Yupz, got notified 2 days ago of my Uob interview this thursday for a post I've long wanted! ^^ mmm but the thing is... i've also another interview for NTUC lined up on monday and the position, benefits quite attractive. Of course, pay between the two is worlds apart!! haha... we'll see... regarding the outcome of them... =D
found this eye-catching news on Netscape.. just wana share with u all..
btw, my fyp (final-year-project, just in case WL doesnt know..) was on this topic, GERD and i think it's really true.. AND eating too much chocolate (sharon likes chocolates right?) will also cause gerd.
The Worst Time to Drink a Soda
Thirsty in the hours before bedtime? Drink milk, water, or juice. Don't reach for a soda pop. According to a new study from the University of Arizona in Tucson, soft drink consumption in the evening has been linked to troublesome acid reflux at night.
This is no ordinary heartburn, which afflicts nearly half the U.S. population at least once a month. Acid reflux at night typically has more complications, including narrowing of the esophagus and even cancerous changes of the esophagus. "That's a big price to pay for a can of Coke," lead researcher Dr. Ronnie Fass, a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona, Tucson, told HealthDayNews. In addition, the team found a link between the use of benzodiazepine sleeping aids such as Ativan, Valium, or Xanax and nighttime heartburn, as well a higher body mass index, snoring, daytime sleepiness, asthma, insomnia, and high blood pressure.
Heartburn, which typically strikes after meals, is a burning sensation behind the chest bone. When it rises up to the throat, it's acid reflux.
The study: More than 15,000 adults who were participating in the ongoing Sleep Heart Health Study were surveyed. Of these more than 3,800 or 25 percent said they suffered acid reflux during their sleep at night. What was the common dietary or lifestyle link? The results: "For the first time, we found a close relationship between soft drink consumption and this type of severe heartburn," Fass explained to HealthDayNews. Those who consumed one or more servings of carbonated soft drinks per day had a 31 percent higher risk of developing heartburn at night compared to individuals who stayed away from these types of beverages. The worst time to drink a soda is with dinner or in the evening.
Why do sodas give heartburn at night and not during the day? First, carbonated beverages are very acidic. Second, when we drink a soda, we also consume a lot of air in the form of carbon dioxide. That causes the stomach to distend. It's the stomach distention that seems to be associated with the reflux. When we're awake, just the simple act of swallowing can dilute the reflux acids. Also, if we're awake, we can take antacids to minimize the heartburn symptoms. "But when you go to sleep, sleep-time physiology applies," he told HealthDayNews. "You'll have acid reflux but not swallow--so the acid is staying there longer in the esophagus, causing more damage."
