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DESCRIPTION:
Thank you for your interest in the Natural Medicine approach to treating disease and healthy living! Caring Medical is currently a full time Prolotherapy doctor's office, headed by Ross Hauser, MD and we are blessed to fill the needs of patients seeking an alternative to surgery. We are accepting new patients and athletes suffering from chronic pain, sports injuries, and arthritis for treatment with Prolotherapy. Due to this large demand in Prolotherapy, we are not currently accepting new patients for natural medicine conditions, this includes autoimmune conditions, weight loss, menopause, hormones, or cancer. Through the years, we have seen so many lives turn around for the better with some of the methods discussed on this page, and encourage you to seek a Natural Medicine practitioner at www.acam.org.
Esophageal reflux is a painful disorder in which acidic juices and/or bile from the stomach flow back up into the esophagus. It has been estimated that 40 percent of the U.S. population experiences some degree of esophageal reflux, with 20 percent of adults complaining of weekly episodes of heartburn, and 7 to 10 percent complaining of daily symptoms.
How does esophageal reflux develop?
The lower esophageal sphincter, which is the circular band of muscle around the bottom part of the esophagus, normally relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into the stomach. When it relaxes at any other time, stomach acid is able to flow back up into the esophagus, causing inflammation and damage to the esophagus, as well as to the lungs and the larynx, or the voice box. The condition is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Ten percent of patients with GERD develop Barrett's esophagus, a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus is damaged by irritation from leaked stomach acid. Barrett’s esophagus can increase the risk of cancer of the esophogus.
Other factors that can trigger esophageal reflux include smoking, drinking alcohol and certain medications. Fatty foods, allergies, chocolate, caffeine, onions, spicy foods, mint and some medications can also increase a person’s risk of developing the disorder. Digestive enzyme imbalances may also be involved. In addition, hormones during pregnancy cause the digestive system to work more slowly and the lower esophageal sphincter to relax more frequently. However, these symptoms typically disappear after pregnancy.
What are the symptoms of esophageal reflux?
The most obvious symptom of esophageal reflux is heartburn, which is a burning sensation that can begin either in the pit of the stomach or in the lower breastbone region. This sensation can then move up into the chest and throat, causing a bitter acid taste. Other symptoms include difficulty swallowing, coughing, wheezing, asthma, hoarseness and a sore throat. In severe cases patients complain of regurgitated blood, as well as a stool that's black due to partially digested blood. When esophageal inflammation accompanies the esophageal reflux, symptoms may also include a sharp stabbing pain in the center of the chest that can take as long as a week to subside, even after acid-suppressing therapy has been initiated.
Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of esophageal reflux, but they do not address the allergies and enzyme insufficiencies that may be the root of the problem. By addressing the underlying causes of the condition, as natural medicine treatments do, esophageal reflux may be alleviated permanently.
Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat esophageal reflux.
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