The use of acid reflux medicine to get rid of annoying Heartburns

Lovers of alcohol often love to match their drinks with spicy dishes and greasy and fatty foods. The perfect combination makes it perfect for drinking palate. Unfortunately, however, this is bad for the esophagus and stomach. Alcohol, spicy dishes and fat and fatty foods cause acid reflux or also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Other causes of acid reflux are pregnancy, genetic influences, the presence of infection in the gastrointestinal tract, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The body's gastrointestinal system is composed of the following: the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus. The main function of the gastrointestinal system is to digest food particles, absorbing the digestive juices and remove undigested materials which are, of course, the stool.

Acid reflux affects the stomach and esophagus. This occurs when the fluid from the stomach contained pepsin, an irritant substance produced by the head of the cells reaches the esophageal sphincter through the heart. The cardiac sphincter is the opening of the esophagus to the stomach. Its function is to prevent backflow of the substances in the stomach because these substances cause irritation and esophageal ulcer. If the cardiac sphincter does not close after receiving food from the esophagus, acid reflux occurs.

Acid reflux is a chronic condition. Once a person suffers from it, it becomes a lifelong ordeal. Lesions in the esophagus is a chronic condition. Even if the esophagus has healed with treatment and is being stopped, the injury again in most patients within a few months. Once the treatment is started, usually must be continued indefinitely.

Normally, the liquid reflux in the stomach comes to a healthy individual. However, people with acid reflux or GERD, is more acid in the liquid. This may be caused by genetic influence, in particular, an increased number of parietal cells that produce pepsin in the stomach.
The body has mechanisms to protect themselves from the harmful effects of acid reflux y. Most reflux occurs during the day when individuals are upright. In that position, the reflux liquid is more likely to flow down into the stomach due to gravity. Moreover, while individuals are awake, to swallow continuously, regardless of whether or not there is reflux. Each time the individuals to swallow the liquid reflux slide back into the stomach. The last body defense to reflux is the salivary glands in the mouth. These glands produce saliva, which contains bicarbonate. Each time a person swallows, baking saliva containing slides into the esophagus. The bicarbonate neutralizes the small amount of acid left in the esophagus.

Basically, acid reflux medications inhibit the production or release of pepsin, produced by the head of the cells and hydrochloric acid produced by the parietal cells in the stomach. Other drugs can not completely inhibit the production, but would neutralize the acid.

Acid reflux drugs are histamine blockers or H2 receptor antagonists. Histamine stimulates a bomb in his stomach that emissions of hydrochloric acid. The H2 receptor antagonists of histamine avoid stimulating this pump. Which block the production of hydrochloric acid, which reduces the secretion and concentration in the stomach.

One of the acid reflux medication cimetidine is to be introduced in 1975. It has a short half life and short duration of action. The three most popular H2 blockers are ranitidine, famotidine and Nizatidine. They are more potent than cimetidine, because in addition to block the secretion of gastric acid, also promote ulcer healing by eliminating its cause. They also have a long duration of action.

As the cliche goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, you can avoid having an acid reflux or GERD by avoiding too much alcohol and snuff, and by eating less fat and spicy food. By taking NSAIDs, make sure you take after meals. Finally, avoid stress, because it stimulates the release of the deadly acid.