Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease

by Yasmin Buckridge Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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GERD can usually be controlled with medication. But if medications don't help or you wish to avoid long-term medication use, your doctor might recommend: Fundoplication. The surgeon wraps the top of your stomach around the lower esophageal sphincter, to tighten the muscle and prevent reflux.May 22, 2020

Medication

There are four approaches for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment, including medication and surgery. Often, patients respond well to a combination of lifestyle changes and a medication regimen. Some patients do not find satisfactory relief from those methods and require surgical intervention.

Procedures

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common clinical problem, affecting millions of people worldwide. Patients are recognized by both classic and atypical symptoms. Acid suppressive therapy provides symptomatic relief and prevents complications in many individuals with GERD. Advances in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities have improved our ability to …

Nutrition

Mar 02, 2007 · Oral pantoprazole is a safe, well tolerated and effective initial and maintenance treatment for patients with nonerosive GERD or erosive esophagitis. Oral pantoprazole has greater efficacy than histamine H 2 -receptor antagonists and generally similar efficacy to other proton pump inhibitors for the initial and maintenance treatment of GERD.

How to cure Gerd permanently?

May 22, 2020 · GERD is mild acid reflux that occurs at least twice a week, or moderate to severe acid reflux that occurs at least once a week. Most people can manage the discomfort of GERD with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. But some people with GERD may need stronger medications or surgery to ease symptoms.

How to heal Gerd naturally?

GERD treatment aims to cut down on the amount of reflux or lessen damage to the lining of the esophagus from refluxed materials. Your doctor may recommend over-the …

How do you cure Gerd?

Apr 14, 2022 · The most readily performed surgeries for GERD are fundoplication and Linx surgery. One newer endoscopy-based surgical technique for GERD is called transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF). This...

Can GERD be cured naturally?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also called acid reflux, can cause symptoms like heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation, and nausea. Learn …

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Abstract Background: For a significant number of patients with severe or refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease, maintenance treatment with omeprazole and reflux surgery (Nissen fundoplication) are alternative treatment options.

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What is the best treatment of GERD?

GERD Treatment: MedicationAntacids. Over-the-counter antacids are best for intermittent and relatively infrequent symptoms of reflux. ... Histamine blockers. Histamine 2 (H2) blockers are drugs that help lower acid secretion. ... Proton pump inhibitors. ... Prokinetic agents.

Can gastroesophageal reflux disease be cured?

Although common, the disease often is unrecognized – its symptoms misunderstood. This is unfortunate because GERD is generally a treatable disease, though serious complications can result if it is not treated properly.

What is the main cause of gastroesophageal reflux disease?

GERD is caused by frequent acid reflux. When you swallow, a circular band of muscle around the bottom of your esophagus (lower esophageal sphincter) relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow into your stomach. Then the sphincter closes again.May 22, 2020

What foods should I avoid with gastroesophageal reflux disease?

Foods That May Cause HeartburnFried food.Fast food.Pizza.Potato chips and other processed snacks.Chili powder and pepper (white, black, cayenne)Fatty meats such as bacon and sausage.Cheese.

Is gastroesophageal reflux disease serious?

Is GERD (chronic acid reflux) dangerous or life-threatening? GERD isn't life-threatening or dangerous in itself. But long-term GERD can lead to more serious health problems: Esophagitis: Esophagitis is the irritation and inflammation the stomach acid causes in the lining of the esophagus.Dec 6, 2019

How long does Gastroesophageal reflux last?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition that causes the contents of your stomach to wash back up into your esophagus, throat, and mouth. GERD is chronic acid reflux with symptoms that occur more than twice a week or that last for weeks or months.

How is gastroesophageal reflux disease diagnosed?

Your doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light and camera (endoscope) down your throat, to examine the inside of your esophagus and stomach. Test results can often be normal when reflux is present, but an endoscopy may detect inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis) or other complications.May 22, 2020

Does milk help acid reflux?

Milk has its pros and cons when it comes to relieving heartburn. While protein and calcium from skimmed milk may buffer stomach acids, full-fat milk may increase heartburn symptoms. Nevertheless, you can give low-fat or skim a try, or even switch to a milk substitute if you feel it would suit you better.Sep 23, 2019

What is a GERD cough like?

Distinguishing between allergies or other contributors may prove to be difficult, but the most common experiences of those with a GERD related cough include: - Nighttime dry coughing spells. - Sore irritated throat pain. - Hoarseness.

Is ginger good for acid reflux?

