Heartburn is a common pregnancy problem. Many women who have not experienced it ever before tend to experience it at least when they get pregnant. When you are pregnant, if you sense a burning feeling in your throat and chest, if you sense a sour acidic taste in your mouth, blame it on the heartburn you are experiencing just now. There a number of reasons why one experiences heartburns when they are pregnant. When you are pregnant it is natural that your higher levels of hormones will soften the ligaments that usually help to keep the LES which is a sphincter inside the throat tightly shut so the acids in your stomach do not rise upwards. But when the LES is relaxing it is understandable if the acids shoot up to your esophagus and throat due to the different bodily changes and growing baby inside. Contents in your stomach can also be raised to the throat during these moments of heartburn. It is nearly impossible to eliminate the problem of heartburn completely but there are some measures you can adopt to reduce the trouble.

Try and avoid food that might trigger your heartburns. Products like citrus fruits, chocolates, tomatoes, juices, vinegar, mint, mustard, spices, and fries are strict no-nos just in case you are suffering from heartburns. Caffeine based drinks too instigate heartburn attacks. Try to stay off coffee, tea, cola because not only do they contain caffeine, they can also relax your LES muscles, causing the fluids in your stomach to rise to the esophagus. In this context, let us tell you that alcohol has similar effects on the esophagus so try keeping off alcohol as well if you want to save yourself from heartburns. Big meals also cause digestive problems so eat smaller meals instead, and have them at regular intervals. That way too you can avoid heartburns. Learn to eat slow and steady so your meals get enough time to get chewed and swallowed well. When food finds it tougher to get digested they tend to cause heartburns. There should be at least 2 hours between your dinner and your bed time to make sure that when you lie down you food does not get that urge to move upward than to stay where it is meant to stay.

Water is the solution to a lot of problems. During pregnancy you are supposed to be drinking at least 8 to 10 glasses of water everyday. However make sure you take enough fibers too so that the fluids get absorbed. Too much of fluids might put pressure against your LES! Make sure your head is on an elevated place as compared to your body while sleeping. If you are sued to sleeping without a pillow, maybe sleeping on a pillow would be slightly helpful now. Loose clothing which will allow your body to get aired easily is also helpful. When you bend to pick things up, try to bend at the knees instead of the waist so you avoid putting pressure on your stomach and provoking yet another heartburn. And finally, eve though it is quite natural to feel gluttony when you are pregnant, try to control your eating; too much food is never too good for your health!

The burning agony which begins in your chest is the first indication of problems. You have to be careful right now, because misdiagnosis could be the difference between life and death. What you are feeling could be a heart attack approaching on. But knowing the symptoms quickly rules this out. No, you’ve felt this way before. The biggest clue? That hearty meal you’ve just gorged yourself on. That’s right, the burning in your chest is the returning of your old curse  heartburn.

Or, perhaps it wasn’t the large meal causing the fiery blast in your gullet. Maybe it was the two cups of coffee after breakfast which lit up your esophagus. Or the chocolates you just couldn’t pass up at lunch. Not to worry, you think to yourself. You’ll just reach for the antacids and be done with it. It may surprise you that you’re doing more harm than good, and this could lead to more lasting damage in the long run.

With all of the myths and misconceptions surrounding heartburn, a clear discussion as to its cause is in order. As stated above, heartburn usually begins suddenly in the chest, and typically this condition occurs at some time just after we’ve eaten. The burning sensation, near the heart, is due to the fact that the stomach juices can sometimes get backed up, gurgling into the gullet, with acid rising up the esophagus, burning and irritating its lining along the way. It’s easy for the stomach to handle this sever liquid, its lining is designed to resist stomach acid. Our gullet lining, unfortunately, is not. Therefore, when the acid lets loose in the esophagus, trouble follows right behind it. Heartburn is born and you might as well put on an old movie, because you are going to be awake for a while.

We all have a part in our body to which we can point the finger of blame. You can call him LES, or Lower Esophageal Sphincter. When this guy is on the job and paying attention, stomach acid stays where it belongs, in the tough-lined stomach. But, when LES has gone to sleep on the job, and is no longer paying proper attention, the mischievious stomach acid loves to sneak past LES and go running rampant in the Upper Esophageal hall around the ticker.

This would explain why almost half of us roll through life, arriving at the end without ever having had so much as an indication of heartburn. LES is more alert and on the job in some of us than others. Lucky them. The rest of us become well familiar with over the counter antacids and acid-reducers, without ever finding out that by using these medicines we might possibly be doing ourselves more harm than good.

So, if popping over the counter pills and other similar cures aren’t going to work, what is? Is it best to just focus on working through the irritation, putting up with the problem and wait for it to lessen? What kind of life would that be to lead?

The point is, don’t give up on finding relief for your heartburn aggravation. No matter how sever or frequent your heartburn, believe that a cure, a lasting cure, is available to you. And what you discover may surprise you.

Living with your heartburn is precisely the wrong thing to do. In fact, following this strategy could lead to serious consequences. Then there is the vital knowledge of being able to tell if what you are suffering is heartburn  or a heart attack.

Really, you can live a normal life again. But you must work out the problem LES is causing, permanently. And you must arm yourself with the knowledge needed to get this done. There is more to your heartburn than meets the gullet. Take this situation seriously now, or face the consequences down the way.

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Heartburn and pregnancy go hand in hand because of the hormonal and physiological changes that a pregnant woman undergoes. When a woman is pregnant, her abdomen has more pressure, forcing the acids to go upwards to the esophagus and the throat.

Another reason is because of the increase of hormones in a woman’s body, resulting to the softening of the ligaments which keep the lower esophagus muscles closed. Softened ligaments will result to a relaxed LES, causing gastric juices to come through.

If you are pregnant and you want to avoid heartburn, there are many practical tips to follow. Here are some of them:

1. Avoid smoking. Nicotine is found to weaken the LES, so stop smoking. Moreover, it is not really good for your health and your baby’s.

2. Don’t wear tight clothes and belts. Tight apparels and tight objects around the waist will only add more pressure around the abdomen, pushing the stomach contents upwards.

3. Don’t lie down after eating. Wait for at least two hours before you lie down, to ensure that the stomach acids will stay where they should be.

4. Maintain a healthy weight. Too much weight will only increase more pressure on the stomach, making the acids go to the esophagus.

5. Avoid foods that cause the LES to relax. These include fatty food, tomato-based products, citrus fruits and juices, alcoholic drinks, high fat butter and cream, greasy food and caffeine.

6. You are advised to eat low fat food and more vegetables, since these are the ones that are not heartburn triggers.

If your heartburn persists, you should visit a doctor to help treat your condition.

For more heartburn tips, visit my blog. You should read the book that taught thousands get rid of their condition naturally. It’s in my byline so check it out.

Heartburn is one of the symptoms that pregnant women experience the most. From different estimations, between 60% and 90% of pregnancies will include symptoms of heartburn at one moment or another. Heartburn and the associated condition can show themselves in different ways, such as indigestion, a sensation of pain and burning just below the breastbone and a sour after-taste in the throat.

When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) ceases to work properly, acids and gastric contents can get back into the esophagus. Infrequent heartburn may not be of great concern, but increased frequency can indicate a deeper, chronic condition called acid reflux or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is the unwanted transmission of bile, digestive enzymes and acids that then generates heartburn. These substances transfuse back from the stomach to attack lining cells inside the esophagus. The LES should normally act as a valve to keep the gastric contents in the stomach, without them escaping backwards in a healthy body.

Acid reflux is brought on by many causes. They include:

1. Over eating of acid forming foods (for example; eggs, liver and wine) will compound the problem. Other problematical foods are those that provoke Candida overgrowth, allergies or difficulties in digestion. Prime examples are meat and dairy products.

2. Poor sleep hygiene can damage your capacity for immunity. When this happens, many related problems can occur, including overgrowth of Candida, a digestive system that grinds almost to a halt and a build-up of toxins. These are all factors that lead to the onset of acid reflux.

3. Being overweight also puts pressure on the LES, forcing through more stomach contents into the esophagus.

Pregnancy may be yet another factor leading to GERD. This is because pregnancy hormones have a relaxing effect on all muscle tissues that are smooth and that includes the LES. As an additional complication, the enlarging uterus can increase pressure on the abdominal area and therefore pressure on the LES to drive even more stomach acid into the esophagus. This is then coupled with other problems such as indigestion, constipation and bloating during pregnancy. A digestive process that slows and becomes sluggish will also indirectly worsen acid reflux.

Pregnancy and GERD simultaneously makes a solution hard to find, as many medicaments are potentially risky for women who are pregnant. The drugs that do feature on physicians’ lists for pregnant women can themselves have certain unwanted secondary effects and in general it is difficult to recommend any of them in this case.

