Most of us get heartburn on occasion.  It can be very unpleasant, but it’s usually nothing to worry about.  But if you get it often, it could be caused by acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux is officially known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD.  It is defined as chronic abnormal reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus, and is caused by the dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).  This is a small ring of muscle at the opening of the stomach.  When it doesn’t remain closed as much as it should, it allows acid to come back up out of the stomach and into the esophagus.  This can erode the lining of the esophagus, causing ulcers to form.  It can also increase the likelihood of esophageal cancer.

If you have the following symptoms, you could have acid reflux:

* Frequent, persistent heartburn - This is the most recognizable symptom, as well as the most common.  Most acid reflux sufferers have heartburn several times a month or more.  But some do not have heartburn at all.

* Regurgitation of acid - Those with acid reflux often report regurgitation of acid into the back of the throat, and sometimes all the way into the mouth.  It may or may not be accompanied by food from the stomach.

* Persistent cough - Some acid reflux sufferers develop a dry cough.  This usually occurs when certain nerves in the lower esophagus are stimulated by the refluxed acid.  But it can also be caused by acid reaching the throat and irritating it.

* Choking sensation - Acid reflux sufferers sometimes feel like there is a piece of food stuck in their throats, when in reality there is not.

* Wheezing or hoarseness - This is caused by the damage done to the throat and esophagus.  It is particularly common in the morning.  Acid reflux can aggravate existing asthma, and in rare cases it has been known to cause it.

Treatment of Acid Reflux

If you have some of the symptoms above, you may need to see a doctor.  If you are diagnosed with acid reflux, there are a number of medications (known as proton pump inhibitors) that your doctor could try.  There are herbal remedies that can help as well.  But there are also some lifestyle changes that can provide relief.  These include:

* Avoiding alcohol and tobacco - Both of these can aggravate the symptoms of acid reflux.  Alcohol causes the stomach to produce more acid and relaxes the LES.  Smoking also has these effects, and it also reduces the production of saliva, which provides a natural defense against refluxed acid.

* Losing weight - Being overweight can make acid reflux worse.  This is because of increased pressure on the abdomen.

* Avoiding certain foods - Foods that aggravate acid reflux include fried or fatty foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, and anything spicy.  It’s also a good idea to eat smaller meals, as large meals can increase abdominal pressure.

* Elevating the head of your bed - Acid reflux often worsens at night because it’s easier for acid to escape the stomach when you’re lying flat.  Raising the head of your bed can help.  Sitting up for a few hours after a meal is also helpful.

Acid reflux can be painful, and it can lead to other health problems.  The good news is that it is treatable.  With medication and a few lifestyle modifications, most sufferers have a major reduction in symptoms.

If you’ve ever been diagnosed with food poisoning, you know how uncomfortable it can be.  While it is a common illness that affects about 76 million people a year, if a severe case is left untreated it can result in hospitalization and even, on rare occasions, death.  That’s why it’s important to know what food poisoning is and how to deal with it if you or a loved one is affected.

What Exactly is Food Poisoning?

Food poisoning is a general term that can be used to describe hundreds of different ailments that you can catch from what you eat.  It can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or even harmful chemicals in your food.  Depending on what specific type you have, the symptoms of food poisoning will vary.  Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, severe stomach pain, and diarrhea.  More serious symptoms include bloody stools, fever, chills, and dehydration.  The symptoms will start within 48 hours of eating contaminated food.

While most people think of food poisoning as being absolutely terrible, there’s actually a good chance you’ve had it before and didn’t even know it.  Since it generally goes away on its own within about 24 to 48 hours, it is often mistaken for the stomach flu.  In serious cases, however, the symptoms are much more severe and only go away with treatment.

Food Poison Treatment

Generally, the treatment for food poisoning is simply to wait it out.  As with any stomach illness, it is important to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water.  If you can keep them down, it is a good idea to try taking anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea medication to slow down the loss of fluids, but putting fluids back in is more important.  While it will likely be a hassle and make you feel sicker, you should continually drink water or other beverages that won’t cause stomach discomfort.

If you are too sick to keep hydrated, you may need to go to a hospital.  There they can give you medication to keep you from losing more fluids, along with IV fluids to keep you hydrated.  Depending on the type of food poisoning you have, they may be able to give you antibiotics or other medication to fight the infection, but the normal treatment is to let the sickness run its course.  If you do need to go to the hospital, be sure to keep your follow-up appointments and complete your entire treatment.

The most important thing to know about food poisoning is how to avoid it.  By taking a few simple steps, you can avoid a whole lot of pain and aggravation.

* Be sure to get your refrigerated and frozen food home from the store quickly, especially meats and fish.  Your refrigerator and freezer should be kept at 40 degrees and 0 degrees respectively.

* Use or freeze food and leftovers within a few days.  Don’t ever eat food past its expiry date.

* Always heat food to 165 degrees when cooking.  Get a meat thermometer to make sure you reach the proper temperature.

* Be sure to keep meat, poultry, and fish separate from other foods (and use a separate cutting board), and always clean up thoroughly after cooking them.

* Always wash raw food before you eat it so you can remove any contaminants.

Knowing what food poisoning is, how to prevent it, and what to do if you have it, are all important for keeping your family as healthy as possible.