Although carbonated beverages cause acid reflux, this isn’t the only problem that some acid reflux sufferers are faced with. Bile reflux is another uncomfortable backflow of fluid that often accompanies acid reflux. However, instead of thrusting stomach acid back into the esophagus as is the case with acid reflux, bile reflux throws bile (a digested fluid that is made by the liver) up from the small intestine into the stomach and esophagus, causing inflammation to both.

Due to the fact that bile reflux and acid reflux can occur together, this means that the esophagus is doubly assaulted, which causes more inflammation to its lining, and puts a person at a higher risk for developing complications.

What are the symptoms of bile reflux?

- The signs and symptoms associated with bile reflux are similar to acid reflux, making it difficult to distinguish one from the other, especially when both conditions tend to occur simultaneously. That being said, unlike acid reflux, bile reflux causes inflammation within the stomach, which creates a biting, or burning pain in the upper part of the abdomen.

Other symptoms that are characterized by the condition can include:

- Frequent heartburn

- Nausea

- Vomiting bile

- An occasional cough or croakiness in the throat

Along with symptoms, bile reflux teamed with acid reflux can eventually create complications including:
- Gastritis – This is a complication that is caused by bile reflux alone. Gastritis is characterized by irritation and inflammation within the stomach. Although this isn’t typically a serious condition, in some cases it can cause stomach ulcers, bleeding, and chronic gastritis increases the risk of stomach cancer.
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) – Frequent attacks of heartburn may be a sign of GERD. This is when a person suffers from chronic acid reflux which can be a potentially serious issue as it may lead to a condition known as esophagitis – the inflammation of esophageal tissue.
- Barrett’s esophagus – This is a condition that occurs after long term exposure to stomach acid and/or bile and results in a change of color and tissue composition in the lower esophagus. The new cells are resistant to stomach acid but they have an increased risk of becoming cancerous.
- Esophageal stricture – Scar tissue can form in the lower esophagus, which results from frequent exposure to stomach acid and/or bile. The scar tissue can cause a stricture (a narrowing in the tube) which can lead to trouble swallowing and increase the risk of choking.
- Esophageal cancer – When the esophagus has been exposed to prolonged repetitive stomach acid and/or bile, cancer has the potential to form practically anywhere along the length of the esophagus. This is a serious and difficult form of cancer to treat.

How do you treat bile reflux and acid reflux together?

Proton Pump inhibitors – The best way to treat these conditions, especially for those who suffer from GERD and Barrett’s esophagus, is proton pump inhibitors. These are medications that are designed to block acid production. These meds can sometimes also help reduce the effects of bile reflux.

Ursodexycholic acid – This is the most common medication for treating bile reflux. Ursodexycholic acid helps to encourage bile flow.

Other medications – If bile reflux is the result of the stomach taking too long to empty, other drugs may be prescribed to improve the flow of food through the stomach

The real trouble with bile reflux is that it is hard to control. Unlike acid reflux which can be managed through diet and lifestyle changes, bile reflux can really only be controlled through specific medications or by surgery in severe cases. Unfortunately, sometimes even after treatment, bile reflux continues to plague sufferers. Thus, bile reflux may need to be treated separately from acid reflux.

By: Kathryn Whittaker

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Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷMaiasMummyƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ asked:


What did you do? what treatment did you have? did it work? Thanks alot

Crackerjax asked:


I was diagnosed with GERD about ten years ago and I recently heard that there is no exception for it in the Marines. Although it hasn’t had much effect on me in about five years, will this still bar me from joining?

Roxy M asked:


I have had the feeling of nausea and burning in the throat ever since last summer and only recently figured out it is acid reflux. I have given up things like coffee and chocolate, which seemed to help for awhile, but sometimes I still get the symptoms again, no matter what I eat. It gets worse when I drink water for some reason. I tried some OTC medicine but it didn’t help that much and I can’t afford to go to the doctor’s for it. Does anyone have any home remedies or anything like that?

Sarah asked:


My 3 month old is currently on Enfamil AR for acid reflux, she is also on medication for this. Is there any other formula that anyone has used that seemed to work for infants with acid reflux?

