Phillip Adler

Phillip Adler is a former acid reflux sufferer and has done extensive research on the topic. As a surgical device sales representative for several major surgical device companies, he was able to interact with surgeons and participate in several acid reflux surgeries, gaining extensive knowledge on the subject. His mission is to help fellow sufferers cure their heartburn. You may follow him at any of the social sites listed below.

Acid reflux and other health issues associated with improper pH balance

Causes No Responses »

May 052013

What is pH and how can it affect your acid reflux?

This video explains how your body's pH level, or “potential of Hydrogen”, can affect your health, including acid reflux. Foods and drinks you consume have different pH levels, being either acidic or alkaline, and the way your body absorbs these foods will either raise or lower your overall pH level in your blood causing different reactions and health conditions. If a substance or solution has an equal amount of acidic and alkaline molecules, then the pH is considered neutral. The pH scale runs from 0.0 to 14.0 with 7.0 being neutral. 0 to 7.0 is considered acid and 7.1 to 14 is considered alkaline. The blood in your body should be slightly alkaline at around 7.3. If your blood is less than 7.3 then it is considered acidic and many complications can arise depending on how acidic it becomes. Finally, not all food or beverages will react the same in everyone and automatically affect the pH level in your blood. That is why some people can eat extremely spicy food and not have it affect them; however, over time it will. Eating and drinking acidic substances will cause your stomach acid to rise and if you have a faulty LES then you will get heartburn or worse. Esophageal cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the U.S. due to our eating habits.

To help you better understand how much acid you are eating or drinking, here is a chart for you to consider:

Common Household Items	pH
Lemon Juice	1.6 – 1.8
Vinegar	2.5
Milk	6.3 – 6.6
Saliva	6.2 – 7.4
Pure Water	7.0
Blood	7.4
Egg Whites	7.6 – 8.0
Milk of Magnesia	10.5

Soda	pH
Coke	2.5
Diet Coke	3.3
Pepsi	2.5
Diet Pepsi	3.0
Dr. Pepper	2.9
Diet Dr. Pepper	3.2
Cherry Coke	2.5
Mr. Pibb	2.9
Mountain Dew	3.2
Diet Mountain Dew	3.3
Sprite	3.2
7 Up	3.2
Lemon Brisk	2.9
Lemon Nestea	3.0
Mug Root Beer	4.0
Tap Water	7.67

Alcoholic Drinks
Alcoholic Beverages	4.1 – 4.2
Beer and Wine	3.9 – 5.5

As you can see, most everything we eat and drink is in the acidic range and will raise the acid level in your stomach. If you already have acid reflux the best thing to do is keep a diary of the foods you eat and the liquids you drink and compare it to the chart. If what you eat or drink is too acidic then you might try other foods or drinks that are more in the alkaline range.

How long does it take for acid reflux to go away?

Acid Reflux Answers No Responses »

May 032013

A reader once asked:

"I started suffering from the symptoms of acid reflux the week after Thanksgiving. On December 21, I went to a doctor and he gave me Prevacid. Ive been taking that since then. I started feeling much better about a week after I started taking the medication, but my symptoms are not all the way gone. Sometimes I still feel like I have a lump at the back of my throat and I have to burp a lot. Occasionally I'm slightly nauseous. How long does it typically take to recover from acid reflux, or do you recover at all? And when I run out of medication, should I be fine by then or will I need more? I have enough for about a month and a half. I do plan on going back for a check up at the end of this month as well, as my doctor asked me to."

Answer:

To recover fully from or cure acid reflux, it usually takes a lifestyle change. If you have burning from acid reflux in your chest or throat, then stomach acid has already harmed your esophagus. What is good for the pharmaceutical companies is that only 5% of individuals are willing to make the necessary lifestyle changes so they have to either stay on medication or elect a more radical solution such as surgery. If you are one of the 5%, then l truly recommend the outstanding eBook – Heartburn No More that is mentioned in the video and is guaranteed to will solve your problems. I know, because it solved mine, and it comes with a guarantee. To fully answer this question you first have to understand acid reflux and how your body works. The simple explanation is that acid reflux is caused by stomach acid flowing back up the esophagus and maybe into the throat. When it flows into the esophagus and eats away at the protective lining, you will have a burning sensation. It is acid after all. Why does this happen and how do you cure it? It's like a perfect storm, you have to have a few things happening for you to get acid reflux. The first is too much stomach acid. There are a lot of reasons for this. It could be caused by spicy food, carbonated beverages, medications, eating too much; and the list goes on. The second thing that must happen is that the lower esophageal sphincter valve (LES) must fail. If both of these things happen then the stomach acid is allowed to flow into the esophagus. The LES is located at the juncture of the esophagus and the stomach. It is a one way valve that is suppose to only let food in and nothing else out. Sometimes these fail for varies reasons and then the acid is allowed to flow backwards. There is another valve at the juncture of the larynx or throat and the esophagus called the Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) and if this fails then you will have the burning in your throat. (If you want to learn more about the causes and how they are linked to the anatomy, go to the "understanding acid reflux disease" page or use the search for specific topics. I have written a lot of articles on the subject) To stop acid reflux, one of the solutions is to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach, and this is what medication such as Prevacid does. It blocks the production of acid and if there is no acid, there is no acid reflux; however, about 20% of the time medications fail. A final note concerning acid reflux medication: The FDA has somewhat reversed their approval of these types of drugs and has released a warning. Please take a couple of minutes and read the warning before starting any medication treatment. It is most likely that if you don't make a lifestyle change you will either have to choose between medication and surgery.

