Better Health & Beyond — Acid Reflux

What is Acid Reflux? Acid reflux refers to the reverse passage of stomach acid into the throat or food pipe which causes an unpleasant sensation known as heartburn. The opening of your stomach is controlled by your sphincter muscle which is a ring of muscle but also acts as a valve which opens to allow food through into the stomach. If the muscle becomes relaxed, the valve will not close fully, allowing acidic gastric contents to travel back up. You may hear acid reflux and heartburn used interchangeably, however, heartburn just refers to the symptomatic burning discomfort experienced by those...