Health Related Reading

If you suffer from the condition, then you likely don’t need any additional motivation to treat gout than to simply make the pain and discomfort go away.  It is a very unpleasant sensation which can cause substantial frustration and inconvenience in your life.  However, worse than that is that it can build up to cause permanent joint damage that will lead you to far greater problems later in life, beyond the occasional gout attack.

The first step to reducing the chances of permanent joint damage after experiencing gout attacks is to treat gout by preventing their occurrence in the first place.  This will involve certain life changes which, when considering the outcome, are well worth the alterations in habit.  This includes avoiding alcoholic beverages or eliminating them altogether from your diet. 

It will also mean that you will need to achieve a healthy body weight and maintain that weight.  Any weight change program you choose should be discussed with your doctor, as you will want to make sure it is a gradual process and not an effort to starve yourself and drop pounds rapidly.  You may even find that the weight loss alone is enough to set your uric acid levels back to the right amounts.

Furthermore, you will want to talk to your doctor about any drugs you are taking, as some drugs are known to increase the levels of uric acid in your blood, making it harder to treat gout and making it more likely that you will experience an attack. 

Keep in mind that you will also want to eat several smaller meals throughout the day, and make sure that those meals are low in purines, which will also help to keep your uric acid levels under control. 

More preventative ways to treat gout so that you will lower your risk of permanent damage to your joints includes taking certain prescribed medications.  This will help you to relieve attacks when they happen or prevent them from occurring.  Colchicine, for example, is often prescribed to prevent attacks by taking it daily; it also dramatically reduces the frequency of the attacks.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), when taking on a daily basis can also help you to reduce the frequency of your attacks. 

It is important to know, though, that as important as all of your preventative efforts are, they cannot turn around damage that has already been done.  You should also make your doctor aware of any other medications that you may be taking, or any other health conditions you may have, because drug conflicts may occur, and preventative drugs can cause harm to people who are at risk of kidney or liver disease.

The key to preventing your joints from being permanently damaged is to achieve a gout diagnosis in time, and to begin to treat gout early. You should also look for external factors you’ve never considered before, such as the climate in which you live.  There are many causes to gout that you may not know and that your doctor can help you to recognize.

Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell’s brand new Gout Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about effective methods to treat gout and for information on which natural cure for gout is most effective please visit Cure Gout Now. 

For many gout sufferers keeping their weight in check can be challenging – but it is worth the effort. Studies providing information on gout have shown that being overweight or obese increases the risk of suffering from gout and by losing weight that risk can be reduced.

Carrying extra pounds effects gout in a number of ways including:

- According to various studies carried out, the levels of uric acid in the blood were significantly higher in overweight people compared with those of normal weight
- Extra weight puts further pressure on the joints which increases the pain during a gout attack increasing the risk of more permanent joint damage. 
- Damaged joints are more likely to accumulate increased levels of uric acid crystals, and so make a gout attack worse.

So losing excess pounds and staying fit and healthy are important gout prevention steps.

However, it isn’t always easy to stay fit, and that challenge becomes even more trying when you are suffering from gout.  After all, when you’re suffering from a painful gout attack in one of your joints, the last thing you want to do is get up and be active.  It’s tempting to give in to fad diets and weight loss pills, but deep down we all know that those aren’t long term solutions.  The best information on gout that you can receive is one that recommends healthy eating, exercise, and proper rest to let you achieve and maintain your ideal weight. 

To know where your weight stands in terms of your health, you will want to determine your body mass index (BMI). This system for determining your ideal weight is not without flaws, but it will give you a good overall indication of which direction your weight should be heading: up, down, or staying as it is.  In general, a healthy BMI is considered to be within the range of 18.5 and 25.

To calculate your BMI, you only need a couple of measurements.
1. Your height in metres (1 inch = 2.54 cm)
2. Your weight in kg’s (1 kg  = 2.2 kg)

Once you have these measurements, you can work out your BMI with the help of a calculator and the following calculations:

1. Your weight in kg divided by your height in meters= X
2. X divided by Your height in meters = your BMI

e.g If you weigh 85kg, and you are 1.80 metres tall, them your BMI would be 26.2 (85/1.8 = 47.2,  50/1.8 = 26.2)

Although there are a number of exceptions, which I will mention in a moment, the recognized scale for BMI is:

- BMI of less than 18.4 then you are underweight for your height
- BMI between 18.5 – 24.9 then you’re an ideal weight for your height
- BMI between 25 – 29.9, you’re overweight for your height
- BMI between 30 – 39.9, you’re obese
- BMI greater than 40, you’re very obese.

