Do you have acid reflux at least twice weekly? If so, you might have GERD, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. During reflux episodes, acid and bile from the stomach rise into the esophagus. As a result, you may experience heartburn and other symptoms. Frequent heartburn is a strong sign of GERD.
If heartburn happens often, you shouldn’t ignore it. That’s because doing nothing to control GERD increases your risk for more serious conditions, including asthma and Barrett’s esophagus. The latter can lead to esophageal cancer.
GERD Causes and Risk Factors
To understand how to treat GERD, it helps to know why it occurs.
Stomach contents travel backward into the esophagus when a gate-like barrier called the lower esophageal sphincter weakens or stops working properly. Several factors may contribute to that or otherwise increase your risk for GERD, including:
- Certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, a common group of pain relievers), calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure, and a class of sedatives called benzodiazepines
- Excess weight
- Hiatal hernia
- Pregnancy
- Smoking or secondhand smoke
- Spicy or acidic foods
Symptoms of GERD
Your symptoms help guide how to treat GERD. Often, that starts with taming heartburn—that uncomfortable warmth you feel in your chest during an episode of reflux. However, heartburn isn’t the only symptom that people with GERD may experience. Another is regurgitation.
Have you ever felt a burning sensation surge up your throat and into your mouth, leaving you with a bad taste? That’s regurgitation, which is when stomach contents rise up through the esophagus and beyond.
Other symptoms of GERD include:
- Chest pain
- Chronic cough
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Nausea
Tell your primary care provider about persistent heartburn or any other GERD-like symptoms. Your provider might diagnose GERD based on your symptoms or medical history, or refer you for digestive health care if you need specialized diagnostic tests or treatment recommendations.
Food for Thought: Dietary and Lifestyle Changes
GERD treatment looks different for everyone, but the common denominator is a personalized plan. Your PCP or gastroenterologist will help you find a treatment, or combination of treatments, that works for you. Your strategy to control GERD is likely to include lifestyle changes, and a good place to start is with what you eat.
Have you noticed that certain foods almost always lead to acid reflux symptoms? If so, don’t despair—that’s valuable information you can use against GERD. Knowing what foods trigger acid reflux allows you to avoid them. As a result, you may be able to reduce your symptoms.
Common trigger foods and beverages for people with GERD include:
- Alcoholic drinks
- Caffeinated beverages, including coffee and tea
- Carbonated beverages
- Chocolate
- Citrus fruits
- Fatty foods
- Fried foods
- Garlic
- Onions
- Pepper
- Peppermint
- Spicy foods
- Tomatoes and tomato-based foods
On the other hand, whole grains and many types of non-acidic fruits and vegetables can be allies in your campaign to control GERD. Following a healthy diet that excludes foods that trigger acid reflux symptoms, as well as exercising regularly, can help you lose weight. Shedding excess pounds can help reduce symptoms.
In addition to avoiding your trigger foods and losing weight, you can:
- Avoid a late dinner: Eating at least 3-4 hours prior to bed is an effective strategy to reduce reflux at night. Acidic contents and bile layer up into your esophagus when you lie down with a full stomach.
- Boost your bed. Elevating the head of your bed 6 to 8 inches can help keep frequent acid reflux from disrupting your sleep, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. You don’t have to buy a new mattress: Try putting wood blocks under two legs of your bed frame to lift the head of the bed slightly, or place a foam wedge under your pillow or under the width of mattress.
- Give your wardrobe a makeover. Ditch tight clothing in favor of garments with more breathing room.
- Kick the habit. Smoking can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter.
Medical Treatment Options for GERD
Lifestyle changes alone may not be enough to control GERD. Consequently, your primary care provider or gastroenterologist may prescribe other forms of treatment, including medications. Several types of medication can help reduce symptoms, including over-the-counter antacids and medicines that reduce acid production in the stomach. These include H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors.
If lifestyle changes and medicines don’t give you enough relief, surgery may be a good option. Several procedures treat GERD, but the most common is fundoplication. The goal is to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter so it’s better able to keep stomach contents out of the esophagus. To do that, a surgeon attaches the top of the stomach to the end of the esophagus using a minimally invasive or open surgical approach.
