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The Basics Of Acid Reflux (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) In Adults

 What is acid reflux?

— Acid reflux is when the acid that is normally in your stomach backs up into the esophagus, tube that carries food from your mouth to your stom­ach. Another term for acid reflux is “gastroesophageal reflux disease,” or GERD.

A prevalence of 26.34% among Nigerian medical students shown in a study suggests that GERD is actu­ally common and not rare as previously thought.

What are the symptoms of acid reflux?

— The symptoms in­clude:

●Burning in the chest, known as heartburn

●Burning in the throat or an acid taste in the throat

●Stomach or chest pain

●Trouble swallowing

●Having a raspy voice or a sore throat

●Unexplained cough

What are the 4 stages of GERD?

GERD is broken down into different stages based on how serious your symp­toms are and how often they occur:

Stage 1: Mild GERD. Minimal acid reflux occurs once or twice a month. …

Stage 2: Moderate GERD

Stage 3: Severe GERD

Stage 4: Precancer or cancer.

Is there anything I can do on my own to improve my symptoms?

— Yes. You might feel better if you:

●Lose weight (if you are overweight)

●Raise the head of your bed by 6 to 8 inches (for ex­ample, by putting blocks of wood or rubber under 2 legs of the bed or a Sty­rofoam wedge under the mattress)

●Avoid foods that make your symptoms worse (examples include coffee, chocolate, alcohol, pepper­mint, and fatty foods)

●Cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink

●Stop smoking, if you smoke

●Eat a bunch of small meals each day, rather than 2 or 3 big meals

●Avoid lying down for 3 hours after a meal

What treatments can help with my acid reflux?

— There are a few main types of medicines that can help with the symptoms of acid reflux: antacids, sur­face acting agents, hista­mine blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. All of these medicines work by reducing or blocking stom­ach acid. But they each do that in a different way.

Antacids and surface acting agents can relieve mild symptoms, but they work only for a short time. Histamine blockers are stronger and last longer than antacids and surface acting agents. You can buy antacids and most hista­mine blockers without a prescription.

Proton pump inhibitors are the most effective med­icines in treating GERD. Some of these medicines are sold without a prescrip­tion. But there are other versions that your doctor or nurse can prescribe.

Sometimes acid reflux medicines are less expen­sive if you get them with a prescription. Other times nonprescription medicines are less expensive. If cost is a concern for you, ask your pharmacist how you might reduce the cost of your medicines.

Should I see a healthcare pro­vider about my acid reflux?

— Some people can manage their acid reflux on their own by chang­ing their habits or taking nonprescription medi­cines. But you should see a healthcare provider if:

●Your symptoms are severe or last a long time

●You cannot seem to control your symptoms

●You have had symp­toms for many years

You should also see a doctor or nurse right away if you:

●Have trouble swallow­ing, or feel as though food gets “stuck” on the way down

●Lose weight when you are not trying to

●Have chest pain

●Choke when you eat

●Vomit blood or have bowel movements that are red, black, or look like tar

How do you permanently cure GERD?

The most common sur­gical procedure for GERD is called fundoplication, which involves wrapping the top of the stomach around the lower esopha­gus to strengthen the LES and prevent acid reflux. This procedure can pro­vide long-lasting relief from GERD symptoms for many patients.

What if my child or teenager has acid reflux?

— If your child or teen­ager has acid reflux, take him or her to see a health­care provider. Do not give your child medicines to treat acid reflux without talking to a healthcare provider.

In children, acid reflux can be caused by a number of problems. It’s important to have a healthcare provid­er check for these problems before trying any treat­ments.

MKO Abimbola holds a doctoral degree in physician associate studies from the United States of America. He is a Harvard Medical School scholar, affiliated with Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas. He specializes in Internal medicine, Acute care, Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgical services.

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