VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 11 • NOVEMBER 2012
A SLICE OF ORANGE Refreshing Your Health
THE FIRE IN YOUR BELLY • What goes down… • Get rid of GERD • GERD in children
The fire in your belly
I
am a man of high pain tolerance. Like many of you, I can go to work even while suffering from a headache or backache. However, there is one pain that can literally put me down—the pain of heartburn. The pain can be so intense that my hands turn cold and sweaty, I can’t breathe, and I get dizzy as I clutch my chest.
Heartburn is termed as such because it is a burning sensation in the general area
Like us on Facebook facebook.com/BenefitsMadeBetter
of the heart, just behind the breastplate to the upper middle abdomen (the pain occasionally radiates upward to the neck, throat, or back). However, the term is a misnomer, as the pain has nothing to do with one’s heart.
A SLICE OF ORANGE
VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 11 • NOVEMBER 2012
Instead, heartburn is a symptom generally associated with a disorder called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a common disorder, affecting one in every five to 10 adults.
Lower esophageal sphincter
GERD in children Up to a third of children, including infants, have GERD. Most children will outgrow their reflux by their first birthday. However, some will not outgrow the condition, especially if there is a family history of GERD present.
Esophagus
GERD is difficult to detect in children, since they cannot describe what they feel. Also, their symptoms can range from repeated vomiting, spitting up, coughing, and other respiratory problems such as wheezing. Others simply cry inconsolably or refuse food. When GERD interrupts their feeding, it can lead to failure to gain adequate weight. Bad breath, and belching or burping are also common symptoms.
Stomach
What goes down…
and damaged, leading to strictures, difficulty
As we have learned in elementary science,
swallowing, or even esophageal cancer.
For children with the following symptoms with no clear cause, it is best to consult a pediatrician, who can then assess and treat the problem, and prevent long-term complications.
when we swallow food, the food goes from our throat to our acidic stomach through a
GERD develops as a result of either one of
muscular tube called the esophagus. While
two factors, or both: 1) excessive acid in the
the stomach has protection against acid, the
stomach either as a result of excessive pro-
esophagus does not. A muscular sphincter
duction or poor drainage into the intestines;
at the lower end of the esophagus prevents
and 2) relaxation of the LES resulting in re-
stomach acids from entering the esophagus.
flux. GERD is also common among pregnant
This sphincter is called the lower esophageal
women, as the enlarging womb presses on
sphincter (LES), and it relaxes when we swal-
the abdominal organs, forcing stomach acid
low to let food through, but shuts closed after.
to reflux into the esophagus.
In a person with GERD, stomach acids go up
Once GERD develops, symptoms that follow
the esophagus (and sometimes up the throat
include:
and mouth), a process known as reflux. The
• Heartburn. The pain of heartburn may
acid irritates the esophagus, causing pain.
get worse as you lie down and the
If reflux and heartburn persists for years, the
contents of the stomach flow towards
esophagus can become permanently eroded
the esophagus.
• Regurgitation (a sensation of food or
acid flowing up to the throat)
• Pain or difficulty swallowing • Sore throat (as a result of acid
irritating the throat)
• Increased salivation • Nausea • Chronic cough, hoarseness, or
asthma, resulting from the acid in the
throat eventually irritating the larynx
• Erosion of dental enamel and tooth hypersensitivity • Sensation of choking, foreign object in throat.
A SLICE OF ORANGE
VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 11 • NOVEMBER 2012
However, for most people, only one or a few
• Avoid alcohol. Not only does it stimulate
• Avoid wearing tight clothing around
of these symptoms may occur, and only after
acid production, but it can also erode the
having the condition for years.
stomach’s protective lining.
pressure.
Get rid of GERD
Aside from these, other lifestyle changes
For those with severe GERD, lifestyle changes
While GERD can be severe, you do not need
that can help are:
may not be enough. When this happens, you
to turn to medicines at once. There are a num-
• Chew gum. This stimulates saliva
should first consult a physician. He or she
ber of lifestyle changes you can do to help
production, which is alkaline. Avoid
may then request for some tests to be done
ease heartburn:
peppermint gum, since peppermint can
first to evaluate the acidity in the esophagus
be a trigger.
and the tone and structural integrity of the
the abdomen to lower abdominal
First of all, you have to prevent hyperacidity,
LES, as well as other conditions that may be
a condition that many people suffer from. Life-
causing the GERD.
style changes to prevent hyperacidity are: • Avoid caffeine, which stimulates
Your physician may also prescribe medica-
tions. While over-the-counter antacids may
acid production.
• Avoid nicotine, which stimulates acid
work for some people, many people may
production and relaxes the LES.
need more powerful medications that do not
• Relax and combat stress. Stress not
• Sleep on your left side. The junction
just neutralize acid, but also suppress acid
only stimulates acid production, but
of the stomach and esophagus is on
production. Other medications protect the
also lowers your stomach’s protection
the right side of your body. Sleeping
esophagus, while others increase acid drain-
versus acid.
on your right makes acid pool on the
age into the intestines. However, these medi-
• Eat small meals. Eating big meals
LES. Another way to help gravity
cations should only be taken under a doctor’s
stimulates excessive acid production.
work for you when sleeping is raising
supervision and prescription.
It also increases the pressure
your head up 30 degrees using
in the stomach, which may then force
pillows. This keeps your stomach
In patients with very severe GERD, surgery
acid into the esophagus.
below your esophagus.
can be performed to strengthen the LES or de-
• Avoid acidic and rich foods, or foods
• Lose weight. Studies show that
activate the stomach’s acid production. Know
that trigger reflux. The most common
being overweight contributes to
that there are many things that can help you
triggers are fatty foods, tea, onions,
increased pressure in the stomach
douse that fire in your chest and break free
peppermint, and chocolate.
and relaxation of the LES.
from heartburn.
Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better de Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Ben Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better de Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Bettertips Benefits Made Better Benefits Get daily health that will surely uplift yourMade life. Better Ben Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better de Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Better Benefits Made Better Ben Like usMade on Facebook. Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better facebook.com/BenefitsMadeBetter de Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Ben Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better A Better CTIV E L I Made N K Better Ben de Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Benefits Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better www.activelinkbenefits.com Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better de Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Benefits Made Better Ben
ActiveLink is now on Facebook!
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelinkbenefits.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2012 ActiveLink
Benefits Made Better
ActiveLink 7/F Electra House Building 115-117 Esteban St., Legaspi Village, Makati City www.activelinkbenefits.com
A Slice of Orange
is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD