Gastroesophageal reflux, or the rise of acidic contents along the esophagus, throat or mouth, is the most obvious symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Other symptoms include heartburn, cough, post-nasal discharge, difficulty swallowing, and even excessive erosion of tooth enamel. This chronic condition can have serious consequences if left untreated. Fortunately, in most cases it responds well to treatments that consist of a combination of medications and lifestyle changes. Surgical techniques can also offer relief.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making Lifestyle Changes
Step 1. Eliminate foods that increase gastric juice production
If you suffer from reflux often, you have probably noticed which foods make the problem worse. Try avoiding them to see if your symptoms subside:
- Chocolate;
- Spicy foods;
- Garlic and onion;
- Frying and fats;
- Acidic foods, such as tomatoes and citrus fruits
- Mint.
Step 2. Eat little and often
When you eat a large meal, your stomach expands by exerting strong pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (the area of the esophageal muscle that controls the opening between the stomach and the esophagus). Allows acids and other stomach contents to flow up into the esophagus. To avoid this movement, limit the portions of your dishes. Before taking any more food, wait to see if you are full.
Step 3. Wait a few hours before going to bed
Give your stomach enough time to digest by harnessing gravity and avoiding eating just before bed. Wait three hours after your last meal before going to bed.
Step 4. Lose weight.
Obesity is a major cause of reflux. Excessive weight puts pressure on the esophageal sphincter causing gastric juices to rise. Diet and exercise help relieve these symptoms without the need for further treatment.
Consult your doctor or a qualified dietician for advice on how to lose weight safely and effectively
Step 5. Avoid alcohol and caffeine
They weaken the sphincter that controls the passage of food from the esophagus to the stomach by promoting reflux. Avoid taking these substances, especially before going to bed, to lessen the severity of symptoms.
Excessive alcohol consumption can also aggravate gastroesophageal reflux disease because it slows stomach emptying and impairs bowel function
Step 6. Stop smoking
Smoking interferes with the digestive process and damages the esophageal mucosa. Even if you can't break the habit, try to limit yourself as much as possible.
If you have a hard time quitting, see your doctor. They can offer you practical advice or prescribe a drug that can help you
Step 7. Wear comfortable clothes
Tight belts compress internal organs and can block digestion. Wear skirts and pants with an elastic waistband. If you need to bring tight-fitting or heavy-weight clothes to the office, change to comfortable overalls or clothing as soon as you get home.
Step 8. Keep your head 10-12cm above your feet when you sleep
The simple force of gravity helps to keep reflux at bay, especially if you are overweight, have a hiatus hernia or have other disorders that affect the transition area between the esophagus and the stomach. If the head is higher than the feet, the acid will not be able to rise as easily.
Use shims to tilt the top of the bed. If you use pillows to lift your head, you don't find it beneficial to bend your waist
Part 2 of 3: Treating Reflux with Medication
Step 1. Ask your doctor if you can use digestive enzymes and probiotics
Some people suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease because, by not producing enough gastric juices, they have poor digestion and an imbalance of the intestinal flora. Check with your doctor to find out if your reflux problem could be linked to a deficient stomach acid production and if digestive enzymes and probiotics can help you.
Step 2. Try an over-the-counter medication
Antacids, such as Alka Seltzer, can relieve the symptoms of occasional indigestion. Recurrent or severe heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux should be treated according to the doctor's advice.
- See your doctor if the burning or indigestion recurs often or lasts more than two weeks. Always ask for their advice before taking an antacid regularly.
- Antacids can affect how the body assimilates other active ingredients. Take any other medication at least one hour before or four hours after taking the antacid. Check with your doctor to find out how antacids can interact with other molecules.
Step 3. Test the H2 antagonists
Ranitidine, cimetidine and famotidine work by blocking the histamine receptors that stimulate the production of gastric juices.
- Take H2 blockers before eating to prevent reflux or after meals to treat heartburn.
- You can buy them without a prescription.
Step 4. Treat reflux with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
Omeprazole and esomeprazole hinder the production of gastric juices.
- Taken for 2 weeks, they not only relieve symptoms, but help heal lesions in the esophageal mucosa.
- You can buy them without a prescription.
- Prolonged intake of PPIs and drugs that reduce stomach acid production can reduce the absorption capacity of a number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12, folic acid, calcium, iron and zinc. Check with your doctor to find out if you need to take a supplement to prevent any nutritional deficiencies.
Step 5. Try home remedies
If you prefer a more natural approach, there are solutions that allow you to relieve stomach acid:
- Drink a tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in water.
- Eat raw almonds because they are low in acid and high in calcium. In some people, they help calm the symptoms of reflux.
- Drink 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with water every day. This solution helps the digestive system to function properly.
- Drink chamomile tea.
- Drink aloe vera juice.
Step 6. Ask your doctor if herbal remedies are effective against GERD
Herbs have been used for generations to reduce the excessive production of gastric juices. Before the discovery of new drugs, including H-2 antagonists and proton pump inhibitors, only herbal remedies were used to treat reflux. Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), Asparagus racemosus, Santalum album, Cyperus rotundus, Rubia cordifolia, Ficus benghalensis, Fumaria parviflora, Bauhinia variegata and Mangifera indica (mango) help reduce the production of hydrochloric acid.
- Always consult your doctor before using herbal remedies. Some can interact with the medications you are taking or cause unwanted side effects.
- Do not rely solely on herbal remedies to treat life-threatening conditions, such as Helicobacter Pylori infections or erosion of the gastric or esophageal mucosa. See your doctor if you suspect you have any of these diseases.
Part 3 of 3: Treating Chronic Reflux
Step 1. See your doctor if reflux is persistent or difficult to treat
In some cases, home remedies, lifestyle changes, and over-the-counter medications aren't enough. If symptoms are painful, last longer than two weeks, or occur at least twice a week, see your doctor.
Step 2. Get tested to determine causes and rule out other conditions
Gastric ulcer, cancer, and other diseases can cause reflux. Tell your doctor that you intend to find out if a pre-existing condition is triggering your symptoms.
Step 3. Consider surgery
Some health problems, such as a hiatal hernia, can be corrected with surgery. If you suffer from chronic reflux, consider this option.
- Traditional surgery can rebuild the pit of the stomach to block reflux.
- The less invasive solutions, performed with endoscopic probes, involve the partial suture of the gastroesophageal sphincter in order to narrow it, the positioning of a dilator balloon to avoid scar adhesions and the cauterization of damaged tissues.
Advice
- See your doctor if you need to take medications for more than two weeks.
- Reflux is common during pregnancy due to elevated hormone levels and excessive pressure on the digestive system. Your gynecologist can advise you on safe therapy.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking medications for cardiovascular conditions, such as calcium channel blockers, or tranquilizers. They can cause or worsen the symptoms of GERD.
Warnings
- If left untreated, reflux aggravates hypertension, while also promoting asthma attacks.
- Regurgitation of stomach acid and undigested food during sleep can lead to aspiration pneumonia and impair breathing.
- If left untreated, reflux can damage tissues and ultimately cause bleeding ulcers or cancer of the esophagus.
