GERD is a worldwide concern—it doesn’t choose any age, gender, nationality or status in life. The thing about GERD is that it chooses no one, and it is possible that the people you work with everyday and those you meet along the side walk or sit beside the bus or train may also suffer from GERD. Generally speaking, it is a concern of the general public.

GERD can occur with the weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter—the structure responsible for keeping the stomach shut to avoid possible backwash of stomach contents. Due to several reasons like diet, vices like smoking and alcoholism as well as presence of underlying conditions, one’s LES may start to weaken and this may initially present with symptoms like the following:

1. Heartburn- the sensation in the chest which feels like your heart is in heat and burning (thus, heartburn);
2. A sour/ acidic taste in the throat or the mouth due to the acidic nature of the gastric content;
3. Frequent non-productive cough which may be due to the irritating effect of acid in our throat;
4. As well as chronic pain in the chest, neck, stomach and even at the back.

There are various approaches in treating GERD and it is important to be familiar with them so that you can try whichever of these treatment methods will suit you best:

Medications. Most often than not, a physician will prescribe you with drugs which will counter the acidic nature of your stomach. This may include antacids like Maalox. Apart from antacids, treatment for GERD will also include the drugs which controls and inhibits the production of acids inside the stomach like H2 blockers and Proton Pump Inhibitors. Take note, however, that these drugs are meant to provide temporary and symptomatic treatment for GERD. Therefore, prolonged use of these products is not recommended.

Diet. Diet plays an indispensable role in the treatment for GERD. With proper diet—that includes avoiding common triggers and taking in foods rich in protein and foods which are irritating. Make a list of the foods that you notice to be triggers of heartburn attacks and make a list. Relying on your doctor’s list is not so effective since each person reacts to food uniquely so what may be triggering to you may not be considered trigger for other people. Keep a list and keep it handy!

Lifestyle Changes. Making essential changes in one’s lifestyle like living an active lifestyle, avoiding triggers like vices and the like is an important treatment for GERD. It is true that the symptoms may be lessened with drugs and medications of all sorts but in speaking of long term relief, nothing can beat lifestyle modification.

Surgery. This is considered as the last resort in treating GERD and is done when all aforementioned treatment techniques have failed considerably. The common surgical procedure performed as treatment for GERD is called Nissen Fundoplication wherein structural modification of the stomach’s fundus or cardiac area is done to prevent backlash of acidic contents.

Related tags

• gerd • elderly stomach backwash • gerd people • how to treat gerd effectively • youth with gerd

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