ACID REFLUX/GERD
Although Acid reflux and GERD(gastroesophogeal reflux disease) are closely related, they are not the same thing. However, in some cases acid reflux can progress to GERD.
Acid reflux is the backward flow of stomach acid into the tube (esophagus) that connects the throat to the stomach. Acid reflux causes a burning sensation in the chest, typically referred to as “heartburn”, this can occur after consuming a large meal or after drinking coffee or sometimes alcohol.
GERD is a more severe form of reflux. Symptoms of GERD can include frequent heartburn(classified as two or more times per week), regurgitation of food or possibly a sour tasting liquid, difficulty swallowing, coughing, and even chest pain(especially at night when lying down).
Conventional medical therapies usually consist of putting the patient on some form of PPI(Proton Pump Inhibitor) to suppress stomach acid production and varied forms of PPI’s are now available over the counter without a prescription. To people suffering with acid reflux or GERD these sound like wonderful options on the surface, however, the most common cause of acid reflux is actually low stomach acid secretion. Hydrochloric acid is needed to be able to properly digest food and keep a healthy balance between the good and bad bacteria in the gut. If the body is deficient in the nutrients/vitamins/minerals that the body uses to be able to make sufficient amounts of hydrochloric acid, the production will be too low. Decreased hydrochloric acid in the stomach causes foods to not digest properly, resulting in fermentation and possible bacterial overgrowth.
The production of hydrochloric acid naturally decreases with age and even someone who had never experienced reflux may start to develop symptoms as they approach age 50 and beyond because less hydrochloric acid is being produced. Another complication could be that the esophageal sphincter is not closing properly and allowing stomach contents to creep back up into the esophagus. This could be the result of a neurological imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems or a cortisol level that is running chronically high due to unresolved stress which can also reduce stomach acid production. Low stomach acid can have a loosening effect on the esophageal sphincter. A low magnesium level, or possibly a H-Pylori infection could also be a contributing factor, as could improper eating hygiene(eating too fast, eating meals “on the run”) or hypothyroidism, especially those with Hashimoto’s disease where a weakening of the esophageal sphincter can be a by-product of the disease.
The Functional Medicine approach to acid reflux and GERD is to determine through testing what deficiencies or infections may be leading to the reduced hydrochloric acid production and then recommend a treatment plan to address these factors.