Left untreated, gastroesophageal acid reflex disease (GERD) can lead to ulcers, swallowing difficulties, damage to vocal cords or teeth, and even esophageal cancer. In addition, GERD can hinder sleep, sex, exercise and workplace performance, and may contribute to asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. But patients often don't recognize it as a disease, so they delay treatment, according to a recent study.

And physicians frequently have difficulty in finding Natural Remedy For Acid Reflux. Communication between them and their patients is often ineffective in promoting diagnosis and treatment, according to the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), which developed the study along with drug companies.

According to a survey, 48% of those suffering from the disease waited over three months before visiting a doctor, with 25% waiting more than a year. In addition, 43% of GERD sufferers reported their disease was not diagnosed at their first doctor's visit. In fact, on the average, it took five visits over an eight-month period before Natural Remedy For Acid Reflux was started.

Up to 40% of GERD sufferers don't consider their condition to be a disease, according to the NCPIE survey, conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide. Of those, 53% attributed symptoms to something they ate, another 34% to stress. The NCPIE found that 75% of the GERD sufferers waited four months or more before visiting a physician because they thought they could treat the symptoms themselves. Patients spent more than $ 1 billion on nonprescription drugs in 1996 alone trying to remedy their problems.

The survey said 78% of those reporting GERD symptoms had never heard of the disease, yet the National Institute of Health says more than 60 million Americans suffer from GERD at least once a month and 25 million endure daily heartburn symptoms.

And treatment for the disease is readily available. "I have never found an insurer that said they didn't cover at least one of the anti-reflux drugs," said David Earnest, M.D., professor in the Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Section at the University of Arizona. A relatively new, "revolutionary class" of drugs proton pump inhibitors are an important new treatment alternative, according to Earnest.

Many physicians also recommend lifestyle changes, such as diet and posture adjustments, to help prevent heartburn.

You may get additional relief by losing weight, sleeping with the head of your bed slightly elevated, and avoiding lying down right after meals. If necessary, drugs might also be considered. Metoclopramide (Reglan) increases the pressure exerted by the malfunctioning muscle. Cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac) decrease the production of stomach acid. Antacids can be used after meals and at bedtime to neutralize stomach acid.