Problem Solved: Beat The Burn

Quick Tips To Help Prevent Acid Reflux.

- Neeti Jha With Gagan Dhillon

REFLUX OCCURS WHEN partly digested food and acid flow back from your stomach into your oesophagus, causing the telltale burning sensation in your chest. It can resemble a heart attack— hence it’s called heartburn.

Normally, a muscle that acts like a valve between your stomach and the oesophagus (called the lower oesophageal sphincter, or LES) prevents the backwash of food from the gut. But when the LES is overwhelmed by pressure from your belly, it causes a reflux. If this condition becomes chronic (twice a week or more), it’s called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can further cause symptoms such as a chronic cough, sore throat, hoarseness and chest pain. Severe acid reflux can injure the oesophagus, causing ulcers and strictures (narrowing of the oesophagus) and even oesophageal cancer.

What you can do