Acid Reflux Treatment

What is acid reflux?

Acid reflux is also known as GERD, Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. Acid reflux is a painful condition that occurs when acid and other materials in stomach back-up reflux into the esophagus. During acid reflux, the materials from the stomach remain in the lower parts of the esophagus, where they can cause heartburn and nausea. It causes burning sensation in the throat, and even small-undigested pieces of food in the mouth.

Effective Treatments for Acid Reflux:

1. Life style Changes: One of the first step doctor’s advice their patients to take while treating chronic heartburn is lifestyle changes. Heartburn symptoms can be relieved if suffers make few lifestyle changes like eating smaller, more frequent meals and limiting intake of acid stimulating foods and beverages.

2. Diet: The sufferers link their heartburn symptoms to specific foods; therefore, it is important that heartburns sufferer manage their diet as a way to treat heartburn. Avoid the food that triggers heartburn.

3. Antacids- Antacids neutralizes acid on contact to provide heartburn. e. g Gaviscon which creates foam barrier, which floats on stomach acid, possibly reducing the number of reflux episode.

4. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)- PPIs are a group of prescription medications that prevents the release of acid in stomach and intestines. E. g. Acipex, Nexium.

5. Promotility Agents- they are used to improve GRED symptoms for patients with slow gastric emptying. They speed digestion, which prevents acid from staying in the stomach too long, they are used when PPIs don’t work.

6. Alternative treatments- For chronic acid reflux suffers, there are alternate and natural treatments available such as folk and homeopathic remedies.

7. Nissen Fundoplication- The laparoscopic surgery for treatment of GERD, Fundoplication, involves constructing a new valve between the esophagus and stomach by wrapping (the fundus) around the lowest part of the esophagus.

8. Stretta Procedure- The Stretta procedure is an approved technique for acid reflux disease. The Stretta procedure uses radiofrequency energy delivered to lower esophageal sphincter and gastric cardia (uppermost part of the stomach), which improves the function of LES.

Untreated acid reflux may lead to complications and damage to the esophagus. Thus, it is important to discuss the treatment options with the doctors