GERD Physicians Offer Tips to Relieve Chronic Heartburn

You may associate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with names such as heartburn or acid reflux, and while these conditions may be related, they each have different meanings. Generally speaking, GERD is a more chronic and severe form of acid reflux, and heartburn is a symptom associated with the condition. Still, no matter what name you give it, GERD can be a bothersome condition that, if left untreated, may lead to more serious complications due to damage of the esophagus. Fortunately, it is also mostly preventable and responds well to proper management. In order to avoid the progression of GERD and its associated symptoms, give the following tips a try:

Maintain a Healthy Weight to Prevent GERD

Excess weight is the largest contributor to the development of GERD. Fat around the stomach, in particular, can be responsible for forcing gastric acids further up and into the esophagus. Therefore, the first recommended step for anyone who is both overweight and experiencing GERD is to focus on weight loss.

Dietary Changes to Relieve GERD Symptoms

Diet is another major culprit that can exacerbate the symptoms of GERD. In particular, there are certain foods which are notorious triggers for acid reflux and that sufferers would be wise to avoid. These include:

• Fatty foods
  
• Spicy foods
  
• Caffeinated beverages
  
• Acidic foods and juices
  
• Chocolate
  
• Mint
  
• Onions

Additionally, changes to eating habits can offer further improvement of GERD. Such adjustments include eating more slowly and having a few smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large ones.

Adjust Sleeping Habits to Help GERD

Many patients find that their GERD symptoms worsen at night or while lying down. In these cases, making adjustments to sleeping habits or environments can prove helpful. One of the most impactful changes in this scenario would be to adjust the timing of the last meal of the day. Ensure that there are at least three hours between food intake and bedtime in order to give meals the opportunity to digest and stomach acid levels to go down.

Furthermore, changes to the bed itself can also be helpful. For instance, elevating the head of the bed by a few inches allows the force of gravity to work in your favor, keeping gastric acid down.

Review Your Gerd Medications

If you are currently taking medications for GERD but are still experiencing symptoms, it may be time to review your prescriptions with your doctor. Likewise, it is also important to take a look at medicines you may regularly take for other reasons, as these could be playing a role in your condition as well. Medicines such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), pain relievers, some antibiotics, and certain asthma drugs can all cause changes that encourage the development or worsening of GERD.

Healthier Lifestyle Choices May Improve GERD

A bundle of muscles at the bottom of the esophagus known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is responsible for tightening and preventing acid and other stomach contents from moving upward and into the esophagus. Relaxing of the LES can result from a number of causes, including habits such as smoking and consumption of alcohol, both of which are known to have many other negative health effects. Cutting back or eliminating these habits can help ease GERD symptoms while also producing many other positive changes.

If you are suffering from the troubling and painful symptoms of GERD, contact Digestive Diseases Center. Our team of renowned gastroenterologists can help you identify the potential sources of your condition, as well as help you develop a specialized treatment plan, allowing you to eat and rest comfortably once again.