(CL) –Have you ever experienced a burning sensation in your chest and throat that despite treatments and changes to your diet keep coming back at least twice a week? You may have attributed it to a reaction from yet another spicy meal, stress from work, or maybe just chalked it up to a minor stomach "bug." It's nothing to worry about, right? Wrong. If you've been experiencing persistent or frequently acidity, bitter taste in your mouth or difficulty swallowing after treatment and changes to your eating habits, the symptoms may be an indication of something else. You could be suffering from acid reflux disease. People often don't know they're suffering from this disease and fail to seek help. They continue living with discomfort not knowing that there is adequate treatment. In the majority of the cases, Hispanics think the symptoms will eventually disappear by themselves. What they don't know is that they can be part of the 6.1 million of Hispanics who suffer from acid reflux. According to a recent research study conducted by AstraZeneca in five U.S. cities with the highest density of Hispanics, 66 percent of the Hispanics interviewed demonstrated they were not familiar with the common terms utilized to describe acid reflux (GERD). Also, 12 percent of the those polled admitted to suffering some of the symptoms of acid reflux two or more times per week, not knowing that it can be potentially serious. Acid reflux is described as a backflow of acid from the stomach into the swallowing tube or esophagus. This acid can irritate and sometimes damage the delicate lining on the inside of the esophagus. The usual symptom is heartburn – an uncomfortable burning sensation behind the breastbone, most commonly occurring after a meal. Other symptoms include pain when swallowing, regurgitation of acid into the mouth, or a sour taste and chest pain. In some individuals this reflux is frequent or severe enough to cause more significant problems. Acid reflux can be severe enough to impact your life and/or damage your esophagus. This condition should not go untreated. There are several options available to help limit symptoms, heal damage and make you feel more comfortable. Here is some important recommendations to help you manage the reflux: - Watch what you eat. While spicy foods don't cause acid reflux, they can contribute to the condition. In fact, just about any large meal stimulates the production of stomach acid and can trigger an acid attack. Eat smaller meals more frequently during the day. In addition, avoid lying down directly after eating a meal or wearing tight-fitting clothing that can push on the stomach. Keep a diary of what causes the worst acid reflux symptoms and make a mental note to avoid these behaviors. - See your doctor. Don't self-diagnose your condition. A doctor is familiar with the symptoms and can come up with a health care plan that's right for you. In severe cases, acid reflux may progress and put you at risk for esophageal cancer – therefore, it's nothing to take lightly. Although acid reflux disease can become very serious, it can be treated. To obtain more information, please call 1-(866)-271-7278 and select option 2, or visit www.reflujoacido.com. AstraZeneca’s public education efforts are not limited to gastrointestinal health; they also include other important conditions that are affecting the Hispanic community such as: cardiovascular disease, pediatric asthma, mental health and oncology.

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