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News
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More than 60 million American adults experience heartburn at least once a month, and about 25 million adults suffer daily from heartburn.
On Thursday, Sept. 21, at 12 p.m., Beauregard Memorial Hospital will host a mini-seminar or "Brown Bag Lesson" entitled “Acid Reflux.”
The lesson will be facilitated by Dr. Chris Granger, Family Practice physician of the Family Health Clinic, and will be held at the War Memorial Civic Center.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or Acid Reflux, is a digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal muscle connecting the esophagus with the stomach. In normal digestion, the muscle opens to allow food to pass into the stomach and closes to prevent food and acidic stomach juices from flowing back into the esophagus. Reflux occurs when the muscle is weak or relaxes inappropriately.
Heartburn, also called acid indigestion, is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease. It usually feels like a burning chest pain beginning behind the breastbone and moving upward to the neck and throat.
Although acid reflux can limit daily activities and productivity, it is rarely life threatening.
In most cases, acid reflux can be relieved through diet and lifestyle changes such as avoiding foods and beverages that irritate the esophagus lining, reducing stress, losing weight, stopping smoking, and avoiding lying down two to three hours after eating.
However, in some people, acid reflux can result in serious complications that require medication and possibly surgery. With an understanding of the causes and proper treatment most people find relief.
At the seminar, attendees will learn that controlling what they eat, when they eat and how much they eat can lessen the amount of acid in the stomach, therefore lessening the symptoms and the discomfort.
Interested parties can bring a "brown bag" lunch, and they will be provided a drink, a dessert and a lesson on Acid Reflux. All lessons will end by 12:45 p.m. so attendees can get back to work.
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