Understanding Acid Reflux in Infants
(Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease)
"Similar to colic, I believe there is much confusion about the cause and treatment of Acid Reflux."
Anatomy and physiology have always been subjects taught for a semester or two in high school, which have generally not been properly deemed as being important. In today's society, simple health classes are even being substituted for more "important" classes such as computer science. Now days, people are not well informed about their bodies, its parts, and how they all work together.
We have been educated about how to relieve symptoms more than what these symptoms are telling us. Pain is a primary example. We all know what pain feels like and our major concern is, "how can I get rid of it," rather than, "what is causing this and what exactly is hurting?" What people don't usually realize is that the main cause of pain is swelling and that the amount of pain they're in is directly related to how much swelling the body is experiencing.
What the average person doesn't understand is that most pain pills are anti-inflammitories, meaning "against swelling. Health care professionals know when you reduce the swelling, you will reduce the pain. The physiological process of swelling, however, is not common knowledge and therefore people don't often know exactly what swelling is. Many people are still confused about what will reduce the pain of a sprain or strain. Is it heat or ice? Most people know to put ice on a sprained ankle but what if the pain is on the inside of the body? People are often clueless as to where specific body parts are located inside of their bodies. For example, where are your pancreas, liver/gall bladder, spleen, thyroid and kidneys?
If you were having gall bladder symptoms, what and where would they be? Most people are not interested in taking the time to learn basic anatomy and physiology unless they are getting into the health profession. What does all of this have to do with acid reflux? Acid Reflux is regurgitation or fluid coming back up the esophagus from the stomach, whether it is just milk, saliva, or even formed food particles. Acid is formed in the stomach and many times also comes back up with belching or vomiting either by itself or mixed with other food substances.
Acid, of course, causes an irritation to the stomach and esophagus that can cause swelling, which in time causes pain. Until it becomes painful, it doesn't usually get our attention. What the big question is, is why does it come back up? When health problems occur, attention is typically focused on where the pain is located and how inflammation can be reduced, instead of focusing on what the cause of the problem is.
If you go online and look for the etiology, or the cause of most diseases, you will find that they are often unknown. For example-
1. What is asthma and what causes it?
2. What is fibromyalgia and what is causing it?
3. What is cancer and what is causing it?
4. What is a stomach ulcer(gastritis) and what is causing it?
The answer is frequently "we just don't know." Once again, this is what causes fear. Fear is caused mostly by not knowing.
Questions:
Why is acid reflux a problem? When a baby spits up, it is usually milk, which will dilute stomach acid coming up the esophagus, causing no damage. If there is a large amount of acid that is not diluted, it can cause burning particularly in the lower end by the stomach. If the burning continues over an extended period of time, cells may become damaged and by the time the baby reaches adulthood, the damage may lead to cancer.
The question still remains, why does the acid keep coming back up the esophagus? Tests, such as Barium Swallow or PH Study, can give more information as to how severe the problem is, as well as information about how much damage has already occurred. Zantac, Prilosec, Tegament, and a few others are the normal medications given as treatment for acid reflux, depending on the severity. Again, what is causing the reflux?
Acid Reflux graduates to gastro-esophageal reflux disease when acid in the reflux, or regurgitation, causes irritation or injury to the esophagus. Most authorities believe this occurs only in a small percentage of infants who spit up frequently, or spit up frequently in large amounts. Frequently seen symptoms include:
1. Refusing to eat
2. Frequent crying
3. Arching the neck and back, indicating severe pain (this is a major symptom of colic)
4. Projectile vomiting
5. Choking
6. Coughing
7. Unable to gain normal weight
Most studies demonstrate that reflux does not usually cause pain in infants and reducing stomach acid does not decrease irritability. If the baby continues to show the above symptoms, more in depth testing can be done, including blood and urine tests, x-ray studies of the digestive tract, and possibly a test called endoscopy, which would allow the physician to view the lining of the esophagus. Studies indicate that at least 80% of babies will partially or completely improve with conservative measures.
Does the position of an individual make a difference in acid reflux? It has been my experience with both adults as well as with children that a recumbent position will aggravate the acid reflux. If you talk to most adults, they will you tell you the most severe episodes will occur while they are lying down on their backs. These incidents often seem to occur at night when they are asleep. They will wake up out of a sound sleep, start coughing violently and notice liquid coming up the esophagus. Some of the reflux will find its way into the bronchial tubes and lungs causing burning and an overall painful situation. Usually they will stand up and go get a drink of water, hoping to reduce the burning in the throat. My experience with most babies is that they do not do this. They will usually spit up or projectile vomit and then without coughing, go immediately back to drinking without any issues.
