Tuesday, January 5, 2016

January Newsletter Sneak Peek -- Heartburn!!

Dr. Claire, one of the NDs here at Zawada Health has written a little something about heartburn for the January newsletter. Here you are! Heartburn, also known as reflux or a condition referred to as GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease), is that uncomfortable, burning sensation in your throat and chest that follows a meal. Some of you may have experienced it for the first time after a heavy holiday meal this season, and some of you may be dealing with it every day! Very often, it is just assumed that heartburn happens because there is too much acidity in the stomach, but this is not always the case. In fact, too little acidity in the stomach can also be a cause. The acidity in the stomach acts as a trigger for a small muscle called the esophageal sphincter to tighten and close the esophagus, to prevent stomach contents from coming back up. If there isn’t enough acidity to trigger this muscle, it doesn’t close properly and heartburn may result. This example is meant to highlight the importable of determining the root cause of a condition like heartburn. Most heartburn medications are aimed at reducing acidity, however, if low acidity is the root cause, these medications may be ineffective or even aggravate the condition. Your naturopathic doctor can help you to determine the cause of your heartburn by asking the right questions, performing physical examination and referring you for testing, where necessary. Once a cause has been determined, your ND can counsel you on diet and lifestyle to manage heartburn, and recommend appropriate treatments, including herbal and nutritional supplements, homeopathics and acupuncture to help treat the root cause for a long term resolution to your heartburn.

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