Ladies, have you ever heard about acid reflux? Acid reflux is a condition when the stomach contents back up into the esophageal. Acid reflux is also called acid regurgitation or gastroesophageal reflux. If you experience acid reflux more than twice a week, you need to be careful because there is a possibility that you have gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
GERD Symptoms
The main symptom of GERD is acid reflux. Acid reflux can cause an uncomfortable burning feeling in the chest, which can then move up into the neck and throat. This uncomfortable feeling can take the form of nausea, or a sour and bitter taste in the back of the mouth. Ultimately, this can cause the urge to pass food or liquid from the stomach into the mouth.
Some other symptoms of GERD include:
- Chest pain
- Pain when swallowing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chronic cough
- Hoarseness
- Bad breath
How to Manage and Relieve GERD Symptoms
To manage and relieve GERD symptoms, you can make certain lifestyle changes, such as:
- Maintain an ideal body weight (lose weight if you are too fat and gain weight if you are too thin)
- Quit smoking
- Avoid big and heavy meals at night
- Wait a few hours after eating before lying down
- Elevating the head while sleeping (by using a pillow)
GERD Medications
Your doctor may suggest taking the following over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. These medications may have side effects, so it is important to consult a doctor. Ladies, you can also consult a doctor at Newfemme!
- Antacid
Antacids are usually used for acid reflux and GERD symptoms that are mild and only appear occasionally. But if you take antacids almost every day, you may need stronger drugs over time. This drug is used to neutralize stomach acid.
- H2 receptor blockers
H2 receptor blockers or H2 blockers work by reducing stomach acid production.
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
Proton pump inhibitors or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) also work to reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach. PPIs tend to work better than H2 blockers, especially when it comes to healing the lining of the esophageal which is damaged by acid reflux.
Myths and Facts for Overcoming GERD
There are several simple things that are claimed to be done to treat GERD. Although these so-called home remedies are claimed to be of little help when acid reflux occurs, in people with GERD, the problem of acid reflux has become something chronic, requiring lifestyle changes as well as a medical intervention. Therefore, avoid self-diagnosing and consult the GERD problem with a doctor.
Not to mention, there are several things that claim to be home remedies for GERD but are actually not recommended to do, such as:
- Drink baking soda and water solution
Baking soda is alkaline so it has the ability to help neutralize acidity, and is mostly safe to take in small doses. However, baking soda is high in sodium, so it can increase blood pressure if consumed too much. It is also possible that there are other side effects if you consumed it too much.
- Chewing gum
Some say that because saliva is slightly alkaline, stimulating it by chewing gum after a meal can help neutralize acidity in the mouth and throat. Although a study from 2005 found some benefits to this approach, the size of the study was too small to draw any real conclusions.
- Consuming ginger
Ginger is a common home remedy for problems like nausea and acid reflux, but it's still not clear whether ginger can actually help with acid reflux symptoms. This is because ginger causes different effects on each person, so it can be a nausea remedy but when it is consumed too much is suspected it can cause nausea.
- Drinking milk
Because of its natural alkalinity, milk is touted as a way to relieve symptoms of nausea. Unfortunately, although it may feel soothing at first, the fat and protein in milk can worsen heartburn symptoms once the milk is digested. If you really want to consume milk, low-fat milk is recommended because it is more easily tolerated by some people.
By knowing what acid reflux and GERD are, including symptoms, how to deal with symptoms, treatment, and myths and facts related to the disease. Hopefully, you are more aware of this disease, Ladies. Also, find more information about various diseases and other health only on Newfemme!
Source :
DiGiacinto, J. & Soliman, Y. (2021). Everything You Need to Know About Acid Reflux and GERD. Healthline. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd