Avoid foods and medications that trigger GERD (fats, chocolate and caffeinated drinks) and foods that may irritate the damaged lining of the esophagus (citrus juice, tomato juice, and probably pepper). Patients who are overweight are significantly more likely to have GERD compared to ideal body weight This decreases the amount of stomach acid available for reflux. Do not eat for at least two hours before bedtime. Avoid lying down for two hours after eating.
Pillows are not an effective alternative for elevating the head in preventing reflux. Use an under-mattress foam wedge to elevate the head about 6-10 inches. In order to decrease the amount of gastric contents that reach the esophagus, certain simple guidelines should be followed:
Why is it important to discuss GERD with your physician?.If you are using an over-the-counter product more than twice a week, you should consult a physician who can confirm a specific diagnosis and develop a treatment plan with you, including the use of stronger medicines that are only available with a prescription. More frequent episodes of heartburn or acid indigestion may be a symptom of a more serious condition that could worsen if not treated. Over-the-counter medications have a significant role in providing relief from heartburn and other occasional GI discomforts. It is important to note that the dosage available over the counter may be different than the dosages available as a prescription. Recently a class of medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPI) became available over the counter. These include medicines that neutralize acid in the stomach, medicines that block flow of fluids back into the stomach, and finally medicines that decrease the production of fluids in the stomach itself. There are a number of over the counter medicines available for treatment of occasional heartburn. Because of that, keeping our head or bed elevated at an angle is also very helpful for nighttime symptoms. Gravity is one of our biggest protections against acid reflux. Wait at least 2-3 hours after eating before laying down to sleep.Excess abdominal fat is one of the biggest risk factors for heartburn. Tobacco may result in acid reflux and is one of the biggest risk factors for esophageal cancer. Avoid certain trigger foods and beverages: chocolate, coffee, peppermint, greasy or spicy foods, tomato products, and alcoholic beverages.In many cases, doctors find that infrequent heartburn can be controlled by lifestyle modifications and proper use of over-the-counter medicines.
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