How simple lifestyle changes and
the latest treatments can help you prevent acid reflux
Mmm-mmm good! The delicious foods of summer - burgers topped with tomatoes, grilled sausage with onions and green peppers, salty french fries, pork barbecue. They sure taste great, but a couple hours later, it feels like they've launched an attack in your chest.
You're experiencing heartburn, an uncomfortable burning sensation behind the breastbone. The condition affects nearly everyone once in a while. In fact, one in five adult Americans experience heartburn on a weekly basis. For some, the condition is frequent or severe enough to cause more significant problems that lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
GERD is caused by reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. When you eat, a valve at the lower end of your esophagus relaxes and opens to admit food and liquids into the stomach. The valve then closes to prevent stomach acid from washing back up the esophagus. Acid reflux occurs when the normal one-way valve weakens and opens both ways.
Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD. Some patients also may experience regurgitation of food or gastric contents, painful swallowing and chest pain. Other symptoms can include sore throat, wheezing, coughing, sinusitis, laryngitis and erosions on the enamel of your teeth.
In addition, stomach acid can be regurgitated into the lungs, causing asthma, sleep disorders and other serious conditions.
When untreated, GERD can damage the lining of the esophagus and vocal chords and cause ulcers.
In some patients, this damage can result in scarring and narrowing of the esophagus, making swallowing difficult. GERD also can lead to a condition called Barrett's esophagus, a risk factor in the development of esophageal cancer.
Prevention and early treatment are key. With simple lifestyle changes and proper disease management, patients should be able to continue a normal life.
If you experience acid reflux infrequently, over-the-counter antacids should ease your symptoms. If you have heartburn several times a week, it's time to see your doctor. Many new medications are available that alleviate symptoms quickly and effectively. Behavior modifications also can help.
Patients who do not respond to medication and lifestyle changes should undergo endoscopy, a test in which a physician uses a thin, flexible tube that is swallowed to allow a physician to inspect the lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Some patients also may be candidates for a two-hour laparoscopic procedure in which surgeons recreate the one-way esophageal valve by wrapping part of the stomach around the end of the esophagus.
The surgery is appropriate for patients who have failed medical management or have medical complications due to acid reflux. Recovery takes about two weeks, and 85 to 90 percent of patients are completely cured.
Your doctor may tell you to try these tips:
- Lose weight if you are overweight to reduce the pressure on the esophagus.
- Make mealtimes relaxed. Eat slowly, chew thoroughly and don't overeat.
- Avoid citrus, tomato and vegetable juices.
- Keep a diary of your symptoms, noting when they occur and what you've eaten. If your symptoms follow a pattern, you should avoid the foods and activities that trigger them.
- Loosen or remove tight-fitting clothing during and after eating.
- Avoid lifting, pushing or pulling after meals.
- Stop eating and drinking at least three to four hours before bedtime.
- Sleep with the head of your bed elevated with a block under the bed legs.
- Talk to your doctor about the medications you are taking for other conditions. Some drugs can worsen acid reflux symptoms.
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