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Last Updated: Feb 16, 2023
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Gastroesphageal Reflux Disease - How Can It Be Managed?

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Dr. Piyush RanjanGastroenterologist • 30 Years Exp.DM - Gastroenterology, MD - General Medicine, DNB (Medical), MBBS
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It is a long standing disease which is caused due to constant irritation of the oesophagus by the acid which is produced in the stomach. In this disease the acid in the stomach is produced in larger amounts than usual. This disease is most commonly characterised by the reflux of the acid from the stomach into the oesophagus and sometimes to the throat or the oral cavity. 

What is the actual cause of GERD?

There is a valve-like structure of muscles between the oesophagus and the stomach known as the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The function of LES is to open when the food is to transfer from the oesophagus to the stomach and close after the transition so that the content of the stomach does not regurgitate into the oesophagus. But in a person suffering from GERD, the lower esophageal sphincter does not function properly. It does not close after the transition of the food from the oesophagus to the stomach resulting in the regurgitation of the food particles along with the stomach acid into the oesophagus which results in damage of the lining of the oesophagus causing heartburn. GERD is generally seen in people who are active smokers or consume alcohol daily. Alcohol may not cause the disease but is known to aggravate its symptoms alcohol is known to produce excessive acid in the stomach which further leads to regurgitation of more acid into the oesophagus worsening the condition. 

Smoking leads to dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter resulting in GERD.

It can be caused by a condition known as hiatal hernia in which the upper part of the stomach enters into the lower part of the oesophagus. An initial stage might get better by making some changes in the way of living and by obeying certain rules. A more serious stage might require surgery.

In this article we are going to share a few tips to manage gastroesophageal reflux disease– 

  1. Quit smoking and alcohol because as we discussed above smoking results in that dysfunction of the LES and alcohol further worsens the condition by producing more acid in the stomach.

  2. Try to elevate the position of your head while sleeping. The reason behind this is that while sleeping the food contents of the stomach may enter the oesophagus because of inefficiency of LES. 

  3. When you are overweight the excess pressure causes the acid to enter into the oesophagus worsening your symptoms. So regulate your body weight.

  4. Don't overeat. Eat small meals. Schedule your meals at a gap of a few hours and refrain from eating too much in a single meal.

  5. Always walk for a few minutes after eating, giving good time for the proper digestion of food. Don't lie down immediately after eating food as it doesn't allow proper digestion of the food.

  6. Don't speak while eating. When you eat and speak at the same time air also gets in with the food which leads to trapped air within the food in the stomach leading to belching.

  7. Avoid caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee, cold drink etc. as much as you can as they stimulate acid production in the stomach which further worsens your condition.

  8. Avoid wearing clothes which have tight fitting as they put a lot of pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter and lead to movement of acid into the oesophagus.

In case of more serious problems, you can take antacids which help in neutralising the excessive acid content of the stomach. If it doesn't help you can also take H2 blockers such as zinetac, ranitidine which help in reducing the production of excessive acid by the glands. You can also take a superior class of medications which is prescribed by the doctors in a severe condition of the disease known as proton pump inhibitor. They block the acid production. They include rabeprazole, pantoprazole, Omeprazole etc. 

Conclusion–

In the end, we hope that this article will have enriched your knowledge about managing gastroesophageal reflux disease. But it is very important to take advice from a certified doctor before following any of the above suggestions. We tried our best to give certain tips which help in managing GERD.Thank you so much for reading this article.

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