If you often suffer from heartburn, indigestion, or acid reflux, cures and treatments are something that you often look for. Acid reflux is caused by stomach acid, or food, backing up in to the esophagus, causing a burning sensation after eating. This can happen because the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus does not close properly or because of added pressure on the abdomen from pregnancy or obesity.

One of the first steps to take to cure acid reflux is to make lifestyle changes. Avoid foods that act as triggers for your acid reflux. These can include spicy foods, chocolate, acidic foods like oranges and tomatoes, fried foods and alcohol. Eating smaller meals, more often can diminish the signs of acid reflux.

If lifestyle changes are not to cure your acid reflux, the next step is to take medication. Common over the counter medications include antacids, or foaming agents. Antacids use a combination of salts to neutralize the acid in your stomach, foaming agents work by covering your stomach lining with foam to prevent reflux.

Another type of medication is called H2 blockers. These are available in both over the counter and prescription strength. These medications provide short-term treatment for the signs of acid reflux. They work by blocking the amount of acid that is produced in the stomach. Other widely used medications include proton pump inhibitors, which works more effectively than H2 blockers, and prokinetics which help the stomach empty faster.

In some cases, lifestyle changes and medication are not to control acid reflux. The next step in acid reflux treatment is to have some medical tests to diagnose the issue. Your physician may order a barium swallow. This is an x-ray check that will show any abnormalities, such as a hiatal hernia or ulceration. Another common check is an upper endoscopy. This is a more correct check than barium swallow. The doctor inserts a tiny flexible tube down your throat. This tube has a tiny camera on the finish, so the doctor can see the surface of the esophagus, and spot any abnormalities. The doctor can see if there is any destroy to the lining of the esophagus, and they may also take a sample of the cells from the lining by inserting a tiny set of tweezers down the tube.