Have you heard about GERD?

If you haven’t heard of GERD, you know about heartburn and acid reflux (which are sometimes used interchangeably). Heartburn is the symptom you feel when acid splashes up and out of the stomach. Acid reflux is when stomach acid splashes up from the stomach into the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is severe or chronic acid reflux that can lead to complications. Back in college at Ole Miss I was drinking about 64 ounces of diet soda and morning coffee every day. I was on a diet of salad with salsa as my dressing and snacking on pickles. My mom would ship me Prilosec in bulk in my care packages to help with my chronic acid reflux I had all day. 

GERD occurs when stomach acid, and sometimes bile, backs up (refluxes) into the esophagus (food pipe or the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.) Over time, the backwash of acid can irritate and inflame the lining of the esophagus and cause GERD signs and symptoms. Common symptoms include acid taste, increased belching, hoarseness, dry cough, burning sensation in upper middle chest, chest pressure or pain and difficulty swallowing. In children, vomiting, dysphagia, refusal to eat, or complaints of abdominal pain may be present. It’s important to get GERD under control as prolonged acid exposure can result in esophagitis (esophageal erosions, ulcerations) or stricturing resulting in chest discomfort or difficulty swallowing. Esophageal cancer may also form from chronic acid exposure.  

Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications such as Tums, Rolaids, Zantac, and Pepcid, or the stronger OTC medications such as Prilosec, Prevacid, Zegerid. It is important to note that the stronger OTC drugs are meant to be taken for chronic use to control acid throughout the day but are not as effective for immediate relief of acute reflux symptoms. If you are dependent on these medicines, you may need to consider a surgical procedure called a Laparoscopic Nissan Fundoplication. During this surgery, the surgeon wraps a portion of the stomach around the lower esophagus to basically tighten, reinforce the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. When these signs and symptoms occur at least twice each week or interfere with your daily life, you may want to contact your Doctor regarding further workup and treatment recommendations.

These are some tips to help reduce GERD with lifestyle changes:

• Avoid large, high-fat meals and going to bed shortly after. Avoid eating at least 3-4 hours before lying down. Stay upright and avoid vigorous activity after eating.
• Avoid acidic and spicy foods.
• Avoid garlic, onions, and tomato-based foods.
• Avoid smoking and alcoholic beverages.
• Avoid caffeine-containing foods and beverages, mints, and chocolate (it lowers the sphincter pressure).
• Avoid tightly fitted clothes, especially after a meal.
• Consume a healthy nutritionally complete diet and lose weight if overweight.
• It may help to keep a journal of foods that tend to trigger your symptoms to assist with avoidance.

Sources: http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/heartburn-gerd-basic-information-causes and Dr. Patrick Saitta, Gastroenterologist at Concorde Medical Group, NYC.