Do You Have Acid Reflux?

Whether you call it heartburn, reflux, GERD or gastroparesis, these different names are all for one condition—burning acid in the throat and mouth.

Acid reflux causes a delayed emptying of the stomach acids and food, which creates numerous symptoms including acid reflux. Along with a great deal of discomfort and systemic health-related factors, what many people don’t realize is that acid reflux can adversely affect your lifestyle and coping abilities due to its chronic bodily distress.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux
• Nausea
• Overly full feeling
• Abdominal pain & bloating
• Nausea
• Belching
• Bloating
• Burning sensations in the throat
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Regurgitation
• Oral ulcers
• Vomiting
• Bad breath
• Decaying or Eroded teeth

Treatment
Acid Reflux is treatable. There are several different classes of drugs that work by helping to move food through the stomach and intestines more quickly and also by controlling the amount of acid in the stomach, which consequently alleviates the acid in the throat and mouth.

If you have acid reflux, you will need to take a comprehensive approach to your overall health and oral health by lifestyle approaches to reduce acid intake, acid-reducing medications or other preventive and healing strategies that your physician recommends.

What you can do to Lessen Flare-ups
Your diet plays a huge role in the control of your acid reflux. Lemon water actually tamps down acid by reducing the PH levels in the stomach. The same holds true for apple cider vinegar diluted in water, but you must be certain to dilute the ratio in water to avoid excessive erosion and other acid-related issues.

The IFFGD (International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders) states the following dietary recommendations:
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals
• Avoid excessively fatty foods
• Avoid fiber
• Avoid foods that cannot be chewed well
• Puree foods if necessary
• Avoid excessive spice

What Happens if Acid Reflux is Left Untreated?
Esophagus damage, stomach ulcers, mouth ulcers, tooth decay, and chronic pain are associated with untreated reflux. This also happens to patients that treat their acid reflux with over-the-counter medications like Milk of Magnesia or TUMS. If reflux is chronic and not medically treated, it often leads to esophageal cancer or oral cancer.

Treatment Side Effects
Acid reflux is typically treated in standard medicine through several different classes of drugs that work by helping to move food through the stomach and intestines more quickly, and also by controlling the amount of acid in the stomach, which consequently alleviates the acid in the throat and mouth. However, these common medications have a catch 22. For patients that take them regularly, the acid level in their stomachs is so depleted that they are unable to digest their foods properly.

Additionally, the issue of chronic pain associated with reflux often gets undertreated or overtreated. Painful inflammation of nerves and soft tissue in the abdomen, esophagus, and mouth affect up to 90% of patients with reflux. Many of these individuals become depressed due to the ongoing discomfort and side effects of their condition, which can lead to unnecessary pain medication use and addictions to arise.

If you have acid reflux, do not let it go untreated. Speak to your practitioner about what treatment and dietary changes are best for you.

Well-Being Medical Center
Well-Being Medical Center offers preventative care, innovative treatment options, and most importantly we put our patients needs and concerns first. Our office offers all standard routine health exams for all patients. If further testing is needed, we will create a comprehensive plan to help each patient reach their optimal health.

We provide in-depth health consultations. Our staff is composed of health professionals who are experts in their field. We work with our patients through one-on-one consultations to prioritize health goals and address any health concerns. Our top priority is patient satisfaction. We go the extra mile to create and execute on individualize treatment plans to make sure each patient understands their heath journey from start to finish

Contact Well-Being Medical Center of Naples today at (239) 315-7801.

Dr. Ricardo Martinez
Dr. Ricardo Martinez is an internist in Naples, FL and is affiliated with NCH Baker Hospital. He received his medical degree from Superior Institute of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba and has been in practice 20 years. He also speaks multiple languages, including Spanish. He specializes in hospital medicine, ambulatory care and is experienced in hospice and palliative medicine, bariatric medicine, diabetes mellitus, food allergy, and infectious disease. As of March 16th, 2020, Dr. Martinez has founded Well-Being Medical center in Naples Florida. He is looking forward to providing Medical care within primary care settings and urgent care service throughout the Naples Florida area.

Well-Being Medical Center of Naples

239-315-7801
www.well-beingmedicalcenter.org
851 5th Ave. N. Suite 102, Naples, FL 34102