Acid Reflux or Gastric Reflux disease is damage to the esophagus caused by stomach acid moving upward into the esophagus mainly because of changes in the barrier between the stomach and esophagus.
The most typical symptom is heartburn but other symptoms are regurgitation, trouble and painful swallowing, excessive salivation, nausea and chest pain.
This illness is difficult to detect in children and can manifest in symptoms of vomiting, inability to gain weight, constant crying, coughing and other respiratory problems along with burping constantly and bad breath.
Some babies with acid reflux will not vomit at all.
Factors that contribute to this disease include obesity, the use of prednisone, hypercalcemia an increase of gastrin production, hiatal hernia, Scleroderma a systemic autoimmune disease, and Glenard Syndrome an abnormality in the secretions of the stomach.
Gallstones and sleep apnea have been linked to this disease also.
It is said that relief can be found by elevating the upper body during sleep being careful not to use only pillows raising only the head.
Eating large meals can produce an excess of acid as smaller and more frequent meals can produce smaller amounts of acid at a time.
Foods can also trigger these attacks and they can include fatty foods, juice, fruit, chocolate, spicy foods, tea, coffee and onions especially before bedtime.
Tight clothing can also produce acid reflux symptoms putting pressure on the stomach.
Sleeping on the left side of one's body has also been found to show a reduction in acid reflux disease.