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Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be a frustrating and uncomfortable condition for those who experience it.
With symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing, it can impact daily life and lead to more serious complications if left untreated.
Fortunately, there are a variety of strategies to help manage and control GERD, from lifestyle modifications to medications and even surgery.
By taking control of this condition, individuals with GERD can find relief and get back to enjoying the foods and activities they love.
Is Gerd a Serious Health Condition?
GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) can be a serious condition if left untreated.
Chronic reflux of stomach acid into the oesophagus can cause inflammation and irritation, leading to heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and even respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing.
Because stomach gastric acids are so powerful, it is critical to pay attention to GERD symptoms. These juices might harm the lining of the oesophagus over time.
GERD can put you at risk for major health consequences such as esophagitis, or esophageal inflammation.
It may also increase your chances of developing Barrett's oesophagus, a rare condition.
Barrett's oesophagus can cause abnormal cells to form in the oesophagal lining, making it a risk factor for oral cancer.
It affects a fairly small population and is easily handled to limit the risk of cancer.
Can GERD Cause Cancer?
Acid reflux, particularly when it is simply a recurring problem, does not enhance the risk of oesophagal or stomach cancer.
When acid reflux becomes chronic, the oesophagus is regularly exposed to stomach acid, which increases the risk of oesophagal cancer. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the medical term for chronic acid reflux.
When acid reflux becomes chronic, meaning it does not go away after a short amount of time, it is referred to as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD.
Hydrochloric acid is used by the stomach to help break down food and combat germs. The stomach's thick lining can resist the powerful acid.
The oesophagus, on the other hand, lacks such a coating. That is, repeated acid exposure caused by GERD destroys the oesophagus tissue.
Because of the continual irritation of the oesophagus, this results in a slightly increased chance of getting oesophagal cancer.
How to Control GERD?
There are several steps you can take to help control GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease):
1. Sleep on your left side
According to research, resting on your left side can help reduce acid reflux at night.
According to one study, sleeping on your left side can reduce acid exposure in your oesophagus by up to 71%. Although the explanation is unclear, the architecture of the oesophagus could explain it.
Because the oesophagus enters the stomach on the right side, sleeping on the left side keeps acid away from the lower oesophagal sphincter.
2. Start eating meals earlier
If you have acid reflux, the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFGD) recommends eating dinner a few hours before going to bed.
Consider having your main meal of the day during lunch to allow for a lighter evening.
According to research, going to bed with undigested food, especially with a large meal, can aggravate your symptoms at night.
3. Consume smaller and more frequent meals.
The lower oesophagal sphincter is a muscular valve that connects the stomach to the oesophagus.
This muscle is weakened or malfunctioning in acid reflux patients, allowing acid to flow up into the oesophagus.
Unsurprisingly, the majority of reflux symptoms occur after a meal. As a result, eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day may help lessen acid reflux symptoms.
Avoid trigger foods and drinks:
- Avoid trigger foods and drinks: Certain foods and drinks can trigger GERD symptoms.
- Common triggers include fatty and fried foods, chocolate, caffeine, spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and peppermint.
- Avoiding these foods or limiting your intake can help reduce symptoms.
- Elevate the head of your bed: Raising the head of your bed by six to eight inches can help prevent stomach acid from refluxing into the oesophagus while you sleep.
How to Avoid Acid Reflux?
There are several steps you can take to avoid acid reflux and reduce your risk of developing GERD:
Maintain a healthy weight:
Being overweight or obese can put pressure on your stomach, which can cause acid to reflux into the oesophagus.
Losing weight if you are overweight or obese can help reduce the frequency and severity of acid reflux symptoms.
Avoid These Food Items If You Have GERD
If you have acid reflux (GERD), avoiding certain foods can help reduce GERD symptoms.
Here are some foods to avoid:
If possible, avoid mint.
Peppermint and spearmint are common herbal tea ingredients that are used to flavour dishes, sweets, chewing gum, mouthwash, and toothpaste.
However, evidence suggests that peppermint oil may lower oesophagal sphincter pressure, which may cause heartburn.
Another study discovered that menthol, a component present in mint, could aggravate GERD symptoms in patients.
As a result, if you find that mint aggravates your heartburn, avoid it.
Fatty foods
Fatty foods such as fried foods, high-fat meats, and full-fat dairy products might impede digestion and increase the risk of acid reflux.
Spices.
Spices such as chilli powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper can irritate the lining of the oesophagus, increasing the probability of acid reflux symptoms.
Citrus Fruits and Liquids.
Citrus fruits and juices such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes can raise stomach acidity and cause acid reflux symptoms.
Limit your Consumption of Carbonated Beverages.
According to Trusted Source, regular intake of carbonated or fizzy beverages, such as soft drinks, club soda, and seltzer, may increase the risk of reflux.
This could be because the carbon dioxide in these drinks causes you to burp more, which increases the acid pouring out of your oesophagus.
One study discovered that carbonated soft drinks, in particular, aggravated acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn, fullness, and burping.
Alcohol.
Alcohol consumption may aggravate acid reflux and heartburn. According to research Sources, increasing alcohol use may be associated with increased acid reflux symptoms.
Because alcohol raises stomach acid, relaxes the lower oesophagal sphincter, and hinders the oesophagus's ability to clear away the acid.
Conclusion
Heartburn is an unpleasant condition that can be caused by several different circumstances. If you observe that particular foods or beverages make your symptoms worse, it's sensible to limit or avoid them.
Although there are numerous drugs and therapy options for heartburn, making a few easy modifications to your food and lifestyle may also be beneficial.
Try some of the suggestions above to see what works best for you in terms of reducing heartburn and acid reflux.
