Word: acidizing
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...recent years, studies have hinted that olive oil could prevent breast cancer. A new study measuring oleic acid--the oil's chief component--in women, rather than relying on their reports of what they ate, shows no protective effect from the acid. But the oil's cardiovascular benefits still make it a healthy choice...
...keep it at bay. For starters, don't gulp down big meals that are high in fats, chocolate, coffee and alcohol. Small portions eaten over longer periods make it less likely your stomach will back up. In case you needed another reason to quit, cigarette smoking is a potent acid trigger...
Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart, of course. It occurs when acidic juices from the stomach gurgle their way past a doughnut-shaped valve and into the esophagus. Unlike the stomach, the esophagus has no protective lining against corrosion. Repeated bouts of reflux eat away at its inner wall, triggering excessive scarring and bleeding. Sometimes the acid reaches the vocal cords, causing hoarseness. Other times it spills over into the lungs, triggering a potentially serious condition that mimics asthma...
Fortunately, GERD has a cure. For years doctors tried to minimize the problem with antacids. Then they turned to drugs like Tagamet and Pepcid to block a biochemical signal that sets off acid production. Neither of these remedies, now available over the counter, can turn off the stomach's acid-making machinery at the source, however. That's where a new group of prescription medications, called proton pump inhibitors, comes in. "You don't just get better on these pills," Dannenberg exults, "you actually return to normal." And because the drugs are activated only in the acid environment...
Whatever you do, don't ignore the acid rising from your stomach. Over-the-counter remedies are fine for occasional upsets. But if you develop heartburn on a regular basis, say twice a week, or if it's keeping you from sleeping at night, then get yourself to a doctor. The problem could be much worse than you realize...