Acid reflux
**Acid reflux** (also called **gastroesophageal reflux** or **GER**) occurs when stomach acid flows backward into the esophagus, the tube connecting your throat to your stomach. This happens when the **lower esophageal sphincter (LES)**—a ring of muscle that acts as a valve between the esophagus and stomach—weakens or relaxes abnormally, allowing acid to escape.
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### **Key Symptoms**
- **Heartburn**: A burning sensation in the chest or throat (most common symptom).
- **Regurgitation**: Sour or bitter-tasting acid backing up into the throat or mouth.
- **Difficulty swallowing** (dysphagia).
- **Chronic cough** or sore throat.
- **Hoarse voice** (especially in the morning).
- **Feeling of a lump in the throat** (globus sensation).
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### **Causes & Triggers**
1. **Dietary Triggers**:
- Spicy, fatty, or acidic foods (e.g., citrus, tomatoes, chocolate, coffee, alcohol).
- Large meals or eating late at night.
2. **Lifestyle Factors**:
- Obesity (increased abdominal pressure).
- Smoking (weakens the LES).
- Lying down or bending over after eating.
3. **Medical Conditions**:
- Hiatal hernia (part of the stomach pushes into the chest).
- Pregnancy (hormonal changes and pressure on the stomach).
- Delayed stomach emptying (gastroparesis).
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### **Complications**
If left untreated, chronic acid reflux can lead to:
- **GERD** (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease): Frequent reflux (occurring ≥2 times/week).
- **Esophagitis**: Inflammation or erosion of the esophagus lining.
- **Barrett’s Esophagus**: Precancerous changes in esophageal tissue.
- **Strictures**: Narrowing of the esophagus due to scarring.
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### **Treatment & Management**
1. **Lifestyle Changes**:
- Avoid trigger foods and eat smaller meals.
- Wait 2–3 hours after eating before lying down.
- Elevate the head of your bed 6–8 inches (prevents nighttime reflux).
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Quit smoking.
2. **Medications**:
- **Antacids** (e.g., Tums, Rolaids): Neutralize stomach acid (short-term relief).
- **H2 Blockers** (e.g., famotidine, ranitidine): Reduce acid production.
- **Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)** (e.g., omeprazole, esomeprazole): Block acid production long-term.
3. **Surgery**:
- **Fundoplication**: Wrapping the top of the stomach around the LES to strengthen it.
- **LINX device**: A magnetic ring implanted around the LES to prevent reflux.
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### **When to See a Doctor**
- Symptoms persist despite lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications.
- Difficulty swallowing or pain while swallowing.
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Chest pain (to rule out heart conditions).
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### **Quick Tips for Relief**
- Sip **ginger tea** or chew sugar-free gum (stimulates saliva to neutralize acid).
- Avoid tight clothing that presses on your abdomen.
- Sleep on your **left side** (reduces reflux compared to the right side).
Acid reflux is common and manageable, but chronic symptoms require medical evaluation to prevent complications like GERD or esophageal damage.