The Myths about Acid Reflux Symptoms in Women and Men
January 12, 2010 by admin
Filed under Acid Reflux Information
You believe too much acid is causing the problem, but what is acid? Stomach acid is needed to digest food, so can you really have too much?
If acid is not the problem, then what is? You have heard that too much stress causes heartburn, but you have suffered even in relatively easy periods in your life.
You hear that women get heartburn more, but then you hear the same statistic for men.
The fact of the matter is there are too many urban legends and myths about heartburn. You can follow one person’s advice about acid reflux in women and men, only to find out later you did the exact wrong thing.
It can be confusing, but fortunately there is help. The article will help you sort out the fact from the fiction and get rid of your acid reflux for good.
Myth #1: My Acid Reflux Symptoms Are From Too Much Stomach Acid
Fact:
This is perhaps the most common myth about the symptoms of acid reflux in women and men. Your acid reflux symptoms are not because of your stomach acid.
It is because the small muscle at the end of your esophagus is weak. It opens and allows stomach contents, including acid, to flow upward and burn your sensitive esophageal tissue.
That being said, once the acid reflux occurs, the burn from the acid further weakens the esophagus. This does make you susceptible for a repeated occurrence.
However, the true solution is to help your body more quickly digest food. The longer food stays in your stomach, the more acid must be produced to digest it and the more pressure is exerted against the esophagus.
If you can help the food move quickly out of your stomach, you will be able to eliminate heartburn.
Myth #2: Men Get Heartburn More Because Their Busy Schedules Force Them to Eat Junkfood
Fact:
It is true that men traditionally worked long hours and squeezed in any available food, and typically bad-for-you food. However, that is hardly a true statement anymore.
Women are working the same long hours as their male counterparts. Men and women alike are sneaking in donuts as they sit in a morning meeting.
When they come home late at the end of the day, it is a lot simpler to stop at a drive-thru than to come home and cook a healthy, scratch- made meal.
Even stay at home moms are equally susceptible to acid reflux and heartburn. They are shuttling kids between schools and sports, running errands, and trying to keep their home in order.
They are swinging by the coffee shop and guzzling down an extra creamy latte just like their working counterparts.
The truth is that acid reflux is an equal opportunity condition. Both men and women suffer from the problem. Fortunately, the cure for acid reflux is also equal opportunity.
Myth #3: I Will Get Heartburn No Matter How Much I Weigh
Fact:
This could not be further from the truth. Your body wants to be healthy and any excess weight throws off that health. The heavier you are, the more frequently you will suffer from heartburn and acid reflux.
For women, because of their internal build and where they store fat, even a small amount of extra weight can increase the chances of triggering heartburn.
Men have a little more tolerance to weight induced acid reflux, but only slightly. Essentially, a weight gain of 10 pounds or more is opening you up to heartburn and acid reflux.
As you can see, this is just another reason to lose and keep off that extra weight.
Myth #4: Drinking Milk Will Soothe My Tummy
Fact:
Milk is a base, the opposite of an acid. So, this solution seems logical. In fact, there will be an immediate reduction in the stomach acid in your stomach. In the long run, although, milk will only worsen your problem.
As your learned under Myth #1, the main problem causing acid reflux symptoms in women and men is the stomach’s inability to digest the food inside.
Adding more food, such as milk, is only going to slow down digestion. Furthermore, milk is notoriously difficult to digest and you stomach will have to overproduce acid to get rid of it.
When milk combines with stomach acid, the byproduct is gas. Your excess gas is going to push against the esophagus, eventually pushing it open and causing reflux.
Myth #5: Once You Start Taking Medication, You Have To Take It for Life
Fact:
While the medication manufacturers would like you to believe otherwise, this is pure myth. The symptoms of acid reflux in women and men are best controlled off medication.
Many people get lured into taking a daily regiment to control their anti-acid. When they try to go off the medications, the heartburn returns so they feel trapped.
The reason why their acid reflux symptoms return once they go off medication is because they have done nothing to actually fix their problem.
A great philosopher once said “the definition of insanity is repeating the same actions and expecting different results.” This could not be truer with regard to acid reflux and heartburn.
If you have made no effort to change the circumstances causing your problem, the problem is not going to go away.
Simply avoiding a certain food is not the kind of change you need to make. Acid reflux symptoms in women and men are a sign of poor health and you must improve your health to cure your problem. The Heartburn No More program can help you make the changes you need. You will learn techniques to heal and strengthen your esophagus.
You will learn how to nourish your body to make the digestive process more efficient. Additionally, you will learn different ways to improve your overall health which will keep you acid reflux free.
There is a lot of misinformation out there about acid-reflux. It is time to stop listening to old wives’ tales about the problem and starting taking matters into your own hands. However, now that you know the facts about heartburn and acid reflux, you have already taken a very important step in the right direction.
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