No one likes the feeling of GERD, but we all have it. The stomach acid creeps up your throat, putting pressure on your chest. But for people who experience the discomfort and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, it becomes incredibly bothersome, impacting their lifestyle.
Unlike many conditions, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is also a preventable disease. There are many ways to prevent the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus through the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
If you are looking for different ways to prevent the frequent heartburn that goes with GERD, the Gut care clinic is here to help you. Our best gastroenterologists in Bangalore suggest some tips that prevent the symptoms of GERD.
1. Lose weight
Obesity is one of the leading causes of GERD. Extra stomach fat puts pressure on your abdomen and pushes gastric juices up into your esophagus. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight helps in preventing gastroesophageal reflux disease
2. Eat smaller meals
Large and heavy meals make the stomach full and put pressure on the LES, which makes acid reflux and GERD more likely. Eating smaller portions and eating at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime lets the acid in your stomach go down and your stomach remains partially empty.
3. Don’t lie down right after eating
Wait for at least three hours to lie down after a meal. Gravity often helps keep acid reflux from developing. But, when you eat and stretch out immediately for a nap, you are taking the gravity away, resulting in acid flow into the esophagus.
4. Elevate your bed
Raising the head of your bed six to eight inches or sleeping on a specially designed wedge lets gravity reduce the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. Do not use extra pillows as they only raise your head and will not help with acid reflux.
5. Wear loose clothing
Don’t wear belts and clothes that are tight-fitting around your waist. Clothes that squeeze your waist can put pressure on your belly and the lower part of your esophagus, which causes heartburn and acid reflux.
6. Avoid foods and beverages triggers
Certain foods can trigger heartburn symptoms, so it’s best for people with chronic heartburn to avoid foods and beverages that include acidic foods, fatty foods, deep-fried foods, spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, caffeine, chocolate, and pepper, etc
7. Quit smoking
Studies have shown that nicotine from tobacco relaxes the lining between the esophagus and stomach (LES). This allows stomach acid to break down food in the stomach and it also causes acid back up (reflux) into the esophagus, which causes heartburn.
8. Try relaxation techniques
GERD can be very stressful. Esophageal muscles play a key role in keeping stomach acids down where they belong, so it may help to learn techniques that can relax the body and mind. Yoga and meditation have enormous effects on reducing GERD symptoms by promoting both your body and mind relaxation.
9. Avoid certain medications
Some over-the-counter medications make GERD worse, including asthma medications, pain-relief medications, sedatives, and antidepressants. Talk to the best GERD treatment doctors to change the schedule of your medications to help reduce the effects.
Try the above tips and if you are still experiencing GERD, consult the Gut care clinic, in Bangalore. Our experts in gastroenterology suggest the medications you can take to ease the symptoms of GERD.
