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When the stomach contents start to flow back up the digestive tract, causing that awful burning sensation, it is called acid reflux disorder. Often known by different names, it is condition relating to the digestive system but is related to others with similar symptoms. The digestive system uses hydrochloric acid to digest and process food. An irritable stomach means the digestive acid tries to rise up the food tract and as a consequence causes a painful burning sensation near the heart.

When food enters your stomach, a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter opens to allow food into the stomach which normally remains closed so that stomach food and acid do not flow back up into your esophagus area. However there are times when the lower esophageal sphincter does not remain closed, when this happens acid from the stomach can reflux or flow back into the esophagus. Doctors abbreviate the condition to GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disorder. At the moment it is considered that a poor diet is the underlying reason for the acid reflux problem but not the main cause of the condition; although overeating may also contribute because when you overeat, the stomach can’t keep up with the demand to process all the acids.

Too much strain is placed on the muscles of the stomach when we overeat and the result of this a build up of internal pressure. This in turn causes the esophageal valve to behave erratically leading to stomach fluids rising and causing the awful burning feeling in the chest. Reducing the amount of pressure on the esophageal valve will lessen the chance of stomach acids forcing their way back up the digestive tract. To help with this condition, adjustments need to be made with regards to the size of meals consumed, which need to be smaller but more frequent. The stomach is the doorway to the body’s health so it needs to be treated with respect. The reason for this is the stomach digests the food we eat into the nutrients required for continued good health.

The use of drugs to reduce the effects and calm the stomach can only be considered a temporary measure. These can create additional nutritional deficiencies and disease that a doctor may have a problem when diagnosing the cause. To normalize your stomachs activities or to get rid of acid reflux disorder, you need to change your eating, drinking, and thinking habits. The idea is not to overload your stomach, which will give it time to recover. It may take a while but if the number of times you experience heartburn reduces, you may be able to enjoy some of the foods you stopped eating; all the while remaining conscious of the need to take things slowly and not place stress on your stomach again.

Of course acid reflux can also be aggravated by a number of other situations; for instance:

• Smoking
• Having allergies to particular foods e.g. peanuts
• Certain medical drugs
• Drinking to much alcohol

* Lying down after a meal

Changes in lifestyle are generally all that is required to make a big difference to your life. This is all possible if you want the heartburn problem to ease. This is how you may be able to clear your acid reflux disorder completely. This is a decision which only you can make but it shouldn’t take Einstein to know what the choice should be!