What is Barrett's Esophagus?

Question: What is Barrett's Esophagus?Answer: Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus is replaced by tissue that is similar to that which is normally found in the stomach and intestine. The process of this change is called intestinal metaplasis. The normal esophagus, the muscular tube that extends from the throat to the stomach, is lined by a pinkish-white tissue called squamous epithelium. Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which the normal lining, or epithelium, of the esophagus has been replaced by an abnormal epithelium. The Barrett's lining always begins at the bottom of the esophagus where the esophagus joins the stomach and extends upward toward the mouth for varying lengths.if(zSbL

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Your Guide to Gastritis

Treatment usually involves taking drugs to reduce stomach acid and thereby help relieve symptoms and promote healing (Stomach acid irritates the inflamed tissue in the stomach). Antacids or other medications, such as Tagamet (to decrease or neutralize gastric acid in the stomach) or proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec, will usually eliminate the symptoms and promote healing. Medications known to cause gastritis should be discontinued. Gastritis caused by pernicious anemia is treated with vitamin B12.

Avoidance of certain foods, beverages, or medicines may also be recommended. Following a diet recommended for peptic ulcer sufferers may help. For recommended foods, and foods to avoid, you can follow these foods lists.

If your gastritis is caused by an infection, that problem may be treated as well. For example, the doctor might prescribe antibiotics to clear up H. pylori infection. Once the underlying problem disappears, the gastritis usually does too. Talk to your doctor before stopping any medicine or starting any gastritis treatment on your own.

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Acidic foods cause heartburn?

Foods don't cause heartburn just because they are acidic.
Some acidic foods, such as orange juice, do cause problems for heartburn sufferers, but it isn't because of the acid content. Even nonacidic orange juice causes problems for some people. A particular food may cause heartburn for some people and not for others, so it's important to keep a food log or diary to find out what foods trigger your heartburn.

Food Charts

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Any Heartburn Home Remedies?

Answer: Many people who suffer from heartburn -- whether occasionally (once a month) or chronically (2 or more times a week) -- want natural remedies for heartburn. While there are drug treatment options available, such as antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), they'd rather try home remedies first, or as an alternative if they have been taking medications for some time.

First, it's important that you see a doctor to be evaluated if you are experiencing frequent heartburn. Frequent heartburn can be a symptom of something more serious, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Once you receive a diagnosis, you can discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Also, you should never begin or stop any treatment without consulting a physician.

Effective treatment of GERD is important because, if not treated properly, GERD may result in serious problems, such as esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus. If a medication or home remedy isn't working to control your heartburn, it is important to discuss an alternative treatment with your doctor.

The alternative remedies listed below, such as apple cider vinegar and chamomile tea, have been used as home remedies for heartburn. However, it's important to note that in most cases there haven't been any clinical trials to support their effect on heartburn.

Some home remedies you may want to try are:

Baking soda is a natural antacid. If you dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of water, it can neutralize acid and temporarily alleviate heartburn caused by acid reflux.

There are some drawbacks to this, however. When you add baking soda to water, it releases carbon dioxide. That's what causes the fizz. This fizz can open the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to enable you to burp and help relieve the pressure from bloating. Unfortunately, though, opening the LES can also allow stomach contents to reflux up into the esophagus.

DGL is another remedy used for heartburn. It is available in chewable tablets or capsules that you can break open and dissolve in water. You should not use DGL if you have been diagnosed with hypertension and/or are receiving treatment for hypertension. While it's not established medical fact, some people believe bananas may act as a natural antacid in the body. You can eat either fresh or dried bananas. Chamomile has been used to help neutralize stomach acid. It is also used by people as a stress reliever. People have reported that natural apple cider vinegar works for them. Apple cider vinegar can be taken in tablet, capsule, or liquid form. Fresh ginger is one of the oldest home remedies for heartburn. It is also used to help treat nausea. Ginger can be added to food when it's cooked, eaten raw, or consumed as ginger tea. Turmeric helps stimulate digestion and prevent acid build-up. Turmeric is used in curried foods. If you don't want to use turmeric in your cooking, it is available in capsule form and can be taken before meals. The juice from the aloe vera plant has been used to soothe an irritated esophagus. Aloe vera juice has a long history of use in Europe as a natural home remedy to relive heartburn. You should only use aloe vera juice that has been specifically prepared for internal use.

Again, it is important to remember that none of these remedies have been carefully studied or compared with standard medications for acid suppression. Before trying any of them, discuss with your healthcare provider.

Sources:

Carol Ann Rinzler, Ken DeVault, MD. Heartburn & Reflux for Dummies. Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2004. ISBN: 0-7645-5688-6

Magee, Elaine: Tell Me What to Eat If I Have Acid Reflux. Book-mart Press: New Page Books, 2001, ISBN: 1564145743.

Rogers, M.D., Sherry A.. No More Heartburn: Stop the Pain in 30 Days -- Naturally. Kensington Publishing Corp., 2000.

