Acid Reflux Disease
A stomach abnormality (a hiatus hernia) is the common cause of acid reflux disease. A hiatus hernia occurs when the lower oesophagus and the upper part of your stomach push up above your diaphragm and into your chest.
Your stomach and chest are separated by a muscle called the diaphragm. The diaphragm acts to keep any acid in your stomach, but this acid can move upwards into your oesophagus if a hiatal hernia is present. When the acid moves upwards, you experience the acid reflux symptoms.
Regurgitation and heartburn are the common acid reflux disease symptoms. If any OTC (over-the-counter) medication has not helped you and if you get the symptoms more than twice a week, then contact IPSA Medical. You will be given an appointment with one of IPSA Medical’s experienced doctors.
IPSA Medical’s Acid Reflux Treatment
You will be seen by at the IPSA Medical clinic by our resident doctor. The setting is clean and quiet. The environment is confidential. You can get an immediate same-day appointment (always at a time that suits you). Your symptoms will always be taken seriously at IPSA Medical.
You will be given a full consultation. This is to assess your acid reflux disease symptoms. An examination will be undertaken to rule out any serious causes for your acid reflux symptoms.
Once the symptoms of your acid reflux disease and the trigger for them has been assessed, your IPSA Medical doctor will recommend the appropriate treatments such as antacids, PPIs, anti-sickness medication, H2 agonists or alginates.
You IPSA Medical doctor might also discuss the other causes of gastric reflux with you and might recommend some further tests (such as stool and/or blood samples) to rule out gastric ulcers. If you do require any tests, they can be carried out immediately, during the consultation.
Your IPSA Medical doctor will run you through a diet plan. He/she will recommend some measures that you can use for controlling your acid reflux symptoms effectively at home.
Following your acid reflux disease appointment, when you go home with your acid reflux treatment, you will be given easy, over-the-phone access for any further worries/questions that you might have.
What Causes Acid Reflux Disease?
One common cause for acid reflux disease is a hiatus hernia; however, there are other risk factors for acid reflux disease too:
- Being obese/overweight
- Lying down just after eating, or eating large meals
- Snacking prior to bedtime
- Bending over (at the waist) or lying on your back following a heavy meal
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Some foods (chocolate, tomatoes, garlic, citrus fruits, mint, spicy foods, fatty foods and onions)
- Some drinks (tea, coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol)
- Using muscle relaxers (ibuprofen, blood-pressure medication or aspirin)
Acid Reflux Symptoms
Acid reflux disease can present with many symptoms, such as:
- Regurgitation (which is when a sour or bitter taste occurs due to acid backing up into your mouth/throat)
- Heartburn (which is when pain/discomfort moves up to your throat, chest or abdomen from your stomach)
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Burping
- Black/bloody stools
- Unexplained weight loss
- Vomiting with the presence of blood
- Persistent hiccups
- Chronic sore throat, hoarseness, dry cough or wheezing
- A feeling as if food has become lodged in your throat due to your oesophagus narrowing.
Call IPSA Medical today for a same-day appointment with one of our doctors if you have stomach problems or acid reflux symptoms. For your peace of mind, you will have over-the-phone access to our IPSA Medical doctors following your appointment.
Contact IPSA Medical today. Alternatively, book your acid reflux appointment online.
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