Small doses of ginger may relieve gastrointestinal irritation. Ginger can reduce the likelihood of stomach acid flowing up into the esophagus. Ginger can also reduce inflammation. This may relieve symptoms of acid reflux.

What is a good breakfast for acid reflux?

Oatmeal has been a whole-grain breakfast favorite for generations. It is a good source of fiber, so it keeps you feeling full and promotes regularity. Oats also absorb stomach acid and reduce symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). For something sweet, top your oatmeal with bananas, apples or pears.

Are bananas good for reflux?

Banana is considered to be an alkaline food because of its high potassium content. A ripe banana can combat stomach acid and coat stomach lining to help prevent heartburn and other reflux symptoms.Oct 17, 2018

What is the best way to reduce GERD?

In open fundoplication, surgeons make a larger cut in the abdomen. Bariatric surgery. If you have GERD and obesity, your doctor may recommend weight-loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery, most often gastric bypass surgery. Bariatric surgery can help you lose weight and reduce GERD symptoms. Endoscopy.

How to reduce GERD symptoms?

Bariatric surgery can help you lose weight and reduce GERD symptoms. Endoscopy. In a small number of cases, doctors may recommend procedures that use endoscopy to treat GERD. For endoscopy, doctors insert an endoscope—a small, flexible tube with a light and camera—through your mouth and into your esophagus.

What is the difference between laparoscopic and open fundoplication?

In laparoscopic fundoplication, which is more common, surgeons make small cuts in the abdomen and insert special tools to perform the operation. Laparoscopic fundoplication leaves several small scars. In open fundoplication, surgeons make a larger cut in the abdomen. Bariatric surgery.

What is the most common surgery for GERD?

Fundoplication is the most common surgery for GERD. In most cases, it leads to long-term improvement of GERD symptoms. During the operation, a surgeon sews the top of your stomach around the end of your esophagus to add pressure to the lower esophageal sphincter and help prevent reflux.

What is the best medicine for GERD?

Your doctor may prescribe one or more medicines to treat GERD. Antacids. Doctors may recommend antacids to relieve mild heartburn and other mild GER and GERD symptoms. Antacids are available over the counter. Antacids can help relieve mild symptoms.

Can GERD be treated with surgery?

Your doctor may recommend surgery if your GERD symptoms don’t improve with lifestyle changes and medicines, or if you wish to stop taking long-term GERD medicines to manage symptoms. You’re more likely to develop complications from surgery than from medicines.

Can you buy GERD medication?

Over-the-counter and prescription medicines. You can buy many GERD medicines over the counter. However, if you have symptoms that will not go away with over-the-counter medicines, you should talk with your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe one or more medicines to treat GERD. Antacids.

What is the procedure to treat GERD?

Treatment. Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery for GERD may involve a procedure to reinforce the lower esophageal sphincter, called Nissen fundoplication. In this procedure, the surgeon wraps the top of the stomach around the lower esophagus after reducing the hiatal hernia, if present.

How to reduce acid reflux?

Lifestyle changes may help reduce the frequency of acid reflux. Try to: Maintain a healthy weight. Excess pounds put pressure on your abdomen, pushing up your stomach and causing acid to reflux into your esophagus. Stop smoking. Smoking decreases the lower esophageal sphincter's ability to function properly.

What is the surgeon's job to wrap the stomach around the lower esophagus?

In this procedure, the surgeon wraps the top of the stomach around the lower esophagus after reducing the hiatal hernia, if present. This reinforces the lower esophageal sphincter, making it less likely that acid will back up in the esophagus. Substitute for esophageal sphincter. Open pop-up dialog box.

What is the purpose of an upper endoscopy?

Your doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light and camera (endoscope) down your throat, to examine the inside of your esophagus and stomach. Test results can often be normal when reflux is present, but an endoscopy may detect inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis) or other complications.

How long does it take for a monitor to pass through your esophagus?

The monitor might be a thin, flexible tube (catheter) that's threaded through your nose into your esophagus, or a clip that's placed in your esophagus during an endoscopy and that gets passed into your stool after about two days. Esophageal manometry. This test measures the rhythmic muscle contractions in your esophagus when you swallow.

What is an endoscopy used for?

An endoscopy can also be used to collect a sample of tissue (biopsy) to be tested for complications such as Barrett's esophagus. Ambulatory acid (pH) probe test. A monitor is placed in your esophagus to identify when, and for how long, stomach acid regurgitates there. The monitor connects to a small computer that you wear around your waist ...

How to get heartburn out of bed?

If you regularly experience heartburn while trying to sleep