GERD

Living with GERD can be draining. Your throat and stomach may feel like they’re on fire. And you may question if your symptoms will ever go away.

But you can heal your digestive system with both natural and medical interventions.

This page will discuss what GERD is. And the symptoms you may experience with this disease. We’ll also explore risk factors and complications of GERD. Lastly, we’ll discuss the treatment for GERD.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition that causes acid reflux. This is when stomach acid flows backward into the esophagus. The valve between the esophagus and stomach is the lower esophageal sphincter. Certain factors can open or weaken this valve and lead to symptoms of GERD.

Symptoms of GERD may range in severity from mild to severe. Some signs are more common, while others are lesser-known. Symptoms may include:

• Heartburn
• Regurgitation
• Chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Increased salivation
• Difficulty sleeping

Indigestion

Indigestion is a recurring or persistent discomfort in the upper abdomen. Since it can often be a sign of an underlying condition like GERD, we wanted to provide a few ways to minimize or avoid indigestion.

1. Eat more diverse fruits and vegetables. This will improve your microbiome diversity, and a supplemental benefit is weight loss.
2. Be conscious of food choices. Poor food choices like processed foods can make your indigestion worse.
3. Maintain a healthy eating schedule. Doing so will help your GI tract perform better. Dr. Islam recommends eating dinner earlier to give your body more opportunity to digest the food. When your eating schedule gets changed, it can cause a worsening of any digestive symptoms that you may have, like reflux and bloating.
4. Consider adding a daily probiotic.
5. Keep hydrated. By drinking enough water, it will help food move through your intestines more smoothly.

Certain factors can increase your risk of developing GERD. Risk factors for GERD include:

• Obesity
• Hiatal hernia
• Medications
• Pregnancy
• H. Pylori infection
• Alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• High-fat diet
• Genetics

Without treatment, frequent acid reflux can damage the lining of the esophagus. Monitoring your condition can prevent the development of medical complications.

Complications of GERD may include:

• Esophageal strictures can form after prolonged inflammation of the esophagus. This causes a buildup of scar tissue that can block or slow down food movement from the mouth to the stomach.
• Esophageal ulcers can occur when stomach acid eats away at the lining of the esophagus. This causes a sore to form, which can lead to bleeding, pain and swallowing difficulty.
• Barrett’s esophagus is a condition that results in precancerous changes to the cells of the esophagus. These changes can increase your risk of esophageal cancer.

You can often manage symptoms of GERD with diet and lifestyle changes. But if your symptoms do not improve, medication may be necessary. Surgical and non-surgical procedures are also available if you want to relieve your symptoms permanently.

Treatment for GERD focuses on keeping the lower esophageal sphincter closed, which prevents the flow of stomach acid into the esophagus. We’ll discuss the available treatment options below.

GERD Diet Plan

A GERD diet plan can improve your symptoms by eliminating foods that open the lower esophageal sphincter.

Foods to avoid with GERD include:

• Fatty foods
  • Fried foods
  • Full-fat products
  • Processed meats
• Acidic foods
  • Oranges
  • Lemons
  • Grapefruits
  • Limes
  • Tomatoes
• Chocolate
• Spicy foods
• Caffeine
  • Coffee
  • Tea
• Carbonated beverages
• Mint
  • Peppermint
  • Spearmint
  • Mint chewing gum
• Alcohol

Everyone responds differently to certain foods. So you may be able to consume common trigger foods without any side effects. You should add these foods back into your diet slowly to see if they trigger your acid reflux.

GERD-friendly alternatives to the above foods include:

• Low-fat foods
  • Whole foods
  • Skim milk
  • Non-dairy milk
  • Grilled chicken or turkey
• Non-acidic foods
  • Bananas
  • Cantaloupe
  • Watermelon
  • Figs
• Non-chocolate deserts
• Mild or medium spices
• Decaffeinated herbal tea
• Non-mint gum
• Water

Fiber is also an essential component of a GERD diet plan. Fiber-rich foods keep you feeling fuller longer, which makes you less likely to overeat. Overeating can contribute to symptoms of GERD by increasing pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter. Fiber can also decrease the frequency of heartburn by improving gastric emptying.

Fiber naturally occurs in plant-based foods, including:

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Grains
• Legumes
• Nuts and seeds

The following dietary changes can also improve symptoms of GERD:

• Not eating 3 hours before bedtime
• Stopping smoking
• Losing weight
• Eating small, frequent meals

Medications for GERD

Medications for GERD can lessen uncomfortable symptoms. These medications work by reducing the production of stomach acid. You can obtain medications for GERD over-the-counter or by prescription.

Antacids can treat mild symptoms of GERD. But you should not take this medication daily. Side effects of antacids may include diarrhea or constipation.

Foaming agents are medications that produce foam that coats the stomach. This foam blocks stomach acid from flowing into the esophagus. Foaming agents may also protect the lining of the esophagus from the damaging effects of acid.

H2 blockers are another option for the medical treatment of GERD. This medication can suppress acid production for 3-15 hours.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are one of the most effective medications for GERD treatment. They reduce acid in the stomach for up to 24 hours, and you take them once daily. You may experience relief from symptoms of GERD within 1-3 days after taking proton pump inhibitors.

This medication is a safe option for the treatment of GERD. But mild sild effects may occur. Side effects may include:

• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach

Long-term PPI use may also increase your risk for the following:

• Nutrient deficiencies
• Dementia
• Chronic kidney disease
• Clostridium difficile infection

Surgery for GERD

In more severe cases of GERD, you may opt for surgery to relieve your symptoms. Surgery is also an option if you want to avoid the long-term consequences of GERD medications.

LINX Reflux Management System consists of a series of titanium bands surgically implanted around the lower portion of the esophagus. The bands work by strengthening the muscle that protects the esophagus from stomach contents, which can cause GERD.

Nissen fundoplication is a laparoscopic procedure that repairs the valve between the esophagus and stomach. This procedure reinforces the lower esophageal sphincter by tying the upper part of the stomach around it.

Side effects of surgery for GERD include:

• Bloating
• Inability to vomit
• Swallowing difficulty
• Diarrhea
• Bleeding
• Recurrence of symptoms

GERD is a chronic condition that can lead to serious medical complications. But you can protect your health by keeping your symptoms in check.

Dr. Sameer Islam is a gastroenterologist and West Texas, native. He’s specially trained to diagnose and treat digestive problems. And he does so with your long-term health in mind.

If you want help managing GERD, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at (806) 696-4440.