How to control acid reflux

Heartburn is very common and can be harmless if you only get it every once in a while. However, if you experience a lot of heartburn it may be a sign of something bigger, like Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Here are some things you can do to prevent GERD.

Symptoms

• Symptoms can be heartburn, a feeling of tightness, burning or pressure in your chest, a constant clearing of your throat, wheezing, asthma flare up and even recurring sinus infections.
• Acid reflux occurs when the acid and pepsin in your stomach, which aids in digestion, refluxes and comes up into your esophagus. It can come up into your throat and drip into your lungs. This can cause asthma and bronchitis to flare up, as well as create throat-clearing sensation. It can also contribute to sinus problems.

Prevention

• To help prevent acid reflux you should eat small meals throughout the day, and avoid a large meal at the end of the day.
• Stay hydrated and eat a small meal when you get up in the morning.
• After you eat dinner let your food digest for a couple of hours before going to bed.
• Take a walk after meals to help your body digest the food.
• Some habits that can affect acid reflux are smoking and drinking alcohol. Even wearing tight clothing when eating a big meal can cause the stomach to push foods through the diaphragm and up the food pipe.

Treatment

• If you have symptoms of acid reflux you need to see a specialist. Your primary care doctor can talk to a nutritionist, a gastroenterologist, a pulmonologist (if your lungs are being affected) or a sinus specialist or allergist if your allergies and sinuses are also affected.
• The first line of treatment for acid reflux disease is to correct your diet.
• If correcting your diet does not work there are certain antacids and H2 blockers that can help control the stomach from getting upset.
• If those treatments also do not work there are surgical treatments that pin the area between your food pipe and your stomach so it does not allow the food to reflux.