Acid Reflux
To eat we
place food in our mouths, chew it between our teeth to grind the food
up, and then we swallow the food. When we swallow, the ground down food
pieces pass through the esophagus and continues to the stomach. Once
inside the stomach, gastric juices, or stomach acids are produced to
further breakdown the food we have eaten to aid in the digestion of
food. The stomach has a lining that protects it from the erosive nature
of this acid.
When too much stomach acid is produced it can backup into the esophagus and this is what is known as acid reflux. Some people may experience a bout of acid reflux after eating a Mexican or other spicy meal. This is because some spices and foods can cause an over production of stomach acids. In other people acid reflux can become a chronic condition in which the stomach overproduces stomach acids not just when something is eaten, but at other times such as while sleeping for example. Chronic bouts of acid reflux can damage the esophagus which does not have a protective lining to safeguard it from caustic acids backing up from the stomach. A damaged esophagus can lead to swallowing and other problems if left untreated.
Avoiding heavy spices and foods that can cause the overproduction of stomach acids is usually recommended to reduce the instances of acid reflex. Medications to reduce the amount of stomach acids being produced in the stomach is warranted in some cases.
When too much stomach acid is produced it can backup into the esophagus and this is what is known as acid reflux. Some people may experience a bout of acid reflux after eating a Mexican or other spicy meal. This is because some spices and foods can cause an over production of stomach acids. In other people acid reflux can become a chronic condition in which the stomach overproduces stomach acids not just when something is eaten, but at other times such as while sleeping for example. Chronic bouts of acid reflux can damage the esophagus which does not have a protective lining to safeguard it from caustic acids backing up from the stomach. A damaged esophagus can lead to swallowing and other problems if left untreated.
Avoiding heavy spices and foods that can cause the overproduction of stomach acids is usually recommended to reduce the instances of acid reflex. Medications to reduce the amount of stomach acids being produced in the stomach is warranted in some cases.