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A Brief Overview of GERD

A Brief Overview of GERD

A chronic digestive disorder, GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease affects the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is located between the esophagus and the stomach. It occurs when bile or stomach acid flows into the esophagus and irritates the esophageal lining. People with GERD often experience heartburn or acid reflux. This condition is quite common, but it can be a cause for concern if a person suffers from acid reflux frequently. What causes GERD? Under normal circumstances, the LES relaxes when a person swallows. This allows food and liquid to flow into the stomach. The LES then closes up again. In some cases, the LES may relax in an abnormal way, or it may become weak. At such times, the stomach acid flows backward into the esophagus. Although this can be normal under some circumstances, it can cause problems if it happens too often. A constant backwash of acid will irritate the lining of the esophagus. The esophagus may become inflamed due to chronic GERD. An inflamed esophagus may make the food pathway narrow due to the formation of scar tissue at the lower end of the esophagus. At times, the tissue in the esophagus may wear away due to the constant flow of stomach acid.
What Every Parent Should Know about Kids Allergy Relief

What Every Parent Should Know about Kids Allergy Relief

The immune system of certain individuals reacts to even something harmless in the environment.It could be a trigger that targets them but does not affect those around them. These triggers are called “allergens”. An individual can develop an allergy by coming in contact with an ‘allergen’ in any manner. They may have inhaled them, swallowed them, or the trigger might have been exposed to their skin. Allergies are very common, in fact, one in every five Americans have some or the other kind of allergy. Children are highly susceptible to allergies, as their immune systems are not fully developed. Therefore, parents spend a considerable amount researching about kids allergy relief. Allergies can be caused by pollen, mold, animal dander, dust, and even certain kinds of foods. The symptoms depend on the allergen and the manner in which the affected child contracted it. Common symptoms of skin and nasal allergy include: Itchy, watery eyes Sneezing Itchy, runny nose Rashes Feeling tired or ill Hives Food allergies can also cause stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. Kids allergy relief While an allergy cannot be cured, you can take measure to relieve the symptoms in your child. As there are many types of allergies, you would want to ascertain the type of allergy your child has.