Did anyone tell you that pregnant women can get immediate alleviation from heartburn and cure a fundamental condition of acid reflux by opting for a holistic solution that treats the internal environment that was responsible for the GERD symptoms all along? The natural approach is the one to let you stop and prevent further heartburn in safety and with effectiveness.

Foods that cause acid reflux can cause too much acid content in the stomach. Since some foods can make the stomach produce more acid, it is better to avoid eating them. 

Food containing a high amount of fat should be avoided since they are also foods that cause acid reflux. Fats are harder to digest than fiber rich foods and stay longer in the stomach; therefore making it work overtime and produce more than the normal acid it should contain. 

Here are some foods that you should avoid or eat in moderation:

1. Sodas or carbonated drinks – sodas normally contain carbonic acid for it to have its characteristic fizz. The more acid the food contains, the higher the risk of an acid reflux attack.

2. Citrus fruits – fruits like grapefruit, lemons and oranges are sour and acidic in nature.



3. Processed vegetables like French fried potatoes and mashed potatoes – these are normally served with a high amount of oil. Mashed potatoes frequently have butter in the recipe and French fries are always deep fried. Since fat makes the stomach produce more acid, it will increase the chance of having an acid reflux.

4. Spices like onion and garlic – these spices can make the LES or Lower Esophageal Sphincter weaken. The LES is the muscle responsible for keeping the contents of the stomach from backing up into the esophagus. A weak LES will not close properly and the stomach’s contents will then go back to the esophagus causing acid reflux.

5. High fat dairy - dairy products like sour cream, full cream milk and cheese that contain a lot of fat will also cause the stomach to produce more acid.



6. Other foods that may weaken or irritate the LES – chocolate, peppermint, spearmint and alcoholic beverages weaken the LES due to their relaxing properties. Chili peppers on the other hand can irritate the LES especially if you are already suffering from acid reflux. Chili peppers can aggravate the condition of an already damaged LES.

These are the foods that can cause the acid reflux, and reasons why they cause acid reflux. It is just up to you if you are to avoid them or eat them in moderation. These are only guidelines because there are many different cases of acid reflux disorder.

You may find food listed above that may not cause you acid reflux while some foods that cause acid reflux may not be included in the above list. It is best to keep a food diary so you can figure out which types of foods cause acid reflux in your case.

Alvin Hopkinson is a leading health researcher in the area of natural remedies and acid reflux treatment. Discover how you can get rid of your heartburn for good using proven and effective acid reflux natural remedies, all without using harmful medications or drugs. Visit his site now at http://www.refluxremoval.com

Heartburn! The taste of stomach acid! Uncomfortable burning! Pain! Discomfort! Nauseous! And not being able to enjoy the foods that we love! You suffer from acid reflux (also called heartburn) and you are looking for a cure. I promise you clicked the right link.

You are part of the millions who are struggling with this debilitating disease that affects 1 in 5 adults each day. And my dad was in your shoes over 30 years ago and after a mishap surgery, he finally found an acid reflux natural remedy that worked for him.

Have you been diagnosed with one of the following: acid reflux; heartburn; hiatal hernia; gastritis; or esophageal reflux? Are you tired of popping the antacids and Tums? Do you want a treatment that will cure the cause and not another band-aid?

You are the perfect candidate for an acid reflux natural remedy!

My Dad’s Acid Reflux Story

My dad almost lost his life almost 30 years ago after a stomach surgery which was suppose to cure his acid reflux. Unfortunately, there were complications that left my dad with a year of misery. He spent the next year, vomiting 3-4 times per day. He describes that year of his life as a living nightmare. But, then he found a simple acid reflux cure.

After sleeping the whole night without one reflux flare-up (this hadn’t happened in a year), he knew a miracle had just occurred. And after back tracking his previous night’s routine, he realized that a red apple was a simple cure. And 3 months after the first night, he went almost the whole 90 days with no flare-ups.

But do you really have to carry an apple with you the rest of your life?

Is there more Acid Reflux Remedies?

My dad always carries a slice of apple wherever he goes but it is often unneeded. Why? Because he also naturally cured the cause of his acid reflux problem, by allowing his diet to heal his LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) and esophagus.

What is the LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) and esophagus?

Strengthening your LES is the answer to the cure! At the top of your stomach is a muscle (like a flap) called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which normally opens and closes allowing food to enter the stomach. It also prevents the stomach acid from backing up into your esophagus. During an acid reflux flare-up, the LES opens at inappropriate times, allowing the stomach acid to leak into the esophagus. At this moment, heartburn awakens!

Allowing your esophagus to heal will also help the cure. By eating the right foods for 3-4 days, you can actually allow your esophagus to heal from the excess of stomach acid (more acidic than battery acid). To do this, we recommend eating softer foods during the treatment.

Start Your Acid Reflux Natural Remedy Today

To begin this simple treatment, we recommend you start acid reflux natural remedy today using these helpful tips.

1. Eat soft foods for 3 days to heal your LES and esophagus.

2. Avoid spicy and acidic foods for 2 days.

3. Avoid smoking for 2 days.

4. Stop drinking coffee for 2 days due to the acidic content.

5. Drink water after every meal to allow your LES flap to have a tight close which will keep the food and gas inside the stomach.

And the Rest…

Why should you cure your acid reflux naturally instead of using prescription drugs? The answer to this question might surprise you or save you. Please visit our website to discover how you can find how you could cure your acid reflux in one week with a step by step acid reflux natural remedy. All our remedy reports are 100% guaranteed, medical doctor approved and researched-based. Our 97% success rate should assure you that you will not be disappointed.

Many of us suddenly get a burning sensation that starts in the chest. This condition occurs sometimes just after we have eaten. After our stomachs have digested the food, the stomach juices can sometimes flow into the gullet, or as it is correctly called the esophagus. When that happens the esophagus lining gets irritated and a burning sensation can felt be especially near the heart. This is the main cause of heartburn for most people.

The part of the body that is responsible for heartburn occurring is the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, or LES as it is sometimes called. This valve is responsible for keeping the stomach juices within our stomachs. The intestines of the stomach are capable of dealing with the stomach acids. However if for any reason the LES relaxes then the stomach juices can flow into the esophagus and begin causing heartburn.

The walls or the skin of the esophagus are very thin, therefore the esophagus can get irritated by the acidity of the stomach juices. There are a few factors for the cause of heartburn to occur. Here is a list of what is considered to be some of the top reasons for heartburn.

Coffee, tea, and other drinks that contain caffeine can relax the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, thus allowing the stomach juices to flow into the esophagus. Chocolate contains certain amounts of a substance called theobromine.

This compound is found naturally in many caffeine bearing plants. The theobromine relaxes the LES muscle and causes the stomach acid to shoot up into the esophagus leading to heartburn.

Fried and fatty foods have a tendency to slow down the digestion process. This leads to the food being kept in the stomach for a long time. This results in increased pressure to the stomach. This pressure build-up weakens the LES allowing stomach acid to pass into the esophagus.

Tomatoes and tomato-based products, and alcohol also cause the LES to relax. These foods lead to an increase in the production of more stomach acid. This is another heartburn factor.

The tobacco chemicals in cigarettes weaken the LES, as the chemicals pass from the lungs into your blood.

Eating large amounts of food any time of the day puts extra pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter. Therefore there is a chance that some of this digested food will end up in the esophagus. This is especially true in the night as having a large dinner just before you go to sleep leads to the digesting food to press harder against your LES.

Drinking and eating lots of citrus fruits and juices also causes the LES to become relaxed. This is another cause of heartburn.

The last cause of heartburn, is clothing that restricts your stomach. As the clothes press against the stomach walls they force the food up against the LES.

In short, and keeping it nice and simple, the best way to prevent heartburn is to realize that by changing your lifestyle to avoid many of the factors that are the cause of heartburn, you can have a healthy happy life stretching out ahead of you.

If you experience persistent, dry coughing, coughing acid reflux is one possible cause of the problem.  This might come as a surprise to you, since you may not experience all of the typical symptoms of acid reflux disease, which include heartburn, regurgitation, hoarseness, sore throat, bad breath, and a sensation of having food stuck in the throat.  If you experience few or none of these symptoms, you might be wondering how it’s possible that your coughing could be related to acid reflux.  First, it might be helpful to understand the causes and mechanisms of acid reflux.

Acid reflux occurs when food and stomach acid are regurgitated from the stomach back through the esophagus.  The esophagus is the tube that travels from your mouth to your stomach, and there is muscle where the esophagus meets the stomach called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES.  The job of the LES is to serve as a one-way valve that lets food into the stomach, and then closes so that food can’t travel back into the esophagus.  Acid reflux happens when the LES isn’t doing its job.

