Is it GERD? pamphlet(147)

It may be GERD if you. . .

Ease the

These can help your heartburn:

q change your habits (including food and lifestyle changes) and it doesn’t help

q Raise the head of your bed about 4 to 6 inches higher than the foot of your bed. q Avoid certain foods and drinks.

Chocolate, onions, mint, fatty and fried foods and coffee can weaken the LES muscle. Citrus fruits and juices and tomato products can irritate the lining of the esophagus.

q take over-the-counter medicines for your heartburn more than twice a week q take over-the-counter medicines for more than three weeks

q Change your eating and sleeping habits. Eat smaller meals more often rather than 3 “big ones” a day. Avoid eating at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. Also, do not lie down for at least 3 hours after eating.

Tell your doctor. GERD doesn’t have to disrupt your life.

With the right treatment, you can get relief.

q Lose weight if you need to. Ask your doctor about starting an exercise program.

Reviewers: Scott Brooks, MD Lynn Kugler, PA

Burn

© Copyright 1998-2013 Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. Suite 110 3440 Oakcliff Road, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30340

Notes

q Don’t wear clothes that are tight around your waist. This can increase pressure on your stomach and cause reflux.

I

s it GERD

q Take medicine(s) your doctor tells you to. If the medicine doesn’t help, tell your doctor. q Don’t smoke, and avoid alcohol. These also weaken the LES muscle and increase acid reflux.

What you need to know about

gastroesophageal reflux disease

1-800-241-4925 www.p-h.com Product # 147

® Product # 147

H

eartburn. . .or something more

Do you often have heartburn (or acid indigestion)? Does it continue even after you take antacids or other medicines?

Do antacids only give you short-term relief?

If so, you may have GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

This is a chronic (long-term) condition in which food or acid from the stomach flows back up into the esophagus (tube that passes food to the stomach).

esophagus diaphragm weak LES muscle digestive acid stomach

The esophagus and stomach are connected by a muscle called the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). This muscle opens when you swallow food and closes after the food passes into the stomach. When this muscle is weak or relaxes too often, stomach contents can flow back up (reflux) into the esophagus.

A hiatal hernia may also weaken the LES and cause reflux. This is when the upper part of the stomach moves up into the chest through a small opening in the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest).

Too much reflux can cause stomach acid to burn the esophagus. The amount of damage depends on how often and for how long stomach acid stays in the esophagus. The main symptom of GERD is chronic heartburn. Most of the time, it can be relieved with behavior changes and medicines.

Other symptoms of Have you noticed that you: q often have a burning feeling in the back of your throat or a bitter, acid taste in your mouth?

GERD q have chest pain (and found out from your doctor that it’s not heart disease)? q don’t get relief from over-thecounter medicines?

If you have noticed any of these, tell your doctor. You may need:

q have trouble swallowing or feel like food is trapped behind your breastbone? q taste old food in the back of your mouth? q feel acid reflux which causes you to be hoarse or cough? q wake up choking at night? q have lost weight without knowing why or trying to? q bleed (vomit blood or have dark, black or bloody bowel movements)?

q medicines to help with heartburn q tests to see if you have GERD