Definition
Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease is a lower oesophageal sphincter issue where the sphincter relaxes and acid regurgitates from the stomach into the oesophagus. The dysfunctioning of the sphincter to the stomach.
It’s a condition that can be reversed but will depend on the amount of time you have had it and the damage that has already been done to your sphincter in the lower oesphagus.
Causes
Some of the causes of this condition can be:-
- Gluten Intolerance
- H Pylori (Get tested may be a reason for low stomach acid)
- Hiatus Hernia
- Trigger Foods
- Stress
- Low Stomach Acid * (See Below For Hot to Test For This)
- Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
Diagnosis & Risks
You may be able to identify this condition by an increase in mucus. There may also be a risk of Ulcers too. So it might be an idea to get checked to ensure that these are not causing you an issue.
Be aware that your doctor can misdiagnose this as a cardiac pathology so be clear with your symptoms so that all the information is relayed.
Reflux Related Symptoms
- Postnasal drip (respiratory reflux)
- Chronic throat clearing (respiratory reflux)
- Lump in throat sensation (respiratory reflux)
- Hoarseness (respiratory reflux)
- Shortness of breath (trouble getting air in)
- Chronic throat clearing (respiratory reflux)
- Excessive throat mucus (respiratory reflux)
- Nocturnal Reflux
- Regurgitation
- Heartburn
- Chest pain
- Choking episodes
- Vocal fatigue
- Voice breaks
- Chronic cough
- Dysphagia
- Difficulty swallowing
- Wheezing
- Food getting stuck in the throat
- Airway obstruction
- Nasal congestion
- Nausea
Watch out too for any dark sticky stools that pay partially contain blood. This could be caused by internal bleeding or the swallowing of blood.
If you have any breathing issues this would be a red flag issue and you will need to see your doctor as quickly as you can.
Complications
Antacids can contain aluminum, which is a heavy metal and can be seriously detrimental to your health and wellbeing. Best to control this with diet over medications.
Phases of GORD
PHASE 4
This is the worst stage and may need medical help. You may be unable to recover on your own and may need support. The entire GIT (gastro-intestinal tract) will need to be supported. And you may well have many other symptoms that are concerning you. Check the body symptoms list to see where you are. You may want to see your doctor and as for a functional test called oesophageal function testing.
PHASE 3
If you have come from stage 4 then you know you are improving but its early days and so you need to refocus on your goals. It would be easy to regress to old ways now but stay strong and on track as what you doing is working. You can assess yourself again by retaking the Reflux quiz. This will motivate you to stay and keep on track. Another way would be to fill in the “Body Symptoms” Quiz. It may take weeks to months in this phase, depending on how long you have had the reflux inflammation and condition.
PHASE 2
Symptoms are getting much better and clearing up. What you need to do now is to keep going and not give up on your diet plan for alleviating these symptoms. Try to cut down on any reflux medications at this point to give yourself the best chance to heal properly and stop reliance on any PPI’s. Be careful if you are traveling or going on holiday your new regime still applies or you will be heading to phase 3 rather than remission.
REMISSION
This is your goal at all times to be reflux free! So set your sites on this and make it clear. Check out the Mindset course for help with this. When you reach remission there is no point re-introducing the old foods that will just trigger the reflux again. Stick to the Reset phase and a whole-food, plant-based diet for best long term results. You can start to re-introduce some of the other whole-foods as found in the ultimate shopping list. We would recommend that you do that one food items at a time to ensure there are no food intolerances or allergies associated with those foods and prevention of flare up.
SELF ASSESSMENT for GORD
Assess yourself with the questions below to find out how severe your reflux is –
0 means you have no issues with this and 5 means it is a real issue and at its highest, you have ever felt it.
GORD Quiz
GORD Quiz
Medications You Might Be On or Prescribed
These are some of the Typical Medications The doctor will give you for reflux.
There are 2 forms.
- PPI – Proton Pump Inhibitors and
- HsA’s which are H2-Antagonists.
Both come with side effects and are not your magic pill.
If you have been taking PPI’s for a long time then you may feel some of the side effects like :-
- Rebound hyperacidity
- Diarrhea
- Pain in the abdominal region.