Sklar, Jill and Cohen, Annabel: Eating for Acid Reflux: Marlowe & Company; Imprint of Avalon Publishing Group, Inc. 2003, ISBN: 1569244928.

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Swedish Meatballs

Most swedish meatball recipes usually contain fatty beef and lots of sour cream. This recipe is heartburn-safe because turkey is substituted for the beef and fat-free sour cream is used.

The first part of the ingredients is for the meatballs (mb) and the second part of the ingredients is for the sauce (sa).

(mb) 1 cup plain bread crumbs(mb) 2 egg whites(mb) 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg(mb) 1/2 ground allspice(mb) 1 teaspoon salt(mb) 2 pounds chilled ground turkey breast meat--------------------(sa) 2 tablespoons olive oil(sa) 3 tablespoons cornstarch(sa) 1/2 cup water(sa) 3 cups beef broth(sa) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce(sa) 1 tablespoon fat-free sour cream(sa) Pinch of saltPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. To make meatballs, combine bread crumbs, egg whites, nutmeg, allspice, salt, and turkey in a large bowl. Mix with your hands. With wet hands, form turkey mixture into 1-inch balls. Chill turkey balls in refrigerator until ready to use. Pour olive oil in a large nonstick skillet and heat over a medium-high heat until hot. Place turkey balls into the skillet and brown until browned on all sides. Place turkey balls into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, and cover with foil. Bake for 20 minutes. As turkey balls are baking, prepare sauce. In a small bowl combine constarch and water, stirring until smooth. Set aside. Combine Worcestershire and beef broth in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Whisk in the cornstarch mixture and continue whisking until the mixture begins to thicken. Remove mixture from heat and gently whisk in sour cream. Pour this mixture over the turkey balls and stir well. Serve warm.Serves 6 if(zSbL

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Causes of Sour Taste in Mouth

Answer: When stomach contents reflux back up into the esophagus and reach the back of the throat, you may notice a sour taste in your mouth. This could be due to a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens inappropriately and allows stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus.

Normally, the LES works like a one-way valve, opening to allow food to pass into the stomach and then closing to keep food and digestive juices from flowing back into the esophagus. But if the sphincter relaxes when it shouldn't or becomes weak, stomach acid can flow backward into the esophagus, causing the burning sensation we know as heartburn and potentially a sour taste in your mouth.

Other symptoms of GERD can include:

Chest pain
This pain usually starts behind the breastbone (the sternum), and may travel up to the throat. It usually occurs shortly after eating, and can last from a few minutes to several hours. It is important to remember that sometimes the pain of a heart attack can be confused with the burning pain of GERD, and it is always important to seek medical attention if there is any doubt as to the origin of this chest pain.

Hoarseness in the morning
Irritation caused by refluxed stomach acid into the throat can lead to hoarseness.

Difficulty swallowing
Trouble with swallowing (dysphagia) occurs when food does not pass normally from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach. There may be a sensation of food sticking in the throat or a feeling of choking. Difficulty swallowing should always be evaluated by a physician.

Persistent dry cough
In some studies, GERD accounted for about 41% of cases of chronic cough in nonsmoking patients. If refluxed stomach acid is breathed in, it can cause coughing.

Bad breath
When acid from the stomach comes up into the throat and mouth, acrid-smelling breath can result.

Heartburn can occur for a number of reasons. These include eating foods that often trigger heartburn, such as acidic foods (e.g. tomatoes and citrus fruits), drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, being pregnant, and being overweight.

If you suffer from chronic heartburn, you should speak with your doctor. The two of you can discuss a treatment plan that works for you. A doctor will usually suggest lifestyle modifications first. You can also reduce your chances of heartburn occurring by avoiding foods that can trigger heartburn, and learning how to sleep to prevent nighttime heartburn.

If these steps don't work to control your heartburn, your doctor will discuss other treatment options, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). An upper endoscopy may also need to be done.

Sources:

"Heartburn and GERD FAQ." American College of Gastroenterology. 8 Jan 2010

"Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)." NIH Publication No. 07–0882 May 2007. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). 8 Jan 2010

"Is it just a little HEARTBURN or something more serious?." American College of Gastroenterology. 8 Jan 2010

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Day One Sample Menu

Daily menu featuring heartburn-friendly foods and recipes. These are ideal for those individuals on a heartburn diet. Suggestions for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks are given. Each dinner menu shown here gives an Entree with a link to the recipe for its preparation, along with suggestions for side dishes.

Breakfast: 1 cup hot oatmeal cereal8 oz skim or 1% milk1/2 cup papaya slices2 slices whole-wheat bread1 tbsp margarine

Mid-Morning Snack:

Lunch: 1 1/2 cups cream of chicken soup Chicken sandwich (2 slices whole grain bread, 4 oz deli-style sliced chicken, 1 tbsp low-fat mayonnaise, 1 lettuce leaf) 1/2 cup raw carrot sticks

Mid-Afternoon Snack:

Dinner: Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff 1 small tossed salad 2 tbsp low-fat or fat-free dressing 1 cup steamed green beans 1 dinner roll 1 tbsp margarine

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