20% of the western population is affected by gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs by the regurgitation of the stomach acid produced in the stomach. The acid travelling out of the stomach and into the oesophagus (tube connecting your mouth to the stomach) can cause a burning pain in your chest.
The main symptoms are heartburn (uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest), acid reflux (sour taste at the back of your mouth), bad breath, bloating, belching, dry cough, feeling sick, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, tooth decay and gum disease.
So, what can cause GORD?
GORD can be caused by a weakening of the esophageal sphincter (that helps to close the stomach) , fat pressing on the stomach, bile reflux and hiatus herniation.
So how can I help it?
Changing your lifestyle can be beneficial, research has shown the Western World to be more affected by reflux than the eastern world. The latter can be explained by dietary and lifestyle differences.
Avoiding reflux starts in your plate, the peptides present in your saliva will start the digestion and help your stomach to produce the right amount of acid. Therefore, take your time to chew each food.
A high carbohydrate diet (white bread, processed food, biscuits, etc.) has been associated with an increase in the intensity and the frequency of acid reflux. On the opposite high fiber diet seems to reduce reflux.
Lack of daily activity generally predisposed by office-related job tend to reduce diaphragm mobility and therefore the strength of the esophageal sphincter. It is therefore crucial to start performing daily exercises and diaphragmatic exercises.
If you have already modified your lifestyle but still suffer from reflux and your GP has already given you a proton-pump inhibitor but you still are suffering from reflux, it might be due a lack of acidity in your stomach; hypochlorhydria.
The Lack of acidity does not allow your stomach to digest efficiently the food you have ingested which can cause acid reflux.
If this is the case a protocol called HCL betaine protocol might help you but be aware this protocol is not indicated for people suffering with gastritis, stomach ulcers, esophagitis, duodenitis
How a low-acid stomach can have other health consequences?
Stomach acid has different functions the most well-known is to digest food, however, the stomach has other functions, one of them Is to kill bacteria present that we ingest. The acidity of the stomach makes the thriving and proliferation of bacteria difficult, hence if the acidity of the stomach is reduced, the bacteria can thrive.
Bacteria proliferation in the small intestine could increase the susceptibility to several bacterial and parasitic and fungal infections.
Stomach acid has another less expected function, it allows the cells lining the stomach to absorb iron and vitB12.
These vitamin and mineral are responsible for good nerve conduction and transport of oxygen level.
Hence, stomach lack of acidity can lead to pins and needles and numbness in your limbs associated to fatigue.
Obviously, these symptoms can also be predisposed by other conditions such as diabetes, thyroid conditions or solely due to nerves impingement.
If you are unsure of the cause of your problems and would like some advice to start making a difference, book an appointment at the clinic, we will help you to find the exercises and protocols the most adapted to you.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4991651/
https://gut.bmj.com/content/54/5/710
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29339035/