- Bloating
PPI’s are stronger than H2A’s, so be careful. If you have been on PPI’s for years you may want to ask your doctor to see how you can come off them. Tell your doctor about your new diet and lifestyle regime that you will be on so that your Dr. can see you making positive and proactive changes.
Other medications that can be used for the upper digestive tract and oesophagus are prokinetic agents, Neuropathic syndrome medications and over the counter liquids.
Prokinetic agents are used to helping the functioning of the oesophageal tract. Such as the motility of the chewed foods that are swallowed into the oesophageal tract.
The neuropathic medications are for the nervous system as the main nerve that runs through the throat, vocal area, ear, oesophagus, heart, intestines, liver & gallbladder. These medications would be used to help the nerves of the digestive tract. A damaged nerve(s) could result in a nasty virus and throat infection. These conditions may not resolve with reflux medications alone.
There are also over the counter liquids like ant-acids and Gavisgon.
PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS
- Dexlansoprazole – DEXILANT
- Esomeprazole – NEXIUM
- Lansoprazole – PREVACID
- Omeprazole – PRILOSEC
- Omeprazole/Bicarb – ZEGERID
- Pantoprazole – PROTONIX
- Rabeprazole – ACIPHEX
H2-ANTAGONISTS
- Cimetidine – TAGAMET
- Famtidien – PEPCID
- Ranitidine – ZANTAC
PROKINETIC AGENTS
If you want to be successful and help your body to heal. Then you need to know the answer to these and make your goals pretty clear in your mindset. For more on MINDSET click here
Your Stomach & It’s Importance
- burping,
- hiccups,
- wheezing,
- nausea,
- horseless or
- constant sore throat and for some bloody stool or bloody vomiting see your doctor if this happens as it’s a red flag signal to you something is wrong.
7 Major Functions of Stomach Acid
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Stops pathogens & bacteria
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Starts the protein digestion in your body
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Activates pepsinogen to the active form pepsin which is the enzyme needed to break down dietary protein
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Activates intrinsic factor which is the glycoprotein that is used in the absorption of vitamin B12
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Stimulates the production of bile and pancreatic enzymes. A high pH will see a cascade of undigested foods through the digestive system.
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Helps close the upper oesophageal sphincter, which is the flap that separates the stomach from the oesophagus. So if the stomach acid is not strong enough you will get acid reflux symptoms
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Regulates the opening of the pyloric sphincter which is responsible for moving the contents from the stomach to the small intestine.
Testing Your Stomach Acid Levels
ACID REFLUX
So if you are someone who has acid reflux today then there are a number of things that you can do straight away to reduce the severity of your reflux symptoms and also some long term resolution strategies that we will also get into.
Quick Interventions for Short Term Relief
Apple Cider Vinegar (AVC)
Take a teasooon of AVC with water 30 minutes before a meal and help the stomach to prepare its HCL. By cooking and prepareing food the stomach is also triggerd to produce HCL which is why fast food is not necessariy helpful in terms of our digestion. Convenience is only good for your time not your health.
Try this and see how you get on. Continue to repair the gut and your digestion will soon come back on track.
Chewing on Root Ginger
FINDING THE CAUSE
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Food Sensitivies
Get to Your Normal BMI Range
Don’t Eat or Drink 3 Hours Before Bed
Digestive Issues?
Ditch The Caffeine & Alchohol
Probitic Rich Foods
Additional Help From Bio-Care
Simple Stomach Acid Home Test
Baking Soda Test
2nd TEST
- HCL secretion aids in protein digestion
- It activates the protein digesting enzyme pepsin
- Fights off undesirable overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach and small intestines
- It also encourages the flow of bile and pancratic enzymes
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You need to eat on an empty stomach
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Eat a fist size portion of high protein food like seitan, tofu, chickpeas or quinoa and add some salad leaves.
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After take a capsule of HCL then finish the meal
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Pay particular notice on how you feel over the next hour
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If you feel small amount of indigestion
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Acid reflux
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Burping and do not normally produce these then you are producing enough HCL