Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is an illness in which gastric contents flow backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube connecting mouth to stomach). This article discusses what steps must be taken in order to manage this condition effectively. Drcure.com understands the significance of your health is and recognizes the difficulties you may encounter when trying to navigate its complex maze of information. That’s why they strive to create an intuitive platform where you can quickly and easily find all of the Gerd Treatment answers that you require quickly and easily – whether its advice on treatment options or suggestions on leading a healthier lifestyle we are here for you.
No one, including infants and children, are immune from GERD. It can arise for various reasons; often food habits play a part. Hot, spicy or oily foods tend to trigger reflux episodes the most; other triggers could include grapefruit, oranges lemons tomatoes and tomato-based sauces can increase acidity in your stomach leading to further episodes. Peppermint or chocolate could also trigger reflux due to relaxing muscles between stomach and esophagus, while alcohol and carbonated beverages could result in alkaline diet symptoms for certain individuals.
Are you experiencing chest discomfort soon after eating or lying down? This could be an indicator that you have Gastroesophageal Respiratory Disease, commonly referred to as GERD. When we consume food, our esophagus transports it down the digestive system into our stomach for digestion. When food reaches this part, any irritation may affect its passage through this part. Once in the stomach, hydrochloric acid begins its job of digesting. This acid can even strip paint off of an automobile! Lower Esophageal Sphincter or L-E-S is a piece of muscle between your stomach and esophagus. When properly functioning, this muscle band clamps down to keep stomach contents from shifting or upwards and burning the inside lining of your stomach, and prevents backwash. If this muscle fails to work as intended and backwash occurs it causes irritation and burning known as Reflux/GERD.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of GERD include:
- A burning sensation or pain in the middle of the chest
- Nausea
- Difficulty or pain with swallowing
- Belching
- Food coming back up or tasting acid
- Chronic cough
- Laryngitis or hoarseness
The symptoms of gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) vary from person to person; some experience more burning or pain than others do; meanwhile some simply develop coughing fits or feel as though their saliva is being forced out through their throat.
Maintaining tight L-E S muscle strength is vital to combating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Smoking cigarettes, being overweight or drinking too frequently contribute to its cause; peppermint or chocolate foods and pregnancy may also trigger it. Your doctor can use an upper endoscopy examination to diagnose GERD. Other tests can determine acid level and pressure within your esophagus or detect blood in your stool samples. If you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lifestyle modifications could help. Avoid food items which could aggravate symptoms. Also try eating smaller meals. If overweight, consider trying to lose some weight – since most GERD symptoms appear when sitting down in bed. Allow gravity to help.
Blocks of timber placed 4 to 6 inches above your bed may help. If symptoms continue, consult your physician or gastroenterologist for an assessment and upper endoscopy examination. Your doctor may suggest taking over-the-counter antacids or prescribe stronger ones; you should contact him/her if you experience bleeding, bad breath are experiencing difficulty swallowing, are experiencing rapid weight loss or are bleeding internally. There’s good news: most patients suffering from GERD don’t require surgery. Surgeons might perform laparoscopic surgery to tighten an inflexible L-E-S muscle in more serious cases; otherwise antacid tablets may help treat occasional heartburn as needed; if experiencing it more than three or four times every week consult your physician and follow any prescribed medication in order to alleviate it.
Diagnosis
To begin diagnosing GERD, discuss your symptoms with your healthcare physician. Your symptoms combined with an examination may be enough to establish its presence; otherwise if an underlying pattern develops such as when specific foods trigger symptoms or when specific times of day they occur, keeping a food journal may help present this evidence to your physician and better assist their diagnosis process. As previously discussed, some foods are more likely than others to cause reactions;
Treatments
While doctors typically recommend medication as the main form of therapy for this condition, diet changes may help relieve symptoms. Some of the most recommended dietary adjustments for treating GERD include:
- Avoiding or eliminating trigger foods
- Switch to less spicy or greasy food items
- Do not consume food for two hours after bedtime.