There are some people for who the BMI should not be considered as an accurate measure, these include those that have a large ratio of muscle to body mass, like body builders and some athletes.  Also, people over the age of 60 should be aware that the BMI measure becomes less effective as bones weigh less as you get older if resistance exercise is not carried out.  Finally, the BMI measurement is not accurate for children.

When a gout attack strikes, it is natural that you won’t want to exercise very much as the inflamed joint is likely to be painful and moving it will only cause it to hurt more. In fact, if you exercise a joint that is already inflamed with a gout attack, you may risk prolonging the attack and cause damage to the joint.  However, it’s important to know how to exercise when the joint isn’t inflamed as this will help to maintain a healthy weight and to prevent further attacks. 

Even when you have an inflamed joint due to gout, you can work on other areas of the body and gently move the joint through its natural range of motion to help prevent further stiffness.  You will also likely want to use ice or cold applications on the joint to help limit the inflammation to allow for greater mobility and decreased discomfort.

Though exercise doesn’t help to break up any uric acid crystals in the joints that have already built up, it will help to strengthen the joint and allow for greater muscular movements around it.

As well as exercising, eating a healthy diet of gout-friendly foods in portions that will allow you to achieve your healthy body weight is important.  It’s interesting to note that gout sufferers typically have a metabolism that is slower than people without gout (which helps to explain why the uric acid is not flushed from your blood as easily as it is in other people, allowing it to build up in crystals against your joints), so you will need to make sure that you are eating accordingly.

Information on gout shows that weight loss for gout sufferers doesn’t just involve a crash diet and a period of exercise.  Instead, it means developing a lifestyle to adjust your eating and activity habits. 

Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell’s brand new Gout Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out moreinformation on gout including why weight loss for gout is such a great natural cure for gout symptoms. 

Even without autism, puberty can be a very delicate and trying time for a family.  When autism is involved, however, things can become much more complicated.  Many parents approach this period of their child’s life with fear and trepidation.  However, it is best if you attempt to approach this time in a very positive and developmentally oriented fashion.

For everyone going through puberty – autistic or not – sexuality and sex education is an important part of life.  Children and teens are, after all, sexual beings.  In order to respect the dignity of your autistic child, you must teach healthy attitudes towards sexuality and convey appropriate expressions for sexuality.  As the parent, your job will also be to maintain his or her safety.

Many parents fear regression in their autistic children during puberty.  “Autism after Adolescence; Population-based 13- to 22-year Follow-up Study of 120 Individuals with Autism Diagnosed in Childhood” was a recent longitudinal study published in the June 2005 Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.  This study showed that of the seventeen percent of the 108 people followed up with who had a clear regression during adolescence, half of those people fully recovered from that setback by the time they reached adulthood. Furthermore, that same study reconfirmed what previous research had suggested, where language development and a better all around adulthood are positively correlated with childhood IQ levels.

Therefore, it is not unreasonable to assume that a child with autism will be able to learn to manage the challenges and changes faced throughout puberty.  The key is to make sure to pay attention to any questions or confusions that he or she may have, so that you can help to resolve them.  You can add teaching moments to your everyday life, allowing your child to learn and relearn about what will be happening in their body. 

Your child’s pediatrician may be able to suggest some techniques and resources for helping ease your family and your autistic child through puberty.  This may include various books (such as “Asperger’s Syndrome and Sexuality: From Adolescence Through Adulthood”), pamphlets, and websites, or even additional therapies, such as – in the case of girls – hormone therapies to regulate menstrual cycles and minimize the discomfort that may be felt.  This will help to create predictability for a girl’s periods, so that she will know exactly what day they will start, and approximately when they will end.  Furthermore, the same body sensations will occur at the same time of the cycle every month.  This form of treatment could be regarded as somewhat controversial, so careful discussion with your doctor or your child’s pediatrician is paramount.

You may also find that a psychologist or child psychologist may be able to provide you with an additional level of insight into helping your child through puberty with as little distress as possible. 

