Heart Burn

Heart Burn / Acid Reflux / Indigestion / GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease)

Have you ever experienced acid reflux, indigestion or heart burn? These are all names that basically mean the same thing. It is when you feel discomfort (mild or severe) that feels like your esophagus (the tube from your throat to your stomach) is on fire. In a sense it is. What is happening is the acid contents from your stomach are regurgitating or “refluxing” upwards back into the esophagus and throat. The acid is literally burning the lining of your esophagus. It can be very severe. I had one patient tell me they thought they were having a heart attack in mid-flight and the plane had to make an emergency landing. Others have said they do not feel it at all but experience other symptoms like coughing and the loss of their voice. Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the name given to the condition when it is so severe and chronic that you are given a diagnosis.

• 1. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has been compromised and is no longer doing its job to keep the acid in the stomach.
• 2. The food you have eaten is taking too long to digest due to poor quality, excess quantity and stressful lifestyle; therefore it sits in the stomach undigested building pressure until the LES gives way.
• 3. Constipation and slowed movement of food through the GI tract.

The problem with the traditional treatments for heartburn and acid reflux is that they do not address the root cause. Popular anti-acids and proton pump inhibitors (TUMS, nexium, prilosec) neutralize or block acid production. This is a temporary fix but ultimately causes other issues down the road. Your body needs and makes acid for 3 very important reasons. One, it is necessary to activate protein digesting enzymes in the stomach. Without it you will compromise protein digestion. Two, is our first line of defense to kill bacteria that may enter the body by way of the food we eat. And three, the acid helps with calcium absorption and we all know how important calcium is to our bones, teeth and pH balance. We need acid and should not block it indiscriminately.

So, the best treatment for acid reflux and heartburn is to support optimal and timely digestion. We can assist you to make better dietary choices, help you slow down and manage stress and find the right digestive enzymes to meet your needs. This approach supports your true lifelong wellness and that is our goal. Call us today………..