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Obesity And Acid Reflux Condition

As BMI, a measure of fat in the human body, increased, the acid reflux condition of the people worsened.

Obese people are a high risk category for diseases in general. This has been known through the ages and has been proven in studies conducted in the last century. Obesity is attributed to problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol etc among many other diseases. Obesity has been proven as a villain in cases of acid reflux as well.

Acid reflux or heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease is caused when the stomach acids needed for proper digestion of food goes up in to the esophagus. Esophagus is the connecting tube between the throat and the stomach. Such refluxed acid may go up in to your throat and cause a burning sensation. Multiple studies have proven the high rate for acid reflux condition among obese people.

Separate studies conducted by researchers at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Southern California are among those conducted for this purpose. A majority of these studies have proven the relationship between acid reflux and obesity. Even the studies which did not prove this relationship did not show a contrary relationship. These studies were conducted on the largest sample of acid reflux patients during the last half a century.

These medical studies have proven a relationship between the patient’s BMI (Body Mass Index) and acid reflux symptoms. As BMI, a measure of fat in the human body, increased, the acid reflux condition of the people worsened.

The results of these studies were not entirely surprising. The increase in obesity among American population is well documented over the recent years. The change in food habits of the average US citizen has an important role in this situation. The consumption of junk food and sugary sodas have been blamed as the culprits in this condition. Increase in acid reflux patients have been going at a steady pace over the years. It is estimated that roughly 20% of the current US population suffer from this painful condition and its associated effects.

In addition to higher risk of acid reflux, obese people are at a high risk for cancer affecting their esophagus. Another known condition affecting such people is erosive esophagitis.

Thus, it would be a smart move on every one’s part to stay trim and fit. The benefits of staying at a healthy weight has been proven effective in a variety of other ways. Staying away from acid reflux condition is another added advantage for every fitness conscious person.

What is the relationship between obesity and acid reflux?

This is not clearly proven yet. One assumption is the excess pressure applied on stomach contents from accumulated fat around it, which in turn would force the stomach acids to go up in to the esophagus. People who are obese are known to have weaker esophageal sphincter, which allow stomach acids to go past it in to the esophagus. But these assumptions are yet to be proven beyond doubt.

Even if you lose your excess weight, weakened esophageal sphincter muscles will not regain its original strength. Thus, losing excess weight may not provide relief for acid reflux condition. The only solution would be to stay fit and trim all through your life.

What Is Fundoplication?

During fundoplication, the stomach’s part, which is right next to the esophageal sphincter, is wrapped and sewn around the lower part of esophageal sphincter. Through this process the pressure on the esophagus is increased and this in turn reduces acid reflux.

Fundoplication is a surgical procedure for treating acid reflux or gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). This condition is caused when stomach acids go up in to the esophagus and burns the soft tissue in there. Esophageal sphincter is responsible for holding the stomach acids inside the stomach and not letting the acids go up in to the esophagus. Those who suffer from acid reflux are usually suffering from ineffective esophageal sphincter which is not efficient in completely blocking stomach acids from going up in to the esophagus. Fundoplication can help in strengthening the functioning of esophageal sphincter.

During fundoplication, the stomach’s part, which is right next to the esophageal sphincter, is wrapped and sewn around the lower part of esophageal sphincter. Through this process the pressure on the esophagus is increased and this in turn reduces acid reflux.

Fundoplication can be done in two ways. One way is through regular open surgery which will force you to rest for longer time. This is done under general anesthesia and can be painful after the sedation is over. The person will need to rest for up to two months before he can resume normal activities.

The second and easier method will be done using a laparoscope, which will leave only a few small punctures in your stomach. This method is much easier on the patient as he/she can recover much faster with a lot less pain. Normally the patient can resume his/her normal activities within three weeks after laparoscopic fundoplication.

Fundoplication can be either done through the stomach or the chest. In case of  persons with a shorter esophagus or those who are over weight, the chest route is preferred.

After either one of these fundoplication surgery methods, you will have to change your eating habits. It will be better, if you eat only soft food items until the surgery heals completely. Along with this, you must chew your food properly and eat much more slowly than before, so as to provide the food time to go through the smaller esophagus.

Usually people who suffer acid reflux are given medicines as a first resource. When this fails, or if the person has side effects to the medicine, then fundoplication is chosen. Those who are suffering from hiatal hernia can be relieved of their pain through this procedure as well.

If fundoplication surgery is done successfully, it is known to remove the necessity for long-term consumption of medicine. If you are thinking of choosing either surgery or medicine, think about all the known pros and cons of the procedure like cost of the procedure, risks involved, complications that can arise during and after the surgery etc.

Fundoplication is not advised for every one who complains of acid reflux or heart burn. Your surgeon is going to conduct tests so as to determine the effectiveness of the procedure in your body. If the diagnosis is a positive one, then only you will be given the go ahead for the surgical procedure. If the patient has some physical conditions which can aggravate his/her condition, the doctor will advice against going ahead with the procedure.

[tags]fundoplication[/tags]

Acid Reflux VS Bile Reflux

When pyloric valve malfunctions, bile flows in to your stomach and cause problems. Unlike the stomach acids, bile is alkaline in nature and can cause irritation and pain in your stomach.

As you are at our web site, you must be familiar with acid reflux and its problems. This painful condition occurs when your stomach acids goes past the esophageal sphincter up in to the esophagus and even up to your throat. What about bile reflux?

Are you familiar with this term? Is bile reflux related to acid reflux?

Bile is a secretion of your liver. This is supposed to work in your small intestine to help in breaking down and absorption of fatty food items in to human body. In a similar way the stomach acids are kept inside your stomach by the valve esophageal sphincter, bile is kept inside your small intestine by pyloric valve which let food to pass from stomach in to your small intestine. When this valve malfunctions, bile flows in to your stomach and cause problems. Unlike the stomach acids, bile is alkaline in nature and can cause irritation and pain in your stomach.

If you are suffering from acid reflux and bile reflux, then your stomach acids and bile can get in to your esophagus and cause damage. This combination of bile reflux and acid reflux can even cause esophageal cancer which is known to be fatal always. Esophageal constriction (narrowing) is also a possible risk and can cause the patient to choke.

One of the biggest problems associated with bile reflux is the difficulty in diagnosing the condition properly. As the symptoms of acid reflux and bile reflux are similar, it is not easy to distinguish between the two. And remember, they both can occur in the same person at the same time. Commonly known symptoms of bile reflux are heart burn, sour taste in your mouth, nausea, throwing up bile, cough, loss of weight etc. Doctors may be able to diagnose the condition from the symptoms of the patient. In addition to this, the doctor may use endoscopy, acid tests etc to confirm the condition. As bile is alkaline in nature, acid tests are not going to detect its presence.

People who have undergone surgeries in their stomach for weight loss, those who have removed their stomach or gall bladder, those who are having stomach ulcers etc are known to be at a much higher risk of suffering from bile reflux.

Unlike acid reflux, life style changes by themselves cannot reduce bile reflux condition. Ursodeoxycholic acid is a commonly used prescription medicine for bile reflux. This is known to reduce the frequency of this condition from recurring. Proton pump inhibitors, which are used to treat acid reflux condition by reducing stomach acid production are known to be effective in reducing bile production as well. In severe cases, surgical procedures like Roux-en-Y or fundoplication are used to relieve the suffering of the patient.

Those who are suffering from acid reflux and bile reflux can reduce their problems through life style changes suited for acid reflux condition. These include avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption, eating smaller portions of food, eating four hours prior to bed time, reducing oily and fatty food consumption, reducing excess body weight, sleeping with your upper body in an elevated position, practicing of relaxation techniques etc.

[tags]bile reflux[/tags]