With the help of both a doctor and a psychiatrist, you will be equipped to handle many questions your child may have as well as any new temporary or lasting symptoms that your child may develop.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about autism puberty and for information on coping with autism and adolescence please visit The Essential Guide To Autism. 

If you suffer from heartburn or other GERD symptoms, you know how important it is to be able to shorten the acid reflux duration.  Though some symptoms can be practically unnoticeable, others can be uncomfortable or even painful.  Therefore, the longer the acid reflux duration, the more discomfort you feel.

Fortunately, there are effective ways to not only prevent GERD symptoms, but also techniques for minimizing acid reflux episode duration.  Use the following methods to shorten the span of your GERD symptoms:

- Lose Weight – not only can being overweight increase the frequency of the acid reflux, but it can also make symptoms worse due to the added pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter.  Therefore, you should aim to lose any excess weight to remove this pressure and for added benefits as well.  To lose weight, eat smaller portions, fewer fatty foods, and exercise more.  Each of these activities are very effective efforts for reducing GERD symptoms on their own, as well as being great for losing weight…which also reduces GERD symptoms.

- Exercise – if you feel acid reflux symptoms coming on, it’s time to start walking.  Exercising – even something as simple as walking – can help to eliminate many of the discomforts that you feel when you are experiencing acid reflux symptoms. Furthermore, it accelerates weight loss and is great for your cardiovascular system – also beneficial to keeping your acid reflux under control.

- Remain Calm – it’s natural to start feeling stressed if you start to sense the discomfort associated with many GERD symptoms.  If you start to experience symptoms, take a breath and calm yourself down.  You may find that doing yoga or other stress-reducing activities will help and many people find this to be very effective for their symptoms.

- Use Gravity – when you feel acid reflux symptoms, remain upright.  This means that you should not lie down after you’ve had a meal.  Wait at least two to three hours before reclining.  By keeping upright, you stop your stomach from changing pressures that might cause stomach acid backflow. Indeed, this can be tricky if you are feeling symptoms at night.  To overcome this problem, use extra pillows so that you’re sleeping with your head much more elevated than usual.  You want to be sleeping in as upright a position as you can manage.

- Loosen Clothing – If you are wearing tight, restrictive clothing, it’s time to loosen up.  By undoing a belt, removing tight-fitting panty hose, or releasing any other kinds of tight waistbands, you will remove a great deal of pressure from your stomach.  It may very well have been this pressure on the stomach that was causing the contents to be sent back up to the esophagus.  If you do have to wear tighter clothing, make sure that you have more loose-fitting clothes with you just in case you need them.

Remember that prevention is just as important as what you do at the time that you are experiencing symptoms.  The more you can do overall to help yourself, the shorter your acid reflux duration will be.

 Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker’s brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about how to reduce acid reflux duration and for information on acid reflux relief please visit Stop Acid Reflux Now.

Non erosive reflux disease (NERD) is one of many types of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  Typically speaking GERD causes a condition referred to as esophagitis, which is the slow erosion of the lining of the esophagus.  However, in non erosive reflux, this erosion does not occur.  That being said, it does not mean that NERD is in any way less serious than its erosive cousins.

The majority of GERD sufferers do not actually have esophagitis, making non erosive reflux the most common form of acid reflux.  It would be a mistake, however, to assume that because erosion does not occur that NERD is a milder form of the disease.  NERD sufferers are twice as likely to experience problems in swallowing.  In fact, NERD sufferers are more likely to suffer from complications and symptoms away from the esophagus itself, and they are less likely to benefit from fundoplication surgery.

A 1999 study, by Lind T., Hayelund, T, Lundell L et al, showed that only 56 percent of NERD patients reported the complete elimination of all symptoms after undergoing fundoplication surgery, compared to 90 percent of erosive reflux patients. 

There are several potential causes of non erosive reflux disease, including lifestyle, diet, and hiatal hernia.  This means that many people are able to make lifestyle and diet changes in order to manage their NERD symptoms.  However, there are some cases where surgery, medication, or other actions will be required. 

Non erosive reflux treatments are made up primarily of preventative actions.  Common non-medicinal and non-surgical NERD treatments include:

- Eat several smaller meals instead of fewer larger meals.  This stops your stomach from becoming too full, which can encourage acid to rise as it is closer to the esophagus due to simply being full of food.

