79pounds's Journal

Normally, a muscular valve at the end of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), helps keep what you eat and drink—as well as digestive juices—in your stomach, where it all belongs.  When the LES is weak or otherwise doesn't work right, acid reflux occurs. Stomach contents move back up into the esophagus, and you experience what is known as heartburn.

Heartburn hurts because your esophagus doesn't have the same protective lining that your stomach does.  Most people experience heartburn once a month, and as many as 15 million people experience heartburn every day.

You take certain medications: Medications used to treat depression, high blood pressure, heart conditions, anxiety and asthma—just to name a few—can relax the LES, allowing stomach contents to move back up into the esophagus. Taking antihistamines, birth control pills, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or antispasmodics can increase the risk of heartburn, too.

You are pregnant: Hormones and weight gain during pregnancy affect the LES and increase the risk of heartburn. Heartburn in pregnancy occurs in about 30 percent to 50 percent of all pregnancies.

You're stressed out: Stress can boost the production of stomach acid and slow digestion, both of which make it easier for acid to reflux and come into contact with the esophagus. Stress also lowers the threshold for experiencing heartburn pain—you're more likely to feel the acid reflux if you're stressed.

ANTIDOTE:  chew fruity sugarless gum (FRUITY ONLY),  drink milk a little all day, will stop it from happening without using drugs.

can it BE any nicer out?  lol.  it is soooooo NICE outside.  makes you remember all over again why we all live in florida.  lol.  but my stepmother claims the kind of day we are having today, they have in california ALL THE TIME and that its only at night that it is at all chilly.  man, does that sound appealing as well.  lol.  

just finished off more of the filet mignons.  nothing special just broiled with asparagus.  would love a salad but we finished the last of that last night.  everyone under the sun was at the beach today.  what a day.  big is hiding but michele is outside.  so there could be rain i suppose.  i have a feeling it is the people in the house behind us who have the red pickup.  they were out and about last night around 2 a.m. and then gone first thing in the a.m.  they are very loud too.  well, will wait and watch, i hope its NOT them.  still feel like a swat team will show up with helicopters, guns and megaphones  harrassing us over animals.  then i really will have a heart attack.  adoptions are crazily slow.  i don't think november is ever all that busy and we have a shitload of kittens after this bunch that need to go out at christmas time.  they are at su's. 

i should really drive over to the mobile, pensacola area and at least look around.  other groups have sanctuaries in the northwest of florida as well.  they hire caretakers for them, though that can get complicated and pricey.  the kids are at the beach.  js is STILL all the way up north so she is really making a go of it this time?  lol. 

ANOTHER DEATH!!!! k just called they are having the memorial next week.  i really can't believe this year.  ly is lo's sister.  she was 39.  i just saw her at a garage sale for animals in august.  wtf!!!  she just started court reporting a couple of years ago and was complaining that getting into the field properly and making real bucks, wasn't as easy as she expected.  she used to work in a diner for about 10 years before that and the rest of her work was with her sister doing animal sanctuary work volunteering.  they live with their parents the rest of the time by the beach so its do-able to live like that.  they said she had an asmtha attack in her sleep.  i can't believe this year.  she was at her sister's animal sanctuary when it happened.  would love to hear the whole scoop but right now, i'm in shock.  what is happening this year!!!!  its like everyone is just giving up