According to The Pediatric Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux (PAGER) Association, six million Hispanics, in the US, have acid reflux.
Acid reflux is a condition where the acid in the stomach works its way back up the esophagus, either because the stomach produces too much acid, or because the sphyncter between the stomach and esophagus does not close properly.
The symptoms include a burning sensation in the chest and throat, excessive burping, bad breath, chest congestion and coughing after eating. A person may also experience the burning sensation when trying to sleep and be unable to sleep lying down. In some cases, a person may also experience nausea, vomiting, excessive burping and the feeling that food is travelling back up the esophagus.
Spicy foods, like some traditional Latin foods, can trigger acid reflux as can acidic foods, like tomatoes and coffee. Activities like smoking and drinking alcohol may affect acid production or prevent the sphyncter from closing properly. Obese people are also more likely to experience acid reflux.
Everyone experiences occasional heart burn but if the symptoms are persistent and occur often, it is important to seek medical assistance. If left untreated, acid reflux can damage the esophagus and pave the way for other digestive problems and even esphageal cancer [1]s. There are several treatments for acid reflux including over-the-counter drugs, like Prevacid, Tums and Zantac. Some of these drugs prevent acid reflux while others treat it after the fact. You should always talk to your physician before starting any drug treatment program. Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, losing weight and cutting back on spicy foods can also reduce the symptoms.