- Don’t eat too close to any time that you will be lying down.  Make sure there are two to three hours between eating and lying down.

- Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter antacids

- Avoid certain acid-increasing foods such as fatty foods, citrus fruits, alcohol, caffeine, and anything else to which you commonly react.

- Try to achieve a healthy body weight by increasing, losing, or maintaining your weight, as your body requires. 

- Don’t wear clothing that is tight-fitting through the abdomen. This can increase pressure on the stomach and encourage reflux.

- Give up smoking as smoking can impact on the ability of your LES to function correctly.

- Use an extra pillow or two at night so that you sleep with your head raised higher to stop acid from flowing upward.

- Try not to bend over from the waist.  Instead, bend at the knees and keep you back upright.

- Avoid straining too hard when you are having a bowel movement.  The pressure can push acid upward.

Drug and surgical non erosive reflux disorder treatments include:

- Medication that neutralizes acidity in the stomach, decreases stomach acid production, or strengthens lower esophageal muscles. 

- Fundoplication surgery, which wraps the lower esophageal sphincter with part of the upper stomach so that the sphincter will be stronger. 

Of course, you can only treat non erosive reflux disorder when you know how to recognize it.  Make sure to speak to your doctor so that you know whether or not your symptoms are NERD related.

Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker’s brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about non erosive reflux and for information on the difference between NERD and GERD please visit Stop Acid Reflux Now. 

Although you may need to take medications to help ease nighttime heartburn, did you know that there is a natural apple cider vinegar acid reflux remedy you can try to ease symptoms during the day?  Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a natural treatment that has been used to treat a variety of ailments for many years, and is a popular choice among acid reflux sufferers.

ACV is vinegar made from crushed and aged apples known as cider or apple must.   When unfiltered, ACV has a brownish-yellow color.  Unfiltered cider vinegar, also known as organic apple cider vinegar, contains what is known as the “mother of vinegar” or simply the “mother”.  The mother looks like stringy floating globs in the liquid, and is where all of the healing properties of ACV reside. 

ACV contains minerals, as well as trace elements including magnesium, chlorine phosphorous, sulfur, sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, copper, fluorine and silicon.  Due of all of its beneficial ingredients, ACV is a natural fighter of bacteria, which often makes it a beneficial vinegar acid reflux treatment choice.

How can apple cider vinegar benefit acid reflux sufferers?  You may be confused as to how a type of vinegar could be beneficial for treating acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn.  After all, doesn’t vinegar have a high acid content?  Wouldn’t cider vinegar just exacerbate the problem?  Surprisingly, for most acid reflux sufferers, ACV helps to relieve the burning sensation and nausea caused by reflux without adding to it.

Why?  The reason is because many people with digestive problems like acid reflux, experience problems not because they have too much acid, but because they have too little.  Apple cider vinegar mimics the acid level of the stomach, which aids in the proper digestion of food, and can help aid the stomach in digesting. 

Therefore, in some cases, vinegar acid reflux remedies for heartburn work more effectively than antacids, because although antacids will cure heartburn, they are designed to diminish acid within the system.  Thus, antacids will not treat the actual cause if acid reflux is the result of too little stomach acid, and instead can make reflux more frequent.

How should you take apple cider vinegar?  Apple cider vinegar is available in many forms including liquid, tablet and capsule.  However, when using ACV as a natural treatment, the only form you should obtain is the organic liquid that contains the “mother” enzyme. 

When taking ACV, you will first want to shake it well before you ingest it to disperse the mother throughout the liquid.  To start, try taking one tablespoon of cider vinegar before each meal.  You will likely find the taste of the ACV to be quite potent.  It is an acquired taste, and you should grow more accustomed to the flavor after the first few vinegar acid reflux treatments.

Nevertheless, should you find it too repellant, there are a few other ways you can take ACV such as:
- Mix a tablespoon in a fat free salad dressing or light mayonnaise and eat it with your meal
- Sprinkle a tablespoon on salad or vegetables
- Mix a tablespoon in an 8 oz. glass of water and add a bit of honey to sweeten the drink.
- Make a tea out of ACV by adding a tablespoon of the cider vinegar to hot water and slowly sipping it.

Although it is best to ingest apple cider vinegar prior to each meal, you can also take a tablespoon when your stomach is upset or heartburn acts up.

