Acid Reflux Symptoms, Causes & Natural Treatments

Between 25 percent to 40 percent of Americans of all ages suffer from acid reflux symptoms. An estimated 20 percent of adults experience gastroesophageal reflux disease weekly or daily — commonly called GERD or referred to as heartburn, a more severe case of acid reflux. (1) Why do so many suffer from these agitating, often persistent, symptoms of indigestion? As you’ll learn, there are many common causes of GERD and acid reflux, which include pregnancy, hiatal hernias, eating an unhealthy diet and an imbalance of stomach acid. All of these can result in the regurgitation of acid that triggers unpleasant acid reflux symptoms, such as burning or belching. (2)

At the root of acid reflux is dysfunction of the the lower esophageal sphincter, which is supposed to close as soon as food passes through. However, if it doesn’t close all the way, acid can creep up from lower in the digestive system and begin to cause an array of problems. If it’s not treated properly, long-term acid reflux can cause severe damage.

Easing acid reflux or GERD symptoms temporarily with medications or over-the-counter drugs is usually not a cure — it’s only a way to offer some relief as symptoms are suppressed in the short-term. Ironically, these medications may cause new or worsened symptoms, depending on how your body reacts to them. If you’ve been relying on over-the-counter and/or prescriptions to ease pain and discomfort, you might be familiar with some of the notorious side effects associated with their use, which include headaches, muscle cramps, rapid heart rate and more digestive upset.

Below you’ll find information related to natural remedies for managing acid reflux symptoms, providing you with a much better understanding overall of what causes this type of digestive dysfunction to begin with and how it can finally come to an end. In addition to lowering acid reflux symptoms, the same types of treatments can also usually be helpful for managing related issues, such as GERD symptoms.

Acid Reflux Symptoms

The most common acid reflux and GERD symptoms include: (3)

• Heartburn


• Bitter taste in your mouth, periodically or (for some people) throughout the day (some people taste regurgitated food or sour liquid at the back of their mouths/throats)


• Waking up in the middle of the night feeling like you’re choking or coughing


• Dry mouth


• Gum irritation, including tenderness and bleeding


• Bad breath


• Regurgitation of acidic foods


• Bloating after meals and during bouts of symptoms


• Nausea


• Bloody vomiting (possible sign of damage in the lining of the esophagus)


• Black stools


• Belching, gassiness, burping and flatulence after meals


• Hiccups that are difficult to stop


• Difficulty swallowing (a possible sign of narrowing esophagus)


• Unexpected weight loss


• Increased discomfort when bending over or lying down


• Hoarseness upon waking or throughout the day


• Chronic throat irritation, soreness and dryness

Related: What Are Meat Sweats? Plus How to Prevent Them

Complications

If you experience ongoing regurgitation of acid — because you don’t respond well to medications or don’t take steps to treat the root causes, for examples — scarring of tissue in the lower esophagus can result in narrowing of the esophagus, which raises the risk for other problems. Research shows that long-term complications associated with untreated symptoms of acid reflux include Barrett’s esophagus (a serious complication of GERD), cancer of the esophagus, sleep-related problems and chronic coughs. (4)

As the rate of acid reflux has risen steadily over the past decade, so have related complications. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2017, nearly 17,000 new cases of esophageal cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. and almost 16,000 Americans died of the disease. There are also side effects and complications possible due to taking medications for acid reflux, including prescription and even over-the-counter drugs. I’ll touch on that shortly.

Causes and Risk Factors

Contrary to popular belief (and what many pharmaceutical companies say in advertisements), acid reflux symptoms are not caused by too much acid in the stomach. In fact, it is now believed by many that low stomach acid often causes symptoms.

Acid reflux is caused by acid rising up to the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat and stomach. Acid enters the esophagus because of a leaky valve, and there are a variety of reasons this happens. The esophageal valve that connects the esophagus and stomach is unable to shut properly and gastric juices end up “sneaking up the pipe.” Then without proper levels of acid in the stomach, digestion is altered, often causing unpleasant symptoms.

While everyone’s gut is different and we all have different food sensitivities as well as acid reflux triggers, there are some repeat offenders that seem to contribute to many cases of acid reflux or GERD. (5)

Causes and risk factors associated with acid reflux and GERD include:

Inflammation: Studies have found that high levels of inflammation are linked to the development of GERD because they cause tissue damage and dysfunction in the esophagus. (6) Inflammation left to fester is also a factor in the development of esophageal cancer, a known complication of acid reflux. (7)

Hiatal Hernia: Hiatal hernias can cause the unpleasant symptoms of acid reflux. The diaphragm helps separate the stomach from the chest. A hiatal hernia happens when the upper part of the stomach protrudes above the diaphragm, allowing acid to escape. These hernias are associated with most, but not all, cases of GERD. (8)

Carbohydrate malabsorption: More and more evidence seems to point to the link between the poor digestion of carbohydrates and GERD. In the book “Heartburn Cured,” Dr. Norm Robillard argues that we target some incorrect trigger foods when treating GERD nutritionally and that more focus should be on eliminating excess carbohydrates.

