Treatment for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Sometimes gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be improved upon with simple lifestyle modifications. Let's take a look at ways that you can help this condition get better, or at least ways that you can decrease how often you suffer from an episode of acid reflux.

Certain foods work as trigger to make acid reflux a great deal worse. If you can avoid these foods at all costs then you will save yourself a lot of needless grief. These foods include in no special order- fried foods, fatty foods (sometimes fried and fatty go together), tomatoes and tomato products, citrus fruits (such as oranges and orange juice), caffeine, chocolate, alcoholic drinks, citrus fruit drinks (besides orange juice this includes cranberry juice, grapefruit juice and lemonade), pepper and peppermint.

Besides food smoking can contribute to repeated episodes of heartburn. If you are a smoker who suffers from heartburn, think seriously about giving it up. Saliva is one of the ways that the human body helps fights threats to the esophagus and smoking inhibits how much saliva is produced on a regular basis. Not only that but saliva also helps in neutralizing the acid that is refluxed back up into the esophagus. Smoking is also bad because it encourages the production of acid in the stomach and excess acid can serve to both weaken the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) as well as relax it to a point that invites damage.

Alcohol is also a no no for heartburn sufferers who wish to improve their condition. Just like smoking, alcohol encourages the production of stomach acid as well as relaxing the LES. When both these actions occur it is easier for acid from the stomach to make its way up into the esophagus, leaving the esophagus very vulnerable to damage.

Eat frequent, smaller meals instead of three meals a day as large meals cause the stomach to enlarge and thus increase pressure. This makes acid reflux much more likely to occur. If you weigh too much, even if it is only ten pounds, loss the weight as soon as you can. Obesity puts unneeded pressure on the abdomen and makes it more likely that stomach contents will back up into the esophagus.

It is recommended that those who suffer from GERD wear loose-fitting comfortable clothing as opposed to tight, restrictive clothing. Clothing that fits tight or snug around the stomach area is likely to squeeze and then force food in the stomach to be pushed up against the LES and by so doing, cause acid reflux. Two of the worse culprits are belts that are cinched tightly and undergarments that are used for slenderizing purposes such as control top pantyhose.

Do not take a nap directly after consuming a meal and always wait at least two and a half to three hours after eating a meal before turning in for the night. A full stomach and lying down do not mix, as it is more likely that stomach acid will be forced up into the esophagus. Gravity aids in keeping stomach juices in the stomach so remain upright until the food in your stomach has had sufficient time to settle.