There are many different factors that can cause the LES to malfunction.  Whether occasional or frequent, overeating can block the LES from closing completely.  Other conditions may cause the LES to open at the wrong time.  Smoking, excessive caffeine consumption, and certain medications can also contribute to acid reflux.  There is not always a clear, identifiable cause in people who suffer from acid reflux.

Coughing and acid reflux go hand in hand because stomach acid that is released from the stomach may travel back through the esophagus to the throat and larynx.  In some cases the esophagus might be able to deal with this acidic assault, while the throat and larynx cannot.  It is this acid irritation that can lead to a persistent cough.

In rare cases, stomach acid can also cause the development of another type of coughing.  Coughing acid reflux can cause stomach acid to move through the throat and into the lungs.  This can result in a dry, persistent acid reflux cough that is accompanied by respiratory disorders like pneumonia or bronchitis.  This can sometimes be mistaken for asthma, and may also exacerbate symptoms in people who have already been diagnosed with asthma.

The best way to avoid coughing acid reflux is to prevent acid reflux from occurring.  This can be achieved by avoiding overeating, and avoiding foods that commonly cause acid reflux.  Some foods to avoid are anything overly greasy, carbonated drinks, chocolate, tomato sauces, garlic and onions, spicy foods, and acidic foods like citrus fruits, for example.  In general, avoid any food that is considered a typical trigger for heartburn, then coughing acid reflux will be a non-issue.

Eating frequent, small meals, as well as using loose-fitting clothing can also help relieve acid reflux coughing.  These strategies help prevent putting too much pressure on the LES that may cause it to fail to close completely.

Acid reflux cough can also be controlled by using over the counter medications that work by either neutralizing stomach acid, or by decreasing production of stomach acid.

If dietary modification and over the counter medicines don’t work to alleviate your dry cough, you should see your doctor for a definitive diagnosis and long term treatment plan. Coughing acid reflux can be treated before developing into a more serious condition.

Have you ever left your doctor’s office thinking that he might have forgotten to mention something about your problem?

Recently, I left the doctor’s office and got into my car, only to think that my doctor didn’t tell me everything about my virus. I drove to the pharmacy only to find the medication would cost me over a hundred dollars (after insurance) and I would still be un-educated about this ailment?

Was there something else I could do to help my body fight this?

Is medication necessary or could I let the virus run its course?

Maybe you’re asking yourself, is there a simple acid reflux cure he also forgot to tell you?

An Acid Reflux Cure Your Doctor will Never Mention

Doctors and medicine do have their place in modern society. In most cases, doctors and medicine have helped and sometimes saved lives. But, in some cases (especially acid reflux), doctors and medicine are hurting more patients than helping.

Have you ever noticed that drugs like Nexium, Tagamet, Omeprazole, Prvacid, and Zantac are only supposed to be used for 8 weeks maximum (read the label)? There’s a reason for that…

The Major Reason is because many people who have GERD or Acid Reflux, take these prescription drugs to treat their heartburn symptoms for 4-8 weeks. But long-term use can cause the body to make a hormone called gastrin. Gastrin allows your stomach to make more acid thus helping with the heartburn problem. But this hormone also increases the risk of cancer to your digestive tract. Thus, do not use for more than 8 weeks. And if you are worried about cancer, I wouldn’t use the drugs at all.

5 Secrets Your Doctor Won’t Mention About an Acid Reflux Cure

1. Heal Your LES Today- The first step to curing your acid reflux is to heal your Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The LES is a muscle flap that keeps your stomach acids in your stomach. When the LES is scratched, stomach acid can escape and cause heartburn and damage the esophagus. To heal your LES, eat soft foods for at least two days.

2. Stay Away From- During the first few days, you must stay away from the following: spicy foods, acidic foods, alcohol, carbonated soft drinks, cigarettes and coffee. The substances in these foods/drinks have been known to aggravate the LES. Slowly, reintroduce them back in your diet.

3. Water- There has been thousands of reasons to drink water and here is one more. You should be drinking a tall glass of water after every meal. Water helps cleanse the LES so it closes up tighter, not allowing gases and acid to leak up in your esophagus, causing pain.

