About 10 to 15 percent of people with GERD will develop this condition. Eating certain foods are known to increase the amount of acid in the stomach, which can lead to symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. Avoiding these foods may help to reduce symptoms without taking medications. Examples include:. Also, if you are overweight, taking steps to reduce your weight can help.
This includes healthy eating and exercising whenever possible. If you are not exercising regularly, a good goal is to strive for 30 minutes of exercise five times a week. For babies with GERD, a doctor might recommend diet changes, such as adding a small amount of rice cereal to breast milk or formula to thicken it to make reflux less likely.
Holding a baby upright during feeding, and at least 30 minutes after, may also reduce symptoms. Avoiding overfeeding can help as well.
In older children, a doctor may recommend an elimination diet of foods known to aggravate acid reflux these foods tend to be the same for children and adults. It is important to see your doctor when changes are not helping or when symptoms occur twice a week or more. Antacids : First-line treatments for acid reflux are usually antacids. These medicines act quickly to reduce the effect of stomach acid, which can relieve symptoms.
Examples of these medicines are Tums and Rolaids. Sometimes taking these medicines with antacids can help. Examples of these medicines include cimetidine Tagamet and famotidine Pepcid. Proton pump inhibitors: These medications work longer than H2 blockers to reduce acid in the stomach. They can also help heal the stomach lining. Prokinetics: These are medications like metoclopramide Reglan. There is controversy as to whether these medications benefit people with GERD. Many new prokinetics have been removed from the market due to serious side effects.
One surgical approach is known as Nissen fundoplication. This involves wrapping a portion of your stomach around the esophagus to strengthen the LES. Symptoms of heartburn are often mistaken for heart attack, but the two conditions are unrelated. You should call immediately if your heartburn discomfort and chest pain changes or gets worse and is accompanied by:.
Not all heartburn requires medical care. Infrequent and mild heartburn can be treated with antacids and lifestyle changes, like avoiding spicy foods. Occasional reflux is not a cause for concern. Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD is a chronic condition that can make it difficult to sleep well. Learn some tips to help you sleep better. Gastroesophageal reflex GER is also called acid reflux or heartburn. Gastroesophageal reflex disease GERD is a more serious and persistent form of….
Many of the same things that contribute to gas also cause acid reflux. Learn how gas affects GERD and vice versa, and which foods to avoid. Stomachaches are a common occurrence that can be treated at home.
Here are seven home remedies for you to use to ease your stomach. These remedies…. Numerous over-the-counter medications can help treat GERD, or heartburn. Learn more about your options for treating GERD and when you should see a…. It is usually experienced as a burning or sharp sensation in the center of the chest which may spread to the throat.
Typically, heartburn follows a meal, though it may also be triggered by lying down or bending over. In some cases, heartburn may occur at night, especially when lying flat without the head raised on a pillow.
Other signs and symptoms of GERD include: [2] [3]. Some of these symptoms may also indicate a more severe condition. For this reason, it is always advisable to seek a professional medical opinion when symptoms occur.
In addition, the free Ada app can be used to get an idea of what may be the cause of the symptoms. The esophageal sphincter, a circular band of muscle at the base of the esophagus, usually prevents acid from leaking. Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when the sphincter becomes weakened and does not function as well as it should. There are various reasons why this can happen, but, in some cases, the exact cause cannot be identified.
Most people will experience acid reflux at some point in their lives, but some people are more at risk of developing GERD than others. These people include: [3] [5]. Tests are often not necessary to confirm a diagnosis of GERD. A doctor will usually be able to identify the condition from a description of the symptoms being experienced. These tests may include: [2] [4]. The majority of people who experience GERD do not develop any complications , particularly if the condition is managed well.
However, complications are possible. One of the most common complications of GERD is esophagitis, a condition involving inflammation of the esophagus. If esophagitis occurs, symptoms may include:. GERD is one of the most common causes of esophagitis, along with certain eating disorders, e. Other, less common complications of GERD include: [2] [6] [7] [8]. The free Ada app can also be used to carry out a symptom assessment.
The treatment method used for gastroesophageal reflux disease will depend on the severity of the condition. Mild cases will usually be treated with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medication. Lifestyle changes include: [2] [9] [10].
If medication is required, doctors will generally prescribe proton pump inhibitors. This type of medication is generally safe to use and causes few side-effects. If the condition responds well to the medication, the affected person may only need to use them in the short-term, usually for around eight weeks. Prilosec OTC may be used to treat frequent heartburn. Read our article on. If you know what causes your frequent heartburn, try removing those particular triggers first. If you are unsure what could be causing your frequent heartburn, here are some treatment tips.
Sleep on an angle for example, elevate the head of the bed so that gravity helps keep acid in the stomach. Talk to your doctor about medications that would work for you. IE 10 or 11 may display this page improperly.
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