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.
Â© 2014 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. The esophagus is a muscular tube connecting the throat (pharynx) with the stomach. The esophagus is about 8 inches long, and is lined by moist pink tissue called mucosa. The esophagus runs behind the windpipe (trachea) and heart, and in front of the spine. Just before entering the stomach, the esophagus passes through the diaphragm. The upper esophageal sphincter (UES) is a bundle of muscles at the top of the esophagus. The muscles of the UES are under conscious control, used when breathing, eating, belching, and vomiting.