4. Chew, chew, chew! – This is a habit your need to constantly remind yourself to do. But, most people do not chew their food thoroughly enough. The ‘chewed’ food will be less likely to scratch the esophagus and LES, thus causing fewer flare-ups. It will also allow you to lose pounds quickly and eat less. I’ve had hundreds of customers who have lost up to 30 pounds just by chewing more.

5. Honey? – Honey has been found in Egyptian Pyramids and many experts believe this was the first natural cure known to man. Raw, liquid honey has been known to stimulate re-growth of tissue (esophagus and LES). Take one teaspoon before you go to bed.

Start Your Treatment Today

Are you serious about your overall health and the devastating effects acid reflux can have on it? Do you feel as if acid reflux is burning a whole in your throat? Are you willing to try almost anything for healing it?

If you are serious about this problem, would you be interested in a guaranteed acid reflux cure. Thousands of our customers were tired of re-occurring flare-ups and tried our guarantee only to find out that your body can naturally heal acid reflux if given the proper tools to do so. Though these 5 secrets will be helpful to begin the treatment, they are only the beginning. To discover my dad’s natural remedy, please visit our website to find out what fruit naturally cures GERD.

Acid Reflux Cure

Most people think of heartburn as a normal part of life – uncomfortable, but normal. Everyone they know gets heartburn at one time or another. They know the television ads by heart – the ones that show people thumping or rubbing their chests to indicate they have heartburn. Typically, people take an antacid and suffer until the burning sensation passes.

Heartburn symptoms are indeed common, but that is no reason to treat them too lightly. Heartburn symptoms do not happen by accident. They are a warning issued by your digestive system.

Heartburn symptoms must be considered in the context of their closely-related concerns: acid indigestion, acid reflux, acid regurgitation, non-cardiac chest pain, and sour stomach. Heartburn symptoms should also be considered in relation to GERD symptoms.

Heartburn symptoms closely resemble the symptoms of all the above, especially symptoms of acid.

Frequently-described Heartburn Symptoms

Heartburn symptoms are most frequently described as a burning sensation. Some may say they feel heat or warmth in the upper abdomen. Others describe heartburn symptoms as pain in the lower chest.

Heartburn symptoms occur behind the sternum – the central breastbone. The location, near the heart, is the reason for the name “heartburn,” but the heart is not involved. Some have described their heartburn symptoms as a feeling that the heart is on fire.

In addition to the burning pain, heartburn symptoms can include trouble swallowing, nausea, gas, and bloating.

Heartburn symptoms last as long as 2 hours for some. Some people have difficulty sleeping due to heartburn symptoms.

Why Heartburn Symptoms Need Attention

Heartburn symptoms, whether mild or serious, occasional or frequent, need attention. Let’s look at some of the reasons, beginning with one of the most serious.

1. Heartburn symptoms can feel much like heart attack symptoms. If you have heart disease, or are at risk for heart disease, seek medical attention immediately, even though you believe it may be heartburn. It is not worth risking serious or fatal results.

2. Heartburn symptoms, if frequent, can lead to serious medical concerns such as cancer of the esophagus. The acid that washes back into the esophagus can damage the sensitive linings of the esophagus, and lead to GERD. As it worsens, cancer can develop.

3. Heartburn symptoms are not isolated pain. They occur because something is not right in your digestive system. Heartburn symptoms are warnings. Just as you should not ignore warning lights on you car’s dashboard, you should not ignore the warning provided by heartburn symptoms.

Cause of Heartburn Symptoms

Heartburn symptoms are caused by a malfunction of the sphincter muscle at the bottom of the esophagus. This ring of muscle, the lower esophageal sphincter, is known in shorthand as the LES.

The first job of the LES is to open so that swallowed food can enter the stomach. Its second job is to close quickly to keep stomach food and juices from washing back into the esophagus.

When the LES is weakened, pressured, or relaxes inappropriately, it malfunctions. Stomach juices, and even bits of food, reflux (wash back) into the esophagus. Since the linings of the esophagus are not meant to handle the strong stomach acids, the nerves react with a sensation of burning.

Listen to Heartburn Symptoms

Since heartburn symptoms are the result of a malfunctioning LES, it makes sense to learn why the muscle is malfunctioning.

1. Does it need more oxygen?

2. Does it need more potassium or other electrolyte?

3. Is it dehydrated?

4. Would exercise strengthen it?

When another muscle malfunctions, we treat the muscle to strengthen it. Ask your physician how to strengthen your lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

Disclaimer: The author is not a professional health care provider, and intends the above for educational purposes only.