-Treatment options can be as simple as diet control and life style changes and can extend into the extreme of invasive procedures or surgery according to many factors.
Only 20% of the patients have progressive and non-controllable symptoms, whereas 80% of the patients will respond to the conservative management including diet control, and lifestyle modification.
The Role of Diet and Lifestyle Modifications
A healthy eating habit is important for preventing and for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Eat slowly
The first digestion occurs in the mouth, and this is true not only because saliva contains chemicals with digestive properties, but also because the shredding of the food during chewing facilitates the gastric activity. Eating a sandwich quickly promotes reflux because the food will stay longer in the stomach. For this reason, it is essential that chewing is reasonably allowed slow and to eat four or five small meals instead of one or two large meal.
Foods to Avoid
- One of the first things that come to mind in any person who complains of heartburn is the type of food he ate during the last meal. In this regard it is necessary to distinguish three different kinds of foods which, if present in the diet, may promote gastroesophageal reflux.
- Food that delayed the stomach emptying will increase the chance of acid reflux. To prevent reflux it is, in fact, important that the stomach empties rapidly. The following food may need to be avoided: High-fat foods, fatty milk, cream, chocolate milk...
- Soda, Coca-Cola and the habit of chewing gum increase directly or indirectly the amount of air in the gastric pouch. The presence of these gases increases the pressure inside the stomach favoring the upward reflux of gastric contents.
- Coffee, tea, or alcohol can irritate the mucous membranes of your stomach and esophagus.
Controlling the acid reflux with diet:
- Avoid large meals, especially in the evening.
- Avoid fatty foods, alcohol and coffee.
- Do not lie down immediately after eating.
- A walk can be helpful.
- Avoid those movements that increase abdominal pressure such as weight lifting and bending forward and too tight clothing.
- 10-15 cm elevation of the head of the bed during the night.
More Tips:
- Drink more (Saliva and fluids protect the oesophagal mucosa from stomach acid; It can be helpful to drink more, especially between meals)
- Stop smoking (Smoking may contribute to the relaxation of the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach, and thus facilitate the reflux.)
- Drugs, such as NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, some sedatives, and tranquillizers etc.). It is advisable in any case to communicate their use to the doctor, so check the healthiest alternatives
- Milk being an alkaline liquid, has an immediate positive effect in that it neutralizes the acidity of the reflux. Milk is also rich in fats and proteins that increase gastric acidity and slow down stomach emptying. The milk has a beneficial immediate effect, but if it is used excessively it can cause a fast return of symptoms.
- Overweight, increase in the intra-abdominal pressure, pressing against the stomach facilitates the return of gastric contents. This can be physiological as in pregnancy. Strive to reach a healthy weight.
- In the presence of gastroesophageal reflux, anxiety and anger may aggravate the typical symptoms of the disease. However, it is very unlikely that stress is the direct cause of the of GERD of reflux.
Read more: