Here’s Everything You Need to Know About GERD

If you’re anything like most people then you probably deal with heartburn at least on occasion. It usually comes on after eating particularly spicy foods, drinking coffee, or after a long night at the bars. But if you find yourself dealing with nasty bouts of heartburn multiple times per week, then you may actually be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease, better known as GERD. Here are some of the basics you need to know about GERD to help you decide whether you should seek medical treatment!

Symptoms – The hallmark symptom of GERD is heartburn, which is a burning sensation in the esophagus and throat. You may also experience a cough, indigestion, or chest pain that starts behind the breastbone and moves up into the throat. Of course, seeing as chest pain can be due to something more serious than GERD, be sure to contact your doctor right away if you’re also experiencing shortness of breath or pain in the arm or jaw.

You can read even more about GERD symptoms here!

Causes – GERD is caused by frequent bouts of acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes and allows stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus, in turn irritating the lining of the esophagus. As a result, someone suffering from GERD typically experiences heartburn at least a few times per week. We’ll go over risk factors for GERD in the next slide, but unfortunately sometimes it’s simply the product of genetics, in which case there’s not much you can do to prevent it.

Risk Factors – There are several groups of people who are at a higher risk of developing GERD, including those experiencing obesity, pregnancy, connective tissue disorders, or scleroderma. Additionally, those who partake in excessive alcohol consumption or smoking may end up developing GERD because both impair the lower esophageal sphincter so that it can’t adequately stop acid from flowing upward into the esophagus. You already know that smoking is bad for you, but this is just another reason to kick the habit!

Diagnosis – Your primary care doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist to perform an upper endoscopy, which will determine whether there’s been any significant damage to your esophagus or stomach lining. The procedure involves a light and tiny camera being inserted down your throat and into your esophagus and stomach via a thin tube (while you’re asleep) to observe any abnormalities that may have been caused by acid reflux.

Your doctor may also suggest that you have an X-ray performed, for which you’ll drink a chalky liquid that coats your digestive tract so that the doctor is able to see the silhouette of your esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine.

Over-the-Counter Treatments – So you’ve been diagnosed with GERD, now what? Luckily you don’t necessarily have to go through the whole process of getting a doctor’s prescription in order to treat your GERD symptoms at home. There are three different classifications of over-the-counter heartburn medications: antacids (Tums), histamine-2 blockers (Pepcid Complete), and proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec). It’s important that you only take the amount of medication recommended on the packaging and contact your doctor if symptoms persist so that you can get relief as quickly as possible.

Prescription Drugs – If the over-the-counter medication doesn’t seem to be helping your symptoms, you can talk to your doctor about being prescribed a stronger medication instead. Prescription H2 blockers (including Cimetidine, Famotidine, or Nizatidine) are best taken about 30 minutes before a meal because they stop histamine from stimulating acid production. They can also be taken before bedtime to stop nighttime acid production. Prescription-strength proton pump inhibitors (for example, Dexlansoprazole, Esomeprazole, and Omeprazole) help to better protect the esophagus from acid so that any existing inflammation can heal.

Lifestyle Changes – Like with any other medical condition, the best thing you can do for your body if you’ve been diagnosed with GERD is to lead a healthier lifestyle. This includes losing weight if necessary, consuming more green leafy vegetables, cutting back on alcohol consumption, and cutting out certain foods (more on that in the next slide). Of course, if you find that you’re already doing all of these things and still experiencing heartburn, you can talk to your doctor about trying out a medication for relief.

Foods – If you’re suffering from GERD, there are a few foods that can help alleviate the symptoms, and some that will exacerbate them. Try to avoid things like full-fat dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and coffee. Conversely, foods like leafy green vegetables, ginger, and yogurt have been shown to help alleviate GERD symptoms – you can read more about that here! Of course, at the end of the day you may find it difficult to completely cut out certain foods from your diet, in which case enjoying things in moderation may be the best course of action.

Complications – It’s important to get GERD treated early on because not doing so can lead to complications down the line. For example, over time damage to the esophagus can cause scar tissue to form, leading to difficulty swallowing. Additionally, stomach acid can also wear away at the tissue in the esophagus, leading to the formation of an ulcer. In rare but more serious cases, acid wearing away at the esophagus can lead to changes in the tissue and to what’s known as Barrett’s esophagus which is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer.

Is GERD Curable? – Unfortunately there is currently no nonsurgical cure for GERD, but with lifestyle changes and medication management, it is more than possible to keep the pain and discomfort at bay. For those who do not wish to be on medication long term, surgical procedures can help tighten the lower esophageal sphincter in order to prevent acid reflux. And once again, always contact your doctor if you start experiencing any new or concerning symptoms so you can receive the appropriate treatment!