We have been educated about how to relieve symptoms more than what these symptoms are telling us. Pain is a primary example. We all know what pain feels like and our major concern is, "how can I get rid of it," rather than, "what is causing this and what exactly is hurting?" What people don't usually realize is that the main cause of pain is swelling and that the amount of pain they're in is directly related to how much swelling the body is experiencing.
What the average person doesn't understand is that most pain pills are anti-inflammitories, meaning "against swelling. Health care professionals know when you reduce the swelling, you will reduce the pain. The physiological process of swelling, however, is not common knowledge and therefore people don't often know exactly what swelling is. Many people are still confused about what will reduce the pain of a sprain or strain. Is it heat or ice? Most people know to put ice on a sprained ankle but what if the pain is on the inside of the body? People are often clueless as to where specific body parts are located inside of their bodies. For example, where are your pancreas, liver/gall bladder, spleen, thyroid and kidneys?
If you were having gall bladder symptoms, what and where would they be? Most people are not interested in taking the time to learn basic anatomy and physiology unless they are getting into the health profession. What does all of this have to do with acid reflux? Acid Reflux is regurgitation or fluid coming back up the esophagus from the stomach, whether it is just milk, saliva, or even formed food particles. Acid is formed in the stomach and many times also comes back up with belching or vomiting either by itself or mixed with other food substances.
Acid, of course, causes an irritation to the stomach and esophagus that can cause swelling, which in time causes pain. Until it becomes painful, it doesn't usually get our attention. What the big question is, is why does it come back up? When health problems occur, attention is typically focused on where the pain is located and how inflammation can be reduced, instead of focusing on what the cause of the problem is.
If you go online and look for the etiology, or the cause of most diseases, you will find that they are often unknown. For example-
1. What is asthma and what causes it?
2. What is fibromyalgia and what is causing it?
3. What is cancer and what is causing it?
4. What is a stomach ulcer(gastritis) and what is causing it?
The answer is frequently "we just don't know." Once again, this is what causes fear. Fear is caused mostly by not knowing.
Questions:
Why is acid reflux a problem? When a baby spits up, it is usually milk, which will dilute stomach acid coming up the esophagus, causing no damage. If there is a large amount of acid that is not diluted, it can cause burning particularly in the lower end by the stomach. If the burning continues over an extended period of time, cells may become damaged and by the time the baby reaches adulthood, the damage may lead to cancer.
The question still remains, why does the acid keep coming back up the esophagus? Tests, such as Barium Swallow or PH Study, can give more information as to how severe the problem is, as well as information about how much damage has already occurred. Zantac, Prilosec, Tegament, and a few others are the normal medications given as treatment for acid reflux, depending on the severity. Again, what is causing the reflux?
Acid Reflux graduates to gastro-esophageal reflux disease when acid in the reflux, or regurgitation, causes irritation or injury to the esophagus. Most authorities believe this occurs only in a small percentage of infants who spit up frequently, or spit up frequently in large amounts. Frequently seen symptoms include:
1. Refusing to eat
2. Frequent crying
3. Arching the neck and back, indicating severe pain (this is a major symptom of colic)
4. Projectile vomiting
5. Choking
6. Coughing
7. Unable to gain normal weight
Most studies demonstrate that reflux does not usually cause pain in infants and reducing stomach acid does not decrease irritability. If the baby continues to show the above symptoms, more in depth testing can be done, including blood and urine tests, x-ray studies of the digestive tract, and possibly a test called endoscopy, which would allow the physician to view the lining of the esophagus. Studies indicate that at least 80% of babies will partially or completely improve with conservative measures.
Does the position of an individual make a difference in acid reflux? It has been my experience with both adults as well as with children that a recumbent position will aggravate the acid reflux. If you talk to most adults, they will you tell you the most severe episodes will occur while they are lying down on their backs. These incidents often seem to occur at night when they are asleep. They will wake up out of a sound sleep, start coughing violently and notice liquid coming up the esophagus. Some of the reflux will find its way into the bronchial tubes and lungs causing burning and an overall painful situation. Usually they will stand up and go get a drink of water, hoping to reduce the burning in the throat. My experience with most babies is that they do not do this. They will usually spit up or projectile vomit and then without coughing, go immediately back to drinking without any issues.
