GERD Disease Treatment

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as chronic acid reflux, is a disorder in which the esophagus, the tube that connects your throat to your stomach, frequently becomes infected with acid-containing stomach contents. The lower esophageal sphincter, a valve at the end of the oesophagus, malfunctions when food enters the stomach, causing acid reflux. You then experience acid backwash, which causes a sour taste in your mouth and throat after it travels back up through your oesophagus.

Nearly everyone experiences acid reflux at some point in their lives. It’s completely natural to experience heartburn and acid reflux occasionally. However, if you experience acid reflux or heartburn more than twice per week over a period of several weeks, regularly take antacids and heartburn medications, and still experience recurrent symptoms, you may have GERD. Your healthcare provider needs to handle your GERD. Not only to get rid of your symptoms, but also because GERD might trigger more severe issues.

Causes:

The lower esophageal sphincter is prone to weakening or relaxation, which results in acid reflux (valve). After food enters your stomach, this valve typically closes tightly. The contents of your stomach can rise back up into your oesophagus if it relaxes when it shouldn’t. 44

Reflux is brought on by the movement of stomach acids back up into the oesophagus.

The following factors may contribute to this:

  • Too much abdomen pressure can cause this. This increased pressure causes heartburn for some pregnant women practically every day.
  • specific food categories (such dairy, spicy, or fried foods) and eating patterns.
  • medications that include painkillers, sedatives, antidepressants, and medications for allergies, high blood pressure, and asthma.
  • an abdominal hernia. The upper portion of the stomach protrudes into the diaphragm, obstructing normal meal intake.
GERD 2

Symptoms:

GERD has varying effects on various persons. The most classic symptoms are:

  • Heartburn
  • Regurgitation (food comes back into your mouth from the esophagus).
  • You experienced a food-related throat tightening.
  • Coughing
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Vomiting
  • Throat discomfort and hoarseness.

Children and infants can both experience the same GERD symptoms, including:

  • Many occurrences of minor vomiting.
  • Excessive sobbing and a lack of appetite (in babies and infants).
  • Other challenges with breathing (respiration).
  • The recurring acidic aftertaste, especially after lying down.
  • Throat roaring.
  • The choking sensation that could cause the youngster to wake up.
  • Poor breath
  • Having trouble falling asleep after feeding, especially in babies.

The symptoms of GERD should be discussed with a GERD specialist if you are experiencing them.

Diagnosis:

Usually, after discussing your symptoms and medical background with you, your healthcare professional can determine whether you have simple acid reflux (not chronic). Discuss how your symptoms can be managed by food and medicine with your healthcare professional.

Get your condition diagnosed by the best GERD and liver doctor in Noida, Ghaziabad.

Your doctor could advise getting a GERD test if these techniques don’t work. A few tests for GERD are:

  1. Endoscopy and biopsy of the upper GI tract: Your doctor looks at the lining of your upper GI tract using an endoscope, a long tube with a light attached (esophagus and stomach and duodenum). In order to check for GERD or other issues, the doctor also removes a tiny piece of tissue (biopsy).
  2. Upper GI Series: X-rays of your upper GI tract’s upper series show any GERD-related issues. As the X-ray technician takes photographs, you ingest barium, a liquid that travels through your digestive system.
  3. Bravo wireless esophageal pH monitoring and esophageal pH and impedance monitoring tests: These tests assess the pH levels in your esophagus. Your healthcare provider places a tiny tube in your stomach through your mouth or nose. You are then given a pH monitor to use at home while you carry on with your regular eating and sleeping routines. The Bravo system will be worn for 48 hours while the esophageal pH and impedance monitors will be worn for 24 hours each.
  4. Esophageal manometry: This procedure evaluates the lower esophageal sphincter’s and the esophageal muscles’ ability to operate properly in moving food from the oesophagus to the stomach. A tiny flexible tube with sensors is inserted into your nose by your healthcare professional. As you swallow, these sensors track the force of your sphincter, your muscles, and any spasms.

Treatment:

Your doctor may advise you to adjust some aspects of your lifestyle to control and relieve GERD symptoms, such as:

  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Quit Smoking
  • Wait a few hours after dinner before lying down
  • Elevate your head while you sleep.
  • Avoid eating large, heavy meals in the evening (by raising the head of your bed 6-8 inches)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Medications:

Additionally, your doctor could advise using over-the-counter (OTC) drugs like those in the following list. Discussing the best course of action for you with your doctor is advised because all of these medications have potentially negative effects.

Antacids:

Acid reflux and GERD symptoms that occur sometimes and are mild are often treated with antacids like Tums. However, if you discover that you need to take antacids virtually daily, you might require a stronger drug.

H2 receptor antagonists:

H2 blockers, such as Pepcid AC, reduce the amount of acid that is produced by your stomach. Many H2 blockers are sold over-the-counter (OTC), though doctors can also prescribe them in greater dosages.

It’s vital to keep in mind that the FDATrusted Source recently issued a recall for one type of H2 blocker, ranitidine (commonly known as Zantac), due to the ingredient’s presence of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a proven carcinogen.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs):

PPIs like Prilosec also reduce the production of stomach acid in your body. They function more effectively than H2 blockers, which makes them more beneficial for mending the esophageal lining, which can get damaged when someone has GERD for an extended period of time.

Similar to H2 blockers, some PPIs are available over-the-counter, and your doctor may also recommend a greater dosage.

Do not take medications without a doctor’s prescription. Get in touch with the best GERD treatment doctor in Noida, Ghaziabad Delhi NCR.

Surgery for GERD:

Most of the time, lifestyle modifications and medications are sufficient to prevent and treat GERD symptoms. But occasionally, surgery is required.

For instance, if lifestyle modifications and medicine alone haven’t relieved your symptoms, your doctor may suggest surgery. In the event that you’ve experienced GERD complications, they might also recommend surgery.

The top of your stomach is wrapped around your oesophagus during a fundoplication procedure, and bariatric surgery are two more options for treating GERD (usually recommended when a doctor has concluded that your GERD may be exacerbated by too much excess weight).

If you are experiencing the symptoms of a fatty liver, book your appointment with the best fatty liver doctor in Noida, Ghaziabad.

Dr. Sushrut Singh

Dr. Sushrut Singh is an Additional Director in the Department of Liver and Digestive Sciences at Fortis Hospital, Sector-62, Noida. . Having pursued both his M.B.B.S. and M.D. from the King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, he went on to complete his postgraduate super-speciality in Hepatology from the only Liver University in Asia under the guidance of most renowned Prof. Dr. Shiv Kumar Sarin from the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi.

  • Speciality : Liver Specialist, Hepatologist, Gastroenterologist
  • Degree : M.B.B.S., M.D., D.M.
  • Experience : 12+ Years
  • Phone : +91 93153 54431
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