Have you experience Acid reflux? It occurs when contents from your stomach move back up into your esophagus, this is known as acid gastroesophageal reflux or regurgitation. If you have symptoms of acid reflux more than twice a week, you might have a ailment known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)Top of FormBottom of Form. The leading cause of GERD is acid reflux. Acid reflux can cause a painful burning feeling in your chest, which can move up into your throat then neck. This feeling is often known as heartburn. If you have acid reflux, you might develop a bitter or sour taste at the back of your mouth. It might also cause the regurgitation of liquid or food from your stomach into your mouth.
Some other symptoms of GERD include chest pain, nausea, pain when swallowing, chronic cough, difficulty swallowing, a hoarse voice and bad breath. To be able to and relieve symptoms of GERD, your specialist might encourage you to make positive lifestyle changes, like maintaining a moderate weight, avoiding big, heavy meals in the evening, waiting a few hours after eating to lie down, elevating your head during sleep (by raising the head of your bed 6-8 inches) and if applicable, quitting smoking, if you smoke.
A few home remedies may do more harm than good include:
- Drinking a baking soda and water solution. Baking soda is high in sodium, and it’s also possible to experience side effects if you ingest too much.
- Chewing gum. The believed here is that because saliva is somewhat alkaline, stimulating it by chewing gum after eating may supports neutralize the acidity in the throat and mouth.
- Consuming ginger. Ginger is a common home remedy for problems like sour stomach and nausea, but it’s still unclear if it can actually aid with occasional heartburn symptoms. In fact, heartburn is a symptom of taking too much ginger.
- Drinking milk. Because of natural alkalinity, milk is alternative home remedy that’s often advertised as a way to ease heartburn symptoms. Unluckily, even though it may feel soothing in the beginning, the fat and protein it contains can eventually make heartburn symptoms worse once the milk break down. Low fat milk may be at ease for some people to tolerate.
Some individuals who’ve been diagnosed with GERD find that certain beverages and foods can trigger their symptoms. While triggers can be personal, there are a few foods that are regularly cited as more triggering than others. They include citrus fruits and juices, tomato’s and tomato sauces, onions, mint, coffee, soda and high fat foods (like fried foods and fast foods).
Pregnancy and GERD- Pregnancy can escalate your chances of experiencing acid reflux. If you had GERD prior getting pregnant, your symptoms might get worse. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect the muscles in your esophagus to relax more frequently. A developing fetus can also place stress on your stomach. This can rise the risk of stomach acid entering your esophagus. Many medicines that are used to treat acid reflux are safe to take all through pregnancy. But in some cases, your specialist might advise you to evade certain antacids or other treatments.
GERD in infants- It’s normal for babies to spit up food and vomit occasionally. But if your baby is vomiting frequently and spitting up food, they might have GERD. Other possible signs and symptoms of GERD in babies includes trouble swallowing, refusal to eat, gagging or choking, wet burps or hiccups, irritability during or after feeding, arching of their back during or after feeding, recurring cough or pneumonia, weight loss or poor growth and difficulty sleeping. If you suspect your baby might have GERD or another health ailment, make an appointment with their doctor.
If you experience occasional heartburn often, you’re not alone. Considering these occasional incidences with lifestyle changes and OTC anti acids, like waiting a few hours to lie down after eating, can typically create relief. But if you experiencing heartburn more than twice a week and small lifestyle changes don’t seem to be fixing whatsoever, you may be dealing with GERD. If you’ve been diagnosed with GERD, your specialists will upkeep you to come up with a treatment plan that works for you. Prescription meds and OTC medication, even surgery is all options, depending on where you are with the condition. Don’t let tenacious heartburn get in the way of living your life. Talk with your doctor if you consider that you may have symptoms of GERD.
DMO II Karla P. Calapardo, RND
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