Dear GWendel, thanks for replying back to me.Although there are many medical terms which I don't really understand,it seems to me that acid reflux is indeed a very serious matter if not treated properly.Just wondering. Since most of us are living in the city,it would be quite of hard for us to take small meals in between the day.Is it possible that we can take big meals at the same time reducing the chances of acid reflux???If not,should we learn to take small meals instead??? Recently I have been taking large meals during lunch and dinner.However the good thing is that I don't take coffee,drink alcohol or eat chocolate.What do u mean by placing blocks under the legs at the head of the bed???Can u further explain???Is it also a measure taken too???If I am not wrong,does heartburn refers to a condition in which we feel unpleasant burning in the chest???If it is,I don't think I am having heartburn.And what kind of fruits or food can we take to neutralize all/some acid contents of the stomach???About the non-acidic contents of the stomach,I am really surprised that it can also damage the vocal folds.Do the non-acidic contents come from medicine or drugs???Any ways to prevent???How can I tell whether acid reflux is occuring to me besides heartburn???I wonder if lozenges have any effect on preventing acid reflux.Sorry if I am asking too many questions over here.Maybe I should ask a voice doctor to answer.
Weijie Natural Baritone
May the voices of nature and harmony be once combined with the hearts and souls of humans when the time arrives
--- In vocalist-temporary@y..., > > I am not a "voice doctor". However, I am an MD [cardiology] and do > see a lot of patients with "heart burn", the usual symptom of "acid reflux", > or more properly, gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD]. It is caused by > splashing [reflux] of the acidic contents of the stomach upwards back into > the esophagus. If the reflux is severe enough, the contents can pass all > the way back up into the posterior pharynx and back down into the larynx > [particularly while the patient is asleep] to cause "reflux laryngitis" > during which the vocal folds may be severely irritated, and inflamed. With > continue irritation, ulcers may form on the vocal folds, and later, if left > untreated, scarring and nodes with permanent damage. > > Treatment is directed towards prevention of reflux and > neutralization of the acidic contents of the stomach. Reflux prevention > includes conservative measures such as "grazing" type eating habits, meaning > frequent small meals rather than large meals, weight loss, placing blocks > under the legs at the head of the bed, avoidance of foods/drugs (caffeine, > alcohol, chocolate) that can decrease the tone of the lower esophageal > sphincter ("LES", a kind of valve at the gastroesophageal junction), and > medications such as metoclopramide to increase the tone of the LES, and > finally surgery to support the LES by wrapping the upper part of the stomach > around it (fundo-plication). Acid neutralization (an adjunctive measure > really, because the non-acidic contents of the stomach can still damage the > delicate vocal folds) usually consists of medications like H2 antagonists > (Zantac, Pepcid, Axid, Tagamet, et al) or Proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, > Prevacid, Nexium). > > If you think you may have reflux laryngitis, you must see an > otorhinlaryngologist for further evaluation and testing. If you think it's > just "heartburn", please start with your family physician or internist; but > don't be satisfied with just a prescription for an acid neutralizer > medication. Reflux prevention is paramount, especially for singers. > > GWendel (tenor who's enjoying learning Grimoaldo in Handel's _Rodelinda_). > Fondest regards to all! > > > At 05:08 AM 4/9/01 -0000, chenweijie81@y... wrote: > >Dear teachers and friends out there, > > well I am a guy who have just joined vocalist- temporary.It's > >been really interesting reading all those messages out there.Indeed > >my knowledge of singing have increased a lot just by reading these > >messages here.Just a intro about myself:I am currently joining a > >choir in Singapore and my voice still remains as a 19 year old > >baritone.Just a question to ask: What exactly is acid reflux???I know > >I have been hearing a lot about it but still have no idea about > >it.How does it occur and are there any methods to prevent or reduce > >acid reflux???Thanks a lot.It would be helpful if voice doctors could > >explain over here. > > > >FROM NATURAL BARITONE > >WEIJIE > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > >
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