Heartburn is the most common symptom of acid reflux or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), which is the third most prevalent disease in the U.S., affecting more than 19 million people.
Most sufferers describe heartburn as a burning sensation just behind the sternum, and other symptoms may include hoarseness, coughing, changes in the voice, earache, nausea, and problems with sinusitis. Heartburn doesn’t always indicate GERD, but heartburn more than once a week raises a red flag.
When GERD is diagnosed, it means there is mucosal damage caused by abnormal reflux in the esophagus, usually caused by changes in the barrier separating the esophagus from the stomach. If left untreated, constant acid exposure can trigger a disorder called Barrett’s esophagus, a premalignant condition which can develop into esophageal cancer. Roughly ten percent of people who get medical attention for heartburn are found to have Barrett’s esophagus.
Treatments for GERD include prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. Non-drug treatments which may prove helpful are losing weight, elevating your bed, and sleeping on your left side. Surgery is sometimes an option, and in addition to the traditional surgery that involves wrapping a section of the stomach around the barrier that connects it to the esophagus, there is a new procedure which uses a device called the Esophy-X. The new procedure, in which the Esophy-X is snaked down the throat and used to reconstruct the barrier, will probably not replace the old one, but it’s performed without incisions.
If you would like to avoid medication, avoid surgery, and also avoid elevating your bed so you can sleep at night without fear rolling off onto the floor at 3:00 a.m., there are several things you can do that help prevent acid reflux:
1) Moderate your intake of alcohol and coffee, especially close to bedtime.
2) Take it easy with vitamin C – it can promote the secretion of gastric acid.
3) In order to keep the esophagus-stomach barrier strong, don’t smoke and don’t eat high-fat foods.
4) Eat small meals, and don’t eat close to bedtime.
5) Stay away from these foods as much as possible: chocolate, peppermint, and high-acid foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits.
6) Avoid carbonated drinks.
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