How to Treat GERD
Tip! Watch your diet. Fatty foods, spicy foods, onions, tomatoes, chocolate, caffeine-containing beverages, alcohol and carbonated beverages frequently cause acid reflux.
GERD is a chronic condition which can lead to a great deal of discomfort for the sufferer. There are many ways in which the levels of pain, or the symptoms can be dampened which can improve the sufferer's quality of life, and do not require a great deal of effort, particularly in relation to eating habits and changes in lifestyle.
Firstly, the reason acid reflux can be more sever at night is due to the lack of gravity to pull the reflux out of the oesophagus when lying horizontally. A good way to help alleviate some of the pain, and effects of GERD is to ensure that when you sleep, you sleep in a slightly
elevated position to allow the reflux to flow more easily from the oesophagus back to the stomach. This will not only help relive the pain but will also help minimise the damage of the acid reflux in your oesophagus while you sleep. The most effective way to achieve this is to prop the bed up with some books or breeze block to ensure your head is higher than your feet. Alternatively, you can try to form a wedge to sleep on with pillows which will again help to promote the impact of gravity on the acid in your oesophagus. Is it also shown that if patients sleep on their left side, reflux is less prominent than when they sleep on their right side.
Tip! Some things we all think of as being good for us, like vegetables and milk, can be bad for acid reflux. Avoid eating cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower and onions.
Some foods and drinks can promote weaker LES muscles, which can lead to increases in acid reflux and should consequently be reduced or avoided altogether. There include chocolate, alcohol, spicy or acidic foods and citrus juices. In general, the reduction of fatty foods in the diet and the cessation of smoking will aid the sufferer and go some way to reducing their acid complaint.
Another way to treat the effects of GERD is by the consumption of prescribed antacids which neutralise the acidic element of the stomach. This greatly reduces the amount of acid produced in the stomach, which is higher in GERD patients than in unaffected people, by neutralising it, thus reducing the painful sensations associated with heartburn. Although effective in neutralising the acid for a short period of time, antacids are required in frequent dosages to maintain effect, and as a result a number of additional treatments have been developed, known primarily as histamine antagonists. These work by blocking the acid producing agents within the stomach which are more active in GERD sufferers to reduce the quantities of acid to reflux. There are also pro-motility drugs available which work on the pressure within the lower oesophageal sphincter and strengthen the muscular contractions which often lead to acid reflux.
Tip! Chest pain that begins or increases with exercise is more likely due to a heart problem. Acid reflux symptoms don't change with physical exertion.
There are a wide variety of treatment available to help curb the symptoms of GERD. Your medical professional will be capable of informing you of the best treatment for you, and will be able to prescribe the appropriate treatment to dampen your pain and treat your symptoms of GERD effectively.
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