By: Ben Erickson. Ceiling fans are a great way to keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter if you know how to use them properly. Though there is much confusion on the subject, itâs not that hard as long as you remember two simple rules. Rule #1: Summer.
Drugs known as proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, reduce symptoms and help heal the esophagus by inhibiting stomach acid secretion. Photo Credit: Melissa Ross/Moment Open/Getty Images Acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, occurs when stomach acids leak back into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation of the esophageal lining. Protecting the esophagus from acidity allows the lining to heal. Steps you can take to protect your esophagus from acid reflux include weight loss and lifestyle changes, medications to suppress stomach acid and, in some instances, surgery to strengthen the valve -- the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES -- that stops acid from refluxing upward.
Esophagus. The esophagus is a hollow muscular tube that connects the back of the throat to the top of the stomach. In an adult, this tube normally ranges from about 10-14 inches in length, and one inch in diameter. At rest, the esophagus is closed but opens readily to accept food and liquids. The muscles in the upper portion of the esophagus are under voluntary control. The remaining portion consists of smooth muscle like the rest of the digestive tract and is not under voluntary control. An internal image of a healthy esophagus. To keep food from coming back up from the stomach, the esophagus has two circular bands of involuntary muscle.