The mechanisms behind this are somewhat complex, but to sum it up: research seems to reflect that acid reflux and GERD are probably exacerbated by too much intra-abdominal pressure (gas throughout the intestines). Robillard and other sources suggest that the pressure experienced in cases of acid reflux may be due to bacterial overgrowth, such as SIBO, and malabsorption of carbohydrates, which can be traced back to low stomach acid levels. Babies may develop acid reflux or GERD due to an underdeveloped digestive system, which usually corrects itself by the age of 1. Many aging individuals lack sufficient stomach acid, often as a result of regular antacid use or malnutrition, especially in cases of H. pylori infections leading to atrophic gastritis. This can result in atypical symptoms in elderly patients, such as chest pain or gastrointestinal bleeding, which may be overlooked as signs of acid reflux. Pregnant women may experience acid reflux due to pressure from the fetus on the esophageal valve, while obesity can also contribute to increased pressure on the valves and sphincter, leading to acid reflux. Other factors like large meals, smoking, certain medications, heartburn, excessive exercise, magnesium deficiency, and chronic cough can also exacerbate acid reflux symptoms. It is important to note that while conventional treatments for acid reflux focus on reducing stomach acidity, it is essential to maintain optimal stomach acid levels for proper digestion. What is the issue with that?

One major problem is that these medications do not address the root cause and only provide temporary relief. When antacids decrease stomach acidity, the body compensates by producing more acid to maintain the intended pH level. This cycle continues every time a person takes medication to reduce acidity.

Hypochlorhydria, which is low stomach acid, is a dangerous and under-researched condition. Continuous use of antacids, H2 blockers, or PPIs contributes to this problem, potentially leading to conditions like chronic atrophic gastritis and various side effects such as vitamin B12 deficiency, autoimmune disorders, asthma, diabetes, chronic fatigue, and other illnesses.

Antacids

Contrary to common belief that excessive acid levels cause high acidity in the stomach, over-the-counter antacids are often recommended as the first treatment for heartburn and reflux. While antacids like TUMS® provide quick relief, they only address symptoms and not the underlying issue. The repeated use of antacids can lead to various side effects listed by 20 issues.

• Diarrhea


• Constipation


• Nausea


• Vomiting


• Discomfort


• Loss of appetite


• Mood changes


• Weakness


• Calcium loss


• Osteoporosis


• Kidney stones


• Swelling in wrists/ankles


• Bone pain


• Discolored stool


• Aluminum toxicity


• Slow breathing


• Frequent urination


• Headaches


• Muscle pain


• Interactions with drugs/supplements

Histamine Type 2 Receptor Agonists (H2 Blockers)

H2 blockers, like Pepcid/Pepcid AC®, Axid®, Tagamet®, and Zantac®, work slower than antacids but last longer to reduce stomach acid levels. However, they also have side effects and can lead to issues like increased risk of infections due to changes in stomach pH levels.

• Headaches


• Anxiety


• Depression


• Mental disturbances


• Diarrhea


• Dizziness


• Rash


• Impotence


• Confusion


• Hallucinations


• Heart issues


• Kidney problems


• Upset stomach


• Vomiting


• Constipation


• Cough


• Liver damage


• Stomach cancer


• Iron deficiency


• Decreased folate absorption


• Calcium deficiency


• Decreased zinc absorption

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)

PPIs, like Nexium®, Aciphex®, Prevacid®, and Prilosec®, block an enzyme that triggers stomach acid production, resulting in long-term acid reflux symptom relief. However, PPIs have been linked to various health issues, including magnesium deficiency, increased risk of bone fractures, and other side effects similar to antacids and H2 blockers.

Long-term use of PPIs may lead to complications such as C. diff infection, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, vitamin B12 deficiency, stomach cancer, ulcers, inflammatory bowel conditions, leaky gut, asthma, and other health problems.

(47) Acid escaping into the esophagus reduces the ability to allow air into the lungs by tenfold, leading to increased reflux for asthma patients. (48) Regrettably, only one-third of patients with GERD exhibit visible esophageal changes on a barium swallow X-ray.

Another diagnostic option is a stomach acid test, where the stomach contents are emptied and gastrin is infused to assess acid secretion. If you suspect low stomach acid, most doctors may not suggest testing as it is not traditionally linked to acid reflux symptoms. However, you can personally request a Heidelberg test.

Key Points:
- Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid rises into the esophagus, leading to symptoms like chest pains, heartburn, a sour taste in the mouth, bloating, gas, and difficulty in digestion and swallowing.
- Common triggers of acid reflux and GERD include pregnancy, history of hiatal hernias, obesity, poor diet, older age, and stomach acid imbalance.
- Conventional medicine recommends acid-blocking medications like antacids, H2 blockers, and PPIs to manage acid reflux symptoms. However, these drugs come with serious side effects and do not address the root cause of the issue. I'm sorry, but your request appears to be incomplete. Please provide more context or clarify what you would like me to rewrite.