The Heartburn & Acid Reflux Blog

Achalasia

My mother had Achalasia.  Her main symptom was that food felt like it was getting stuck in the chest (in the esophagus) and not making it down to the stomach.  Eating becomes very uncomfortable and unhealthy weight loss usually follows. 

What is Achalasia?

It literarlly means incomplete relaxation of the gastroesophageal area.  It's actually cuased by the degeneration of the nerves in the esophagus, which is called the myenteric plexus.  Because it has many of the same symptoms as acid reflux and gastritis, it is often misdiagnosed as GERD, reflux, or a hiatial hernia.  If you think you have it, your doctor will have to preform a manometric study, which involves a tube being inserted into the stomach to measure the pressure in the stomach/esophagus (and, yes, according to my mother it is as unpleasant as it sounds... but after she had  a procedure done, which expanded her esophagus, she was able to return to a normal life).

More information on Achalasia:

• http://www.sts.org/doc/4120
• http://www.medicinenet.com/achalasia/article.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achalasia

Easy Test for Candida Overgrowth

Wondering if Candida overgrowth could be responsible for your digestive problems?  Here's a quick test you can do yourself (apparently, it works, though who knows if there's much science behind it):

The Fast-and-Free-Spit Test (below), though not "scientific" is quite accurate: When you awaken in the morning, before you put anything into your mouth, gather a small amount of saliva and spit it into a clear glass of water. (See illustration below.) Look at the glass every few minutes for up to 30 minutes. If there are cloudy strings hanging down from your saliva, if the saliva turned cloudy, or if your saliva sank to the bottom, you have Candida overgrowth.

Source (which includes much more information on what Candida is and what symptoms of overgrowth are): http://www.life-enthusiast.com/amino/candida.htm

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky Gut Syndrome can lead to heartburn (though it's more frequently associated with lower GI distress) along with a host of other symptoms.  If Tums, Prilosec, and other drugs haven't helped your problems (or not much anyway), then your problems might not have anything to do with the acid in your stomach.

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Basically, it's caused by permeability in the lining of the intestinal tract.  With healthy people, the walls of the intestinal tract absorb food molecules while preventing toxic materials and harmful microorganisms from escaping the bowel wall and getting into the bloodstream.  However, the lining of the intestinal tract can lose its integrity.  It weakens, then becomes loosened or inflamed, and lastly the pore-like junctions along the walls become atypically large.  This can allow partially digested food particles, toxic substances, and infectious microbes to escape into the bloodstream.  Once this happens, a person's gut is considered "leaky."

Symptoms of Leaky Gut Syndrome

Symptoms can vary widely, depending on the kinds of contaminants the guts lets slip into the bloodstream.  The symptoms can be endocrine based, metabolic, neurological, and even psychological.  Here is a partial list of possible leaky gut symptoms:

• allergic reactions
• malaise
• digestive problems (here's where heartburn can come in)
• low-grade fever
• joint problems
• hyperactivity
• nausea
• shortness of breath
• skin disorders
• reduced immune response

And that's just the partial list.  Many people can be diagnosed with illnesses, never realizing that their problems stem from a leaky gut.  For more on what causes leaky gut syndrome (and how to heal it), check out Natural Stomach Care: Treating and Preventing Digestive Disorders with the Best of Eastern and Western Healing Therapies , a book that's worth reading all the way through if you have any type of stomach or GI issues.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Ever notice how all those commercials for prescription drugs just assume you're supposed to know what those disease names they throw around are all about?  Well, you can probably guess with acid reflux, but if you're not quite sure, or don't know what the symptoms are, here's a short rundown:

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid Reflux, or GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), is the chronic refluxing (or washing up) of stomach acid into the esophagus.  Not only is it uncomfortable, but the harsh acid (which only the stomach lining can handle) can cause damage to your esophagus.  It is caused when there is a problem with the LES (lower esophageal sphincter).  Sometimes the LES relaxes too much or otherwise malfunctions, allowing that acid to creep out.  Also, a hiatal hernia can be involved.  This is the the protrusion of the upper part of the stomach into your thorax through a tear or weakness in the diaphragm. 

What Are Symptoms of Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux feels like heartburn (a burning discomfort located behind the breast bone--it can actually feel like you're having a heart attack).  If you just have heartburn once in a while, it probably isn't GERD (especially if you know it was caused by something you ate at dinner), but when it's a chronic problem, that's when you should see a doctor.  Other symptoms can include cough, hoarseness, chronic ear aches, sinusitis, or changes in your voice.  Children can also have acid reflux disease, and their symptoms are a little different than in adults.  They may have frequent vomiting, coughing, effortless spitting up, and respiratory problems.

For more information on acid reflux/GERD (and information on healing it naturally), try the following books:

No More Heartburn: Stop the Pain in 30 Days--Naturally!
Why Stomach Acid is Good for You