GERD Treatment

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or simply acid reflux disease, is one of the most common conditions experienced by people all over the world. It is a mild condition and is experienced by people many times in their life. However, it can become severe if turned chronic and not treated at an appropriate time.

GERD Causes and Symptoms

GERD is caused due to improper functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscles. In this condition, the acid in the stomach seeps back into the esophagus or the food pipe resulting in discomfort. Lifestyle and eating habits are termed as the major causes of GERD. Having large and spicy meals, lying or bending down immediately on having meals, eating at odd and irregular times, etc., results in acid reflux disease. On the other hand, smoking, alcoholism, obesity, etc., are also other common causes of acid reflux disease. Heartburn, discomfort, nausea, difficulty in swallowing, etc., are the significant symptoms of acid reflux disease. On the other hand, loss of appetite and vomiting can also be experienced by some people suffering from this disease. As mentioned above, it is essential to treat this condition as early as possible to prevent it from becoming chronic.

Treating GERD

There are several treatment options available to alleviate the symptoms and get relief from this condition. They include:

Prescription Medications
These are H2 blockers and Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are commonly used to treat GERD. These medications limit the production of acid in the stomach, and hence, are helpful in getting rid of the acid reflux symptoms immediately. However, prescription medications are used for temporary relief and they do not aid in treating the underlying cause permanently.

GERD Diet
As aforementioned above, diet and dietary habits are the major reasons for GERD. Therefore, it is essential to change one's diet and eliminate those foodstuffs that are believed to trigger off acid reflux. Foods like citrus fruits, fried and spicy foods, peppermint, chocolates, tea, coffee, etc., are believed to trigger off acid reflux disease, and hence, should be eliminated from the GERD diet. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc., are a part of GERD diet and can be safely consumed to prevent it. On the other hand, one should make changes in the dietary habits and try to have meals at regular times every day. Secondly, one should avoid having larger and spicy meals, specially at night.

Lifestyle Changes
It is also essential to make changes in lifestyle to avoid GERD in future. One should stop smoking and abstain from consuming alcohol as these trigger off acid reflux. Secondly, one should reduce weight as obesity is also one of the potential causes of GERD. On the other hand, one should not wear tight-fitting clothes frequently, and not go to bed immediately after having meals, in order to treat acid reflux disease.

Surgery
If none of the aforementioned natural treatments work, doctors advice people to go in for surgery. A laparoscopic surgery is used to permanently treat GERD. It is used to create a valve mechanism at the lower end of the esophagus to prevent acid reflux. However, there are several limitations to this surgery as not all people are found to be fit for surgery. Sometimes, people may even experience temporary side effects.

In most of the cases, the natural treatment methods are effective in treating this condition and surgery is rarely required. As this is a preventable condition, one should remember to follow all the preventive measures for the same. Take care!