Acid Refux Basics

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), the medical term for “Acid Reflux” is defined as the product of abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus thus, creating a mucosal damage, likewise known as the chronic symptom.

This disease strikes adult primarily, while infants and children may also be affected. Normally spurred by consuming certain foods, if not pregnancy, or taking a sleep right after consuming a heavy meal, a large number of persons suffer from acid reflux at one time or another.

Heartburn or acid indigestion is another name that refers to acid reflux. Heartburn, the major symptom of Acid Reflux in the esophagus, is described to cause a burning uneasiness at the back of the sternum.

The symptoms may come as coughing, voice transformation, hoarseness, constant ear ache, or sinusitis. The complications brought upon by acid reflux may lead to esophageal ulcers or worse this may lead to esophageal cancer.

However, constant heartburn sensations do not necessarily mean that one has captured GERD already. The risk occurs when heartburn happened more than once a week, this occasion could possibly lead in developing GERD.

The usual cause of GERD is the increase in acidity or gastric acid production in the body, obesity, pregnancy, or tight-fitting apparels, these all may add to the problem. The yeast infections are also thought to be one of the causes of GERD-like symptoms.

An added ironical cause of the GERD is the insufficient production of stomach acid in the body. The explanation says that the valve, the hollow organ with a flap that insure the one-way course of fluid through the organ, once emptied triggers acidity in the intestines. If the valve fails to open, the contents of the stomach will be blended into the esophagus, and then irritation occurs.

Meanwhile, there are already several treatments for GERD today, one of which is the balance and healthy consuming habits. Now if proper diet fails to work, one may shift to medication therapy or surgery as suggested by the doctors. Below are the lists of several selections of Acid Reflux treatment:

Suitable Diet: the natural way to cure Acid Reflux is through change in their consuming habits. A good number of people affected by GERD found success in following this method. Avoid the food ingredients which may intensify heart burn such as caffeine, soft drinks, and smoking. Avoid consuming two hours before sleeping; likewise, avoid lying down after taking meal. These are the regular suggested change in lifestyle.

A different easy way to treat GERD is to elevate the head of the bed. The pharmacological therapy, the combination of prevention of food two hours before sleeping and the rise of the head of the bed, there is a great chance for a patient to gain a 95 percent relief. The rise of the head of the bed is suggested to range for only 6 to 8 inches or 20 cm. Using this method the backflow of gastric fluids will be hampered.

Drug handling: Drugs reduce the secretion of the gastric acid, for instance and famotidine and omeprazole lessen the secretion of gastric acid and the Antacids counteract the acid.

Surgical handling: the Nissen fundoplication, the standard surgical treatment for Acid Reflux, the medication process will only cover a short period of time. The function of this is to support the sphincter, a spherical bond of muscles that opens and closes to let the food or waste to pass, as well as stop Acid Reflux, and of course restore the hiatal hernia.

Bacteria Free Holiday Meals

An accepted way to observe holidays or any party event is to ask acquaintances and family to a buffet or to dinner. However, this type of meal where foods are un-refrigerated for long periods leaves the door wide open for unwelcome guests—bacteria that can cause food borne sickness.

Happy times for giving and sharing should not include sharing food that will cause illness. Here are some guidelines from the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline to assist in bacteria free holiday meals.








Good Food Handling
Be sure to wash your hands prior to and after touching food. As well, keep your kitchen, dishes and utensils clean. At all times serve food on clean plates, don’t use the plate that was the raw meat and poultry was on. If you do, bacteria from the raw meat juice can cross-contaminate the food being served.


Cooking Thoroughly
If you are preparing foods before the party, be sure to cook foods carefully to a safe minimum internal temperature for bacteria free holiday meals.

• Beef, veal and lamb steaks, roasts and chops should be cooked to 145 degrees F.
• All cuts of pork should be cooked to 160 degrees F.
• Ground beef, veal and lamb should be cooked 160 degrees F.
• All poultry should be cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F.
  

Use The Right Containers For Bacteria Free Holiday Meals
Separate cooked foods into shallow containers to put in the refrigerator or freezer until you serve them. This helps with rapid, even cooling. Heat hot foods to a minimum of 165 degrees F before serving. Put food on several small platters instead of one large platter. Keep other foods warming in the oven (set at 200 to 250 degrees F) or cold in the refrigerator until time to serve. This way food can be kept at a safe temperature for a greater period of time. Use a new platter instead of adding fresh food to one that already had food in it. Many people have been getting food from the dish and it has also been at room temperature for a time.

Two-Hour Food Rule
Don’t let foods be at room temperature for more than two hours. Pay attention to how long food has been sitting on the table and throw away anything that’s been out two hours or more.

The Hot and Cold of Bacteria Free Holiday Meals
Hot foods need to be kept at 140 degrees F or warmer. You can keep these foods hot with chafing dishes, slow cookers and warming trays on the serving area. Foods that are served cold should be kept at 40 degrees F or colder. You can do this by putting dishes in bowls of ice or using small serving trays and replacing them.

Food borne Bacteria That Can Sabotage Bacteria Free Holiday Meals
Bacteria can be everywhere but some really like to hang around parties. Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Listeria monocytogenes cling to people's hands and steam tables. These are different from microorganisms that cause food to spoil; these harmful or pathogenic bacteria are odorless and tasteless. Preventing them requires safe food handling.

If after you have taken all these precautions and illness still occurs, make sure to contact a health professional and describe the symptoms. Have a safe and happy holiday and bacteria free holiday meals.