Do you experience heartburn or stomach bloating after a meal? Do you burp often after eating? Have you given up some of your favorite foods because of the burning chest pain which follows? Do you experience a nasty chemical taste in your throat more than occasionally?

What is Acid Reflux Disease?

There is a valve at the entrance to the stomach called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This LES closes as soon as food has passed through it. If it doesn't close completely or opens too often, acid produced by the stomach can travel into the esophagus, causing a burning chest pain known as heartburn.

What causes acid reflux disease?

A common cause of acid reflux disease is a a hiatal hernia. This occurs when the LES moves above the diaphragm, a muscle that separates your stomach from your chest. The diaphragm helps keep acid in our stomach. If you have a hiatal hernia, acid can move into your esophagus and cause symptoms of acid reflux disease.

Other common causes of acid reflux disease:

* Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal
* Overweight or obesity
* Eating close to bedtime
* Foods, such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, spicy or fatty foods
* Drinking alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea
* Cigarette smoking
* pregnancy
* Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers, or blood pressure medications

Symptoms of acid reflux disease:

* Heartburn: or acid indigestion, is a burning pain or discomfort that may move from your stomach to abdomen or chest, or into the throat.
* Regurgitation: bitter tasting acid in the throat or mouth.
* Dyspepsia: is a general term for stomach discomfort which includes symptoms:

* Burping
* Nausea after eating
* Stomach fullness or bloating
* Upper abdominal pain and discomfort

Other symptoms include:

* Bloating
* Bloody or black stools or bloody vomiting
* Dysphagia -- a narrowing of your esophagus which creates the sensation of food being stuck in your throat
* Hiccups that don't let up
* Weight loss for no known reason
* Wheezing, dry cough, hoarseness, or chronic sore throat

Symptoms of acid reflux may be a sign that stomach acid has inflamed your esophagus. The stomach acid can damage the lining of your esophagus and cause bleeding.

Although acid reflux is extremely common and rarely serious, don't ignore your acid reflux symptoms. Making a few lifestyle changes and using over-the-counter antacids is usually all you need to control acid reflux symptoms.

How is acid reflux disease diagnosed?

If acid reflux symptoms occur two or more times a week and medications don't bring lasting relief, you have acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Can acid reflux disease be treated with diet and lifestyle changes?

One of the most effective ways to treat acid reflux disease is to avoid the foods and beverages that trigger symptoms. Here are other steps you can take:

* Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day.
* Quit smoking.
* Sleep with head raised at least 4 to 6 inches.
* Don't eat for two to three hours before lying down.
* Try sleeping in a chair for daytime naps.
* wear loose fitting clothing.
* Lose weight with exercise and diet changes.
* Find out if any medication you are currently taking could be triggering your heartburn or other symptoms of acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux disease medications:

*Antacids: Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, or Riopan, can neutralize the acid from your stomach.

Choose antacids that contain both magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide as they may help counteract gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea and constipation.

If antacids don't help, your doctor may try other medications, some require a prescription. Your doctor may suggest a combination of medications such as these:

* Foaming agents (Gaviscon) coat your stomach to prevent reflux.
* H2 blockers (Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac) decrease acid production.
* Proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix, Aciphex, Nexium) reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes.
* Prokinetics (Reglan, Urecholine) can help strengthen the LES, empty your stomach faster, and reduce acid reflux.

Don't combine more than one type of antacid or other medications without your doctor's guidance.

A procedure called fundoplication creates an artificial valve using the top of your stomach, wrapping the upper part of the stomach around the LES to strengthen it, thus preventing acid reflux and repairing a hiatal hernia. This procedure is done only as a last resort for treatment of acid reflux disease

Lifestyle changes, antacids, or acid-blocking medications generally reduce symptoms.

If these steps don't help or if you have frequent or severe symptoms, you should be tested for other problems.

Some Tests Include:

* Barium swallow (esophagram) to check for ulcers or a narrowing of the esophagus.
* Esophageal manometry can check the function of the esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter.
* pH monitoring to check for acid in your esophagus.
* Endoscopy to monitor esophagus or stomach.
* A biopsy to check tissue for infection or abnormalities

Are there potential complications with acid reflux symptoms?

Usually, acid reflux symptoms cause no complications. In a few cases, continued esophageal damage can lead to scarring and may cause the esophagus to narrow, making it difficult to swallow. In some cases, cells in the lining of the esophagus develop an abnormal shape and color in response to the constant acid irritation. This is Barrett's esophagus, which can develop into cancer.