Acid Reflux is the liquid in the stomach regurgitating into the esophagus (gullet). Much of this liquid is acid produced in the stomach which is harmful to the walls of the esophagus. Reflux happens to most people but because we spend much of our time upright, gravity ensures that the liquid returns to the stomach unnoticed. In addition, we swallow frequently which again returns regurgitated liquid to the stomach and saliva contains bicarbonate which helps to neutralize the acid in the stomach liquid.

It doesn’t do to ignore repeated instances of painful indigestion though, as it could be symptomatic of something much more serious. That refluxing acid can cause lasting damage to the lining of the esophagus, which, if left untreated, can lead to other conditions.

A friend relates that when she was a child, her father was always chewing on Rennies, a well known antacid in the UK. He used to say that a good belch would cure the indigestion. It later turned out that he had a stomach ulcer. Despite that, when my friend, in turn, started suffering from frequent indigestion, she too chewed on the Rennies and went about her business.

Eventually, she realized that the extent of the indigestion couldn’t be normal so she consulted her doctor who referred her to a specialist for an endoscopy.

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