Frequenty Asked Question About Gerd And Ulcers

By Author: Steven Johnson
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What is GERD and what causes it?

GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a problem occurring when a muscle at the bottom of the esophagus fails to close correctly and leaks stomach contents back up. This includes acid, which causes the burning in the chest and throat that gives us the term "heartburn". If you suffer from this more than once every week, it may be a sign that you have GERD.

What are Ulcers and what causes them?

Peptic ulcers are sores or lesions that form on the duodenum or stomach lining. Ulcers are caused by a type of bacterial infection, but stress and overuse of anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin, etc are known contributors.

Are there any home remedies for GERD or Ulcers?

Changing your eating habits and lifestyle is the best home remedy. The other best advice is to not try tons of crazy things that might make it worse. No milk!!!

Lose weight, cut out dairy and meat as much as you can, only lie down 3 hours after eating, and elevate your upper body when going to bed.

Great herbal remedies are gingeroot, catnip and fennel tea, and drinking 1 teaspoon ...
... of apple cider vinegar diluted in a glass of water with your meal.

Is there any way to heal the stomach lining?

Yes, in fact. First, avoid these things:

* Smoking
* Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and acetaminophen
* Alcohol
* Caffeine
* Spicy foods and drinks

Then, take supplements of zinc-carnosine and MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane). These naturally occurring compounds help the stomach lining to heal after acid damage caused by ulcers.

This essentially works for the throat and esophagus as well (so for Ulcers and GERD), because when you stop burning the tissue, the body is able to heal it naturally.

How do you treat GERD?

Doctors first recommend changes in your lifestyle. Try to lose weight, drink less alcohol, quit smoking, etc, and treat the symptoms using over-the-counter medicines like Alka-Seltzer and Pepto. If you have GERD, these probably won't cut it and you should talk to a doctor about a group of prescription medications called Proton Pump Inhibitors (PIPs), such as AcipHex.

What are PIPs?

Protein Pump Inhibitors are a class of drugs that directly stop hydrogen ions (acid) from being released into the stomach. They are currently the most effective treatment for reducing stomach acid around, which makes them the #1 prescription drug for sufferers of ulcers and GERD. They are intended for short-term use, but are often recommended by doctors for longer use. They very rarely come with any side effects. Patients using Aciphex, for example, only experience headaches, the most common side effect, at a rate of less than 1%!!!

Over the Counter Drugs aren't working. Should I try PIPs?

Only a medical professional can tell you this, but if you have changed your diet, lost weight, and tried all the over-the-counters, it is definitely the next step.

Remember, even with PIPs like AcipHex, which take some time to really help, you can still take other OTC meds such as Pepcid. These drugs often combine very well to help.