroenterologist. Your Cypress acid reflux expert, Dr. Bharat Pothuri, MD, FACG and his team at GastroDoxs PLLC will help offer solutions to your acid reflux.
What causes acid reflux?
Acid reflux occurs when the esophagus’ lower sphincter muscle relaxes at the wrong time, thus, forcing the stomach acid to pile in your esophagus. When the pile backs up, you start developing heartburn. Frequent heartburn and acid reflux eventually result in GERD. You will know you are suffering from acid reflux when you have regular bouts of acid regurgitation and heartburn. However, not everyone suffers from GERD with heartburns. Rather, you may have other symptoms like chest pains, trouble swallowing, or feeling hoarse, especially in the morning. Though the condition is common and mostly ignored, stomach acid will cause bleeding when your esophagus’ lining is damaged.
Other causes of acid reflux are:
- Being overweight
- Laying down after a meal
- Having a snack close to bedtime
- Abundant intake of citrus, spicy foods, chocolate, and tomatoes
- Intake of alcohol, coffee, or carbonated beverages
- Smoking
- Eating large meals
What drinks are recommended when you have acid reflux?
Water is good and your gastroenterologist will recommend drinking lots since it helps with the systems’ digestion and hydration. Additionally, your doctor will encourage you to increase intakes of:
- Herbal tea
- Fruit juice
- Smoothies
- Low-fat milk
- Plant-based milk
- Coconut water
What treatments are available for acid reflux?
When diet changes have no positive impact on your symptoms, your doctor might suggest prescription medication or surgery. When left untreated, acid reflux that damages your esophagus lining may result in GERD.
What are acid reflux’s signs and symptoms?
You will know you have developed acid reflux when you show various symptoms. These signs include:
- Wheezing
- Nausea
- Sore throat
- Regurgitation
- Chronic cough
- Burning sensation in the chest
- Difficulty in swallowing
How long does it take for acid reflux to heal?
If not managed, acid reflux can cause severe damages to your digestive system. However, there is no specific stipulated time taken for the disorder to heal. However, the rate of your healing improves the more the acid is suppressed.
What other services does a gastroenterologist offer?
Other than acid reflux, a gastroenterologist also treats and offers services for:
- IBD
- Dysphagia
- Rectal bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Colon cancer
- Colonoscopy
Research shows that an estimated population of 20% of Americans suffer from acid reflux and Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Do not become part of the statistics when you can book an appointment with an expert gastroenterologist from GastroDoxs PLLC. You can also get more information by calling the facility or requesting an appointment online .