Understanding Acid Reflux Disease

Articles, Causes No Responses »

May 012013

Acid Reflux Disease, Causes and Cures

I get asked a ton of questions whether what a reader is experiencing is actually acid reflux or something else. When you understand what causes acid reflux, you will begin to understand why you have the symptoms you have. Here are some basic definitions and a little bit of anatomy that you will need to understand if you want to manage your heartburn.

Reflux – The act or an instance of flowing back.

Acid Reflux – Stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus due to a relaxed or faulty sphincter valve.

GERD – Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease.

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) – The condition where stomach contents flow back into the larynx or throat. This condition can be either acidic or non-acidic depending on the acid level of the stomach contents. Both the LES and UES must fail for this to occur.

Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) – A ring of muscle or valve connecting the upper part of the esophagus with the throat/larynx. This is a one-way valve is designed to let food down into the esophagus.

Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) – A ring of muscle or valve connecting the lower part of the esophagus with the stomach. This is a one-way valve is designed to let food into the stomach.

Some symptoms of Acid Reflux Disease

Those experiencing acid reflux disease may have some of the following symptoms.

Heartburn – Burning pain or discomfort that could be in your stomach, chest or abdomen or even in your throat.
Bloating – Feelings of overeating.
Lump in throat – A condition called Dysphagia, or the narrowing of your esophagus that creates the sensation that something may be stuck in your throat.
Hoarseness
Nausea
Burping
Dry Cough or Wheezing
Chronic sore throat

Understanding Acid Reflux Disease

Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening and why. When you eat food it is swallowed through your esophagus into your stomach where the stomach acid breaks it down and moves it into the lower intestines. If there is excessive stomach acid being produced this acid can flow back up causing damage to the esophagus or the burning sensation that you feel. However, in order for this to happen, your Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) must weaken or fail to allow this to happen. Remember, this muscle valve is designed to work only one-way and not let stomach contents back up into the esophagus. Once the esophageal lining is damaged, the acid will eat away at the esophagus and in severe cases will cause cancer. This pain has been known to radiate throughout the abdomen including the back and neck area.

If the Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) is also weakened or fails then the stomach contents will flow into the throat causing the burning in your throat. This condition is known as Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) and you will sometimes experience a lump in your throat, coughing, wheezing, hoarseness, burping, a sour and bitter taste in your mouth and bad breath. You may also experience a small amount of regurgitation of stomach contents. Finally, if the stomach acid damages your vocal cords, your voice may change or rasp. LPR can either be Acidic or Non-Acidic depending on the type of stomach contents being regurgitated. Non-Acid LPR contains mucus, pepsin, bile, and other digestive secretions flowing into your throat, larynx and mouth.

What Can You Do About Acid Reflux Disease?

There are several treatments available for acid reflux disease and GERD. These treatments include medication, both over-the-counter antacids and prescription; finding what triggers your heartburn then avoiding those foods; eating a healthy diet with a balance of foods that reduce the production of stomach acid (healthy lifestyle); some say that apple cider vinegar is a natural cure that helps to level out your pH; or acid reflux surgery.

I found that what works best for me is a healthy lifestyle. A unhealthy lifestyle can cause all sorts of problems including heart disease, depression, weight gain and even shingles. I’ve learned to manage my heartburn along with the other unhealthy conditions including stress with this great manual. Read my reviews here.

Finally, you don’t have to live with acid reflux disease if you just take the steps outlined in the manual, and only 5% of the over 7 million people in the U.S. with acid reflux will be motivated enough to do it. You have two choices, live with acid reflux disease or do something about it.

Understanding Proton Pump Inhibitors Used For Acid Reflux Disease

Remedies No Responses »

Apr 012013

Controlling Acid Reflux Using Proton Pump Inhibitors

How does proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) work?

This short video explains that proton pump inhibitors block the enzymes located in the wall of the stomach that are responsible for producing stomach acid. Excess stomach acid is one of the major causes of acid reflux and by reducing the acid then reflux is controlled.

Different Brand Names and Types of Proton Pump Inhibitors

    Omeprazole (Prilosec), also available without a prescription
    Esomeprazole (Nexium),
    Lansoprazole (Prevacid),
    Rabeprazole (AcipHex)
    Pantoprazole (Protonix)
    Dexlansoprazole (Kapidex)

PPIs are either tablets or capsules and are taken by mouth usually 30 minutes to an hour before your first meal of the day.

It’s always imperative to discuss drug interactions, if you are taking any, before taking any other medication

There are some brands that are available over-the-counter without a prescription. Most of these brands are only to be used for a short period of time, generally 14 days, and if your heartburn persists after the 14 day period then you need to seek professional medical advice about your symptoms and possibly obtain a long term solution in the form of a prescription. Some people end up taking this drug for the rest of their lives to control their heartburn or other symptoms.

Side Effects

Side effects are rare; however, In the past few years there have been a couple of side effects associated with long term use causing the FDA to issue warnings. One warning concerns bone fractures and the other concerns severe diarrhea.

Bone Fractures – High doses and long-term use (1 year or longer) may increase the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine. Therefore, it is important to use the lowest doses and shortest duration of treatment necessary for the condition being treated.
Severe Diarrhea – (read the full post here)

All Proton pump inhibitors are similar in action and there is no evidence that one brand is more effective than any another. Where they differ is in how they are broken-down by the liver and the way they interact. Some PPIs last longer and they, therefore, may be taken less frequently.

Most common side effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)?

    headache,
    diarrhea,
    constipation,
    abdominal pain,
    nausea,
    itching.

Overall, proton pump inhibitors are generally well tolerated. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or breast feeding and about the possible side effects and long term usage.

It’s always imperative to discuss drug interactions, if you are taking any, before taking any other medication and call your doctor immediately if you experience any of these side effects or any other unusual symptoms. You should follow up with your doctor if you are not seeing any improvements with your acid reflux.

What does chest pain caused by acid reflux feel like? PLEASE answer if you can?

Acid Reflux Answers No Responses »

Mar 012013

When you think of chest pain you immediately associate it with a heart attack, and rightly so.

Heart attacks are not easy to diagnose and it is always safer to error on the side of caution and get checked out immediately by a doctor if you have chest pain. I have heard of too many horror stories where patients who have experienced a heart attack say they thought it was only heartburn. If you have chest pain and you have never had acid reflux – Get it checked out immediately.

Now, I think your question really is, “can acid reflux feel like a heart attack?” Yes. Severe acid reflux can be very painful to some patients. One thing that I have learned throughout my career is that all bodies are not the same and therefore do not handle the same things in the same way. This is especially true when defining pain.

I have not experienced a heart attack myself, but what most heart attack patients tell me is that they have a lot of pressure on their chest. However, that being said, there are a lot of other heart attack patients that have told me that they had very little pain in their chest; they just didn’t feel right, or they had pain in their back or elsewhere. If you are waiting for the usual chest pain and tingling in your left arm before seeking medical help, you better think again and get familiar with other heart attack symptoms.

In some cases a heart attack is not unlike acid reflux – acid reflux can be extremely painful in the chest area. Remember this is pain not pressure. Heartburn or acid reflux is caused when the lower esophageal sphincter fails and causes stomach acid to flow into the esophagus. This has happened too many times and if you feel pain it’s because the esophageal lining has been eaten away and the acid is now starting to eat away at your esophagus. If most or all of the lining is gone, this pain can be intense. Think of pouring acid on your hand, do you think it will burn? Of course. Whether it is a heart attack or acid reflux and if you are in this much pain, you cannot be wrong to seek medical help to determine the cause. Pain is in a way, good, it is your body telling you there is something wrong and to do something about it. If it is acid reflux and you are in this much pain, then your esophagus is in jeopardy to be eaten away by the acid and has been known to cause cancer.

The bottom line – if you have acid reflux, you can have a lot of other problems. To get control of your acid reflux you may need to make lifestyle changes. I made my changes several years ago and feel great. There is an eBook that I recommend that you read and try the remedies. They changed my life forever. Read my full review, then get the eBook, you’ll be glad you did.

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