After taking apple cider vinegar for a few days, many acid reflux sufferers find that their symptoms improve, and continue to improve with treatment in the months that follow.  However, in addition, you should be aware that ACV has a few mild side effects including stomach upset.  Furthermore, ACV may worsen heartburn in some individuals.  It is also known to thin the blood and should be avoided by anyone taking blood thinning medications such as anti-coagulants.

Always remember that you should speak to your doctor first before starting any treatment, including vinegar acid reflux treatment, and keep in mind that natural treatment should not replace any medication or treatment advice that has been prescribed by your doctor without prior consultation.

 Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker’s brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about apple cider vinegar acid reflux and for information on other natural cures for heartburn please visit Stop Acid Reflux Now.

Cranial sacral autism therapy (CST) is one of many natural treatment options used to assist autistic children.  It employs a form of light touching that is thought stimulates the natural healing powers of the body.  The process focuses on the way the craniosacral system (the head and the sacrum, five vertebrae which form a triangle above the child’s tailbone at the base of the spine, which are fused together in adults – usually between the ages of 16 and 25 – but remain individual bones until that time) is thought to naturally encourage healing when properly stimulated. 

The theory is that the healing abilities of cranial sacral therapy comes from the manipulation of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord and brain, causing subtle pulsations and motions throughout the child’s entire body.

As pressure is applied, a wave-like response is sent through the body, allowing CST therapist to become in tune with what they refer to as “the breath of life”; the vibrations, energies, and forces of the body.  By applying CST, the therapist uses the breath of life to strengthen the relationship between the brain and the rest of the body in a therapeutic way using only their hands as tools.

Results reported include the release of restrictions and tensions from current and past illnesses, emotional upsets, accidents, and other discomforts, and there have been reports of a reduction in Autistic symptoms.  Therapists are trained to carefully listen to the vibrations to find out where there are disturbances and where focus should be placed.  Cranial sacral therapy often involves several interventions before a difference in behavior is observed.

When CST is applied, the child either lies down or sits, fully clothed, on the treatment table.  The CST therapist then “listens” to the autistic child’s body rhythms using his or her hands, and then stimulates the child’s tissues to target the whole body as well as specific areas.  This may require a therapist’s hands to remain still for lengthy periods.  The result is different for everyone.  Some autistic children report feeling very relaxed, others feel warm or cold, and some children feel a pulsing or tingling.

In addition to autism, CST is reportably beneficial for headaches and migraines, back pain, stress relief, and emotional issues.  It has been found to be most effective in babies and children though a person of any age can benefit from its techniques.

No side effects have ever been reported regarding cranial sacral therapy, though it should be avoided in people who have suffered strokes or who are pregnant unless recommended by a doctor.  As with any new therapy, if you are considering CST for your child, you should first speak to your doctor to ensure that it is the right treatment for his or her unique symptoms and needs.   It is advisable that Cranial Sacral Autism therapy be applied alongside other techniques such as effective learning activities – especially in the case of a preschooler.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about cranial sacral autism therapy and for information on autism resources please visit The Essential Guide To Autism. 

Autism and instruction strategies in children must be individualized in order to gain the greatest degree of success.  Children with autism frequently struggle to learn at the same rate as non-autistic children, and therefore very specific modifications must be made for autism and instruction methods to cater to the autistic children’s unique needs.

The following list includes autism instruction strategies that have been known to help autistic children in the classroom.  These are only broad descriptions as any practiced strategies must be child-specific, depending on the individual’s needs, symptoms, and strengths. 

1. Autistic children tend to be visual learners.  Therefore, a visual structure to the overall learning environment should be carefully designed in order to allow the child to clearly see and comprehend expectations of him or her.  This should include clearly defined workstations and other basic elements of the classroom.  Visual schedules are also an important part of the classroom’s visual structure, as they allow the autistic child to benefit from a predictable routine where the expectations are laid out specifically in a visual way.  This minimizes unexpected occurrences and allows students to anticipate and prepare for transitions in their day.

2. Stimulation in the classroom – especially visual and auditory – should be carefully considered and controlled, whenever possible.  Many autistic students can be easily over-stimulated by visual and auditory input and may have a challenging time processing their lessons should they be distracted or overwhelmed by sounds, lights, or images that cannot be properly managed.  Workstations should be set away from any excessive auditory and visual stimulation (especially sounds, movements, and any flickering or bright lights) to allow for optimal concentration and learning.

3. Many autistic children struggle with – or have yet to develop – communication skills, especially with regards to expressive communication skills. Instruction for non-verbal students may also be required.  An augmentative communication system (methods or devices to aid communication) can be greatly beneficial to autistic students of all communication levels.  This could include strategies such as PECS (picture exchange communication system), where picture cards are used to express words for objects, feelings, concepts, places, and other areas where words would typically be helpful.

4. Instruction of social skills has typically been among the more challenging aspects of the curriculum.  Overall, it is best to teach social skills very directly.  Autistic students will not normally develop social skills through simple interaction within social environments.  Instead, they must learn their social interaction skills in the same way that other academic topics and skills are taught.  

5. A high priority should be placed on instruction of literacy.  The reason for this is that many autistic students often depend on one form of communication for another, even if they are capable of communicating verbally.  Frequently, a kind of back-up form of expressive communication is required especially for when the child is feeling upset or overwhelmed.  Though PECS is effective, with literacy in the student, communication – even non-verbal communication – can occur at a might higher level, as it opens up a greater vocabulary for expression. 

Autism and instruction strategies are exceptionally unique.  Before beginning to work with an autistic child, it is important to be aware of the individual needs of that child, and the characteristics of autism exhibited by that child.  Instructors and other school staff working with the child should be provided with training about at least the basic features of autism.  Every member of the team working with the child should understand the child’s needs as well as teaching strategies such as those listed above, so that they may maximize the child’s potential for successful learning.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about the best Autism and instruction strategies and for information on other autism resources please visit The Essential Guide To Autism. 

If your stomach feels queasy and you’re feeling fatigued, you could be suffering from heartburn nausea weakness.   Although it may seem strange to suffer from nausea or weakness if you have acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you need to remember that there are a number of symptoms related to acid reflux, not just heartburn.

The following is an individual breakdown of heartburn, nausea and weakness, why these symptoms occur, and how they can be treated.

Heartburn – Heartburn is the number one sign of acid reflux, and frequent heartburn indicates GERD.  Heartburn occurs when acid has been refluxed up into the lower esophagus and has had prolonged contact with the unprotected lining of the esophagus.    Heartburn is characterized by a painful burning sensation in the chest, which may rise up to the upper esophagus towards the neck.  Heartburn typically occurs after eating, or shortly after lying down.

Nausea - While nausea is an uncommon condition among GERD sufferers, it can be quite frequent and severe for the unfortunate people who do experience it.  When related to acid reflux, nausea typically occurs when acid backs up past the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and into the throat.  When acid is refluxed into the throat and larynx (voice box), it can cause a sour or bitter taste to occur in the throat.  Due to the unpleasant feeling, a person may experience regurgitation with their nausea, or may actually vomit if nausea is severe. 

Nausea is a more common condition among ‘uncomplicated’ GERD sufferers and those who have laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).  Furthermore, acid reflux sufferers who experience nausea rarely suffer from heartburn, and vice versa.

Weakness – A GERD sufferer may experience two types of weakness associated with heartburn.  The first is the weakness that occurs in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is the primary cause of acid reflux.   The LES is designed to open to let food into the stomach, but should close to keep digestive acids from flowing back up into the esophagus.  However, the LES muscle can become weak and malfunction.  A weakened LES is attributed to many causes including:
- Food (foods high in fat, caffeine, citrus fruits and juices, etc.)
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Excess weight

The second type of weakness may be an actual feeling of fatigue which could be related to:
- Eating heavy meals – It takes plenty of energy to digest food, and certain foods such as meat are exceptionally hard on the digestive system. As the body diverts resources to the digestion process you can often feel drained, fatigued or sleepy.
- Night time heartburn – heartburn tends to frequently occur when a person is sleeping because the muscles of the body naturally relax during sleep, this includes the LES muscle.  Heartburn can keep you awake and disrupt your sleeping pattern leading to daytime fatigue.
- Lack of exercise and excess weight – If you lead a very sedentary lifestyle and are overweight, your body will often feel sluggish.  Furthermore, excessive weight places stress on your muscles and other internal functions making your body work harder to carry out its normal processes.

Treatment options – Related heartburn, nausea and weakness can be treated using virtually the same methods.  In regard to heartburn and nausea, you can relieve the symptoms by neutralizing acids with a herbal remedy such as ingesting Active Manuka Honey, ginger tea, or papaya, or by taking anti-acid medications such as antacids (I.E. Tums, Gaviscon, etc.), H2 receptor blockers (I.E. Zantac) or Proton Pump Inhibitors.  On the other hand, to help alleviate feelings of weakness and fatigue, adopting some low impact exercises and reducing stress can help you feel better and increase your energy. 

Nevertheless, the best way to cope with related heartburn nausea and weakness symptoms is to prevent acid reflux from occurring by:
- Avoiding foods that weaken the LES
- Eating slower and more frequent meals
- Avoiding eating 2 – 3 hours before sleeping or lying down
- Sleeping with your head elevated a few inches
- Avoiding exercising or engaging in high-impact activities directly after eating
- Losing excess body weight through a healthy lifestyle change

Lastly, before you begin any form of treatment, make sure you have any heartburn, nausea or weakness symptoms checked out by your doctor incase you are suffering from another condition or a more serious health problem.

 Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker’s brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about Heartburn, Nausea and Weakness and for information on heartburn remedies please visit Stop Acid Reflux Now.

Knowing how to modify your diet to treat and prevent acid reflux is very important if you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), because long-term and frequent reflux acid can lead to many serious health complications that, in rare cases, can even be life threatening.

What type of problems can occur?  Constant occurrences of acid refluxed into the esophagus can eventually lead to inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis).   If the inflammation isn’t allowed to heal, other health complications can result such as:

Coughing and asthma attacks –Refluxed acid can stimulate nerves within the esophagus related to the lungs.  This can lead to a constriction of the airways triggering coughing in non-asthmatics, and can result in an asthma attack in those who suffer from asthma.

Aside from acid aggravating nerves linked to the lungs, aspiration (acid refluxed into the lungs) can occur.   Aspiration can cause inflammation within the lungs, leading to symptoms such as coughing, choking, and/or shortness of breath.  Continuous lung inflammation can result in scarring on the lungs, as well as lung infections that can cause pneumonia.

Ulcers – Prolonged esophagitis can lead to damage in the esophagus lining.  Once damaged, reflux acid can break through the esophagus lining and a lesion known as an ulcer can form where the tissue surface of the esophagus wall has been eaten away by the acid.  Ulcers are often painful because they can trigger additional inflammation that causes erosion of the esophageal blood vessels, which, in turn, can lead to bleeding in the esophagus.  If bleeding becomes severe, a person may require a blood transfusion or surgery.  Ulcers can heal by forming scar tissue once inflammation stops. 

Strictures – A stricture occurs when the inner cavity of the esophagus unnaturally shrinks and narrows due to the scar tissue of a healed ulcer.  A severe stricture can cause swallowed food to become stuck in the esophagus.  If the food cannot pass through the esophagus, a person may have to have the food surgically removed, as well as undergo a procedure that stretches the stricture.

Barrett’s esophagus – Approximately 10% of people with GERD will develop a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus.  Barrett’s esophagus usually occurs when the lower esophagus has been damaged by prolonged reflux acid which causes the cells that exist there to undergo metaplasia (cellular change).  Metaplasia changes the composition of the cells that line the lower esophagus wall, and also changes the color of the esophagus from its healthy pink to a salmon color.   The cellular change occurs so that the cells in the esophagus closely match those that exist within the stomach and intestine to help them better withstand the acid exposure.  Although this may sound beneficial to GERD sufferers, the reality is that Barrett’s esophagus can be very painful and the cellular change increases the risk of esophageal cancer. 

Esophageal cancer – Esophageal cancer occurs in the inner layer of the esophagus and usually develops from Barrett’s esophagus.  Although esophageal cancer is very serious and life threatening, it is estimated that less than 1% of people with Barrett’s esophagus will actually develop esophageal cancer.  Therefore, while the risk is there, it is minimal, especially for those who treat their acid reflux and have their Barrett’s esophagus condition closely monitored by their gastroenterologist. 

The complications related to reflux acid can be avoided by simply learning how to prevent acid reflux before it occurs.  Speak to your doctor about the best treatment methods for your GERD condition.

Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker’s brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about the dangers of leaving reflux acid untreated and for information on how to treat acid reflux please visit Stop Acid Reflux Now.