Acid Reflux
Most people do experience some degree of acid reflux on occasion, despite the tightly regulated system of moving food into the stomach and then closing off the lower esophageal sphincter.
The body has a means to correct this. Normally, the reflux of acid from the stomach into the esophagus will stimulate muscle contractions within the esophagus to push acid back into the stomach. Swallowed saliva and bicarbonate, secreted by the esophagus, are both alkaline and can neutralize the effect of refluxed acid in the esophagus.
If the lower esophageal sphincter muscle is working normally, it should prevent acid reflux and protect the esophagus from damage caused by acid pepsin and bile. Reflux only becomes a problem when there are clear and troublesome symptoms, such as frequent excessive amounts of acid refluxed into the esophagus that are not forced back into the stomach. This reflux of acidic digestive juices into the esophagus is what causes the burning pain and the sour acid taste in the throat.
Failure of this physiological anti-reflux mechanism gives rise to the symptoms of gastro esophageal reflux, including heartburn, and injury to the esophagus characteristic of gastro esophageal reflux disease. The lower esophageal sphincter that controls the passage of food between the lower esophagus and the stomach loses its tone and is unable to prevent the backflow of acidic digestive juices.
- When the lower esophageal sphincter valve does not work as expected, other things can start to happen as a result of the open LES valve:
- Acid and digestive juices from the stomach back up into the esophagus through the open valve, often causing severe irritation to the delicate tissue of the esophagus.
- Chronic irritation to the esophageal tissue can lead to the severe inflammation and wearing away of the tissue, which might result in painful ulcers.
- Sometimes the inflamed tissue of the esophagus becomes so irritated that bleeding occurs.
- Chronic tissue irritation can lead to scar tissue formation, which causes narrowing of the esophagus, making the passage of food more difficult.
- Sometimes the chronic inflammation and ongoing irritation of tissue result in changes in the actual esophageal tissue to a pre-cancerous state that may eventually lead to esophageal cancer.
Symptoms of Gastro Esophageal or Acid Reflux
- Heartburn (a burning sensation behind the breast bone)
- Regurgitation (a feeling of food or liquids rising to the back of the throat or mouth)
- Taste of acid in the back of the throat
- Feeling of severe chest pain (not related to the heart)
- Pain not only in the chest area, but also in the back
- Upper abdominal pain with a burning feeling and nausea
- Problem with swallowing that accompanies the heartburn and acid reflux
- Chronic cough with a need to keep clearing the throat
- Hoarseness of the voice or laryngitis
