Why Do I Get Water Brash

What is water brash?

Water brash is one of the symptoms of gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD. This is a medical condition where gastric acids from the stomach flows upward and mixes with saliva in the mouth. This results in heartburn and a terrible taste in the mouth. Besides these effects, intestinal acids can destroy the internal lining of your esophagus.

There are increasing cases of water brash among people in developing countries. One of the symptoms is the excessive production of saliva. The burning sensation occurs just beneath the chest bone. This condition is different from ulcer, regurgitation or vomiting. However, all these are also indications that you may have GERD.

There are other symptoms of gastro esophageal reflux disease. One of them is a chronic cough. People who have this disease may also suffer from sore throat. They may also have difficulty swallowing food, or it may get stuck in their throat. Unexplainable weight loss and indigestion are also common indicators.

As mentioned earlier, water brash is a symptom of gastro esophageal reflux disease. As such, we will be examining the causes of GERD. This will help us to better understand why people suffer from this decrease and its symptoms.

Causes of water brash:

Gastro esophageal reflux disease occurs when the mechanisms designed to prevent stomach acids from rising to the esophagus are not functioning properly. There are various organs within your digestive system that ensure that gastric juices remain trapped in your stomach. One of them is the esophageal sphincters.

Esophageal is a unit of muscles located at the top and bottom of your esophagus. They open and close to allow the transfer of food and drink from the mouth to the stomach. The top sphincter prevents air from flowing into the stomach and creating bubbles. On the other hand, the lower esophageal sphincters are a band of smooth muscles located at the base of your esophagus.

This organ receives food and drinks from the UES. Upon receiving these substances, they further contract to ensure that food is pushed into the stomach. They also ensure to prevent what you swallow from flowing back up. From their different ends of the esophagus, these muscles work in sync. They build rhythmic contractions and ensure that whatever you eat moves in the right direction.

However, the system can sometimes be altered and this results in several dysfunctions. One of the reasons for this is excessive alcohol intake. Alcohol relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter. When this muscle becomes too relaxed, it cannot prevent stomach acid from rising to your throat and mixing with saliva.

Besides relaxing the LES, excessive alcohol can also cause vomiting. If you take alcoholic substances on a regular basis and in high quantities, you may vomit and feel nauseous more frequently. This is because alcohol irritates the internal esophageal lining. Simply put, excessive drinking destroys your gullet. It is no secret that smoking destroys your lungs. But, how does it get to your lungs?

Well, it passes through your esophagus. As it goes through your throat, it destroys that internal lining that protects your gullet. Besides the harmful effects mentioned above, smoking is notorious for weakening muscles. It impairs muscle protein synthesis and results in weak muscles within the body. This includes the lower esophageal sphincter that prevents the upward movement of acids to your throat.

Research conducted in 2023 showed that obesity is associated with an increase in exposure to esophageal acid. This is because obesity reduces the length between the upper and lower esophageal sphincter. This increases the gastroesophageal pressure gradient. A shorter distance means that acid can easily travel up your gullet.

Other causes of the reflux disease is the use of antibiotics, pain relievers and other medication. Pregnancy can also cause women to suffer from this condition.

Management and treatment for water brash

Since water brash is a GERD symptom, treating the disease will relieve you from the condition. Depending on the severity of your case, you can either manage it or seek treatment. If you suffer just mild heartburn and that sour taste in the mouth, you can manage the symptoms.

Here are some ways to manage water brash:

• Drink enough water. This helps to flush down the contents in your esophagus
• You can also chew cloves to reduce the production of saliva
• Aloe Vera juice also helps to reduce the symptoms

There are over-the-counter drugs you can take. However, it is best to consult with your doctor before taking them.

Can I prevent water brash

You can prevent heartburn or the terrible taste in your mouth. Below are the measures to incorporate:

• Avoid eating late at night
• Quit smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
• Avoid spicy and greasy foods. They can trigger the symptoms
• Put conscious effort into losing weight if you are obese
• Eat meals at regular intervals and in smaller portions

When should I call a doctor?

While some incidents of water brash are manageable, it is best advised to see a doctor if the symptoms are becoming critical. You should consider seeking medical help if you are above around 50 years of age and experience the symptoms mentioned earlier.

Besides your age, you should visit a doctor if you experience the following:

• Vomit in your vomit or stool
• Chest pain when performing an activity
• Unexplainable weight loss
• Continuous choking, coughing or wheezing
• Sudden voice hoarseness
• Unending nauseous, diarrhea or vomiting

If you notice these in addition to typical acid reflux symptoms, you may have severe gastro esophageal reflux disease. In addition, pregnant women should always consult a doctor before taking any OTC drugs.

Summary

Water brash is a typical symptom of acid reflux. It is the result of gastric acids moving up the esophagus and mixing with your saliva. This means that if you can regulate gastro esophageal reflux diseases, you can treat water brash. Even better, it only requires simple lifestyle changes.