Samantha asked:


I have been to see a doctor, and they keep telling me I am having an allergic reaction to something, and that I ALSO have acid reflux. Both things started happening at the same time. The allergic reaction type symptoms will often show up as little welts, in one spot. Not always the same spot, but usually warmer areas, like my stomach or my thighs. I have also had wierd things where my eyes, or my lip swells up. Almost looks like I got punched in the face, however there are no welts. These dont cause any problems with breathing or anything like that, only on the surface. It gets a bit embarrasing when it happens to me when I am in public. It comes and goes, sometimes several times a day, and lasting for several hours or more (last night went to bed with a swollen eye lid, and woke up with it still swollen). I also started having sever chest pains at roughly the same time. (within a few days of eachother). I went to the doctors, and they did an endoscopy down my esophagus, and into my stomach. They told me I had an H. pylori infection, however I took antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria. Its gone now, but the pain is still there. I have gone through 4 or 5 different medicines to try and help the pain, and only this most recent one seems to help at all, but it doesnt stop it, it is sucralfate. I have tried all of the other ones I can get my hands on, from generic zantac, tums, prilosec, milk of magnesia, pepto etc…nothing else does anything for it. I am starting to wonder if there is maybe a condition that could have both of these symptoms, or if maybe its not really acid reflux, maybe there is something else wrong, like the gastroesophageal sphincter might not be opening or closing like it should. Any advice would be much appreciated! Im at a loss of what to do. I am only 24, and these sudden medical issues are really starting to get me worried. I have watched everything from what I eat, to how I sleep. Even different perfumes and soaps etc. I cant figure out what is going on, and it’s been happening for almost 3 months now!!!

bheiremans asked:

2006 world lead and 3rd in history

it0112 asked:


He takes one Nexium pill a day but it just doesn’t seem to be working anymore. The type of symptoms he’s experiencing is trouble swallowing, lower back pain, burning sensation, difficulty breathing etc. What he do for some relief? Is there any home remedies that work? At this point he’s ready to try anything. He’s been under a lot of stress lately.

A diet for GERD relief must begin by understanding what it is we want to relieve. What is GERD? Technically speaking, GERD is an irritation or inflammation of the esophagus. It is believed that the condition is due to stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus. The esophagus is the pipe that carries swallowed food from your mouth to your stomach. Where they meet, a ring of muscle called a sphincter separates the stomach and esophagus. This lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes to let food into the stomach, and tightens to keep stomach acids from flowing back, and coming into contact with the sensitive lining of the esophagus.

GERD is an acronym, created for quicker, easier pronunciation and use of the term “gastroesophageal reflux disease.”

* Gastro refers to stomach.

* Esophageal refers to esophagus.

* Reflux means to flow backward

* Disease is the illness.

A diet for GERD relief must recognize that the problem is muscular. The LES is not functioning properly. If this is somehow caused by food, the issue must be addressed in diet. Let’s look at some possibilities.

Meal Times

A diet for GERD relief can help with GERD that occurs during sleep. How? Rather than change the type of food in the diet, the GERD sufferer should leave more time between the evening meal and bedtime. If you suffer from GERD, acid reflux, or heartburn, you may be going to bed too soon after your evening meal.

Researchers in Japan found that a shorter interval between dinner and bed is associated with an increased risk of GERD. Reporting on a 2005 study, researchers said that they saw a significant connection between shorter dinner-to-bed time and GERD.

Japanese researchers used 147 patients who had experienced GERD symptoms during the previous year and 294 matched “control” patients who had not experienced GERD symptoms during the previous year. Each was given a questionnaire to evaluate the normal time between finishing dinner and going to bed.

Study participants who went to be bed within three hours after the evening meal were 7.45 times more likely to suffer heartburn as those who waited four or more hours.

Dr. Yasuhiro Fujiwara and his colleagues from Osaka City University state in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, “It is generally recommended that patients with GERD refrain from eating within three hours of going to sleep”.

A diet for GERD relief will, therefore, include early evening meals.

In addition, GERD treatment calls for smaller meals, reducing the amount of food in the stomach at any given time. This permits the stomach to work more efficiently, and reduces the amount of pressure placed on the LES.

Foods You May Want to Avoid

As stated, GERD is a muscular disorder. The LES is relaxing too much. This relaxation can be caused, for some people, by certain foods.

A diet for GERD relief should test this theory be avoiding certain foods to determine if they are at fault. The following are thought to aggravate GERD. They may or may not aggravate your symptoms.

1. chocolate

2. creamed foods

3. fast foods (most)

4. fatty foods

5. milk

6. oils

7. peppermint

If you have GERD, with inflamed lower esophagus, you may want to avoid, or at least limit, caffeinated drinks such as coffee, soft drinks, and tea. These are thought to irritate the inflammation. Citrus fruits and their juices may also irritate.

Aside from these limits, you should be able to eat other foods.

Helpful Tip

People differ. Foods that may aggravate or irritate one person may have little or no effect on another. Conduct your own, honest experiments, expecting the best. You may be able to eat most of these foods.

CAUTION: The author is not a medical professional and presents the above information for educational purposes only. Please seek the advice of a physician if heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD persist.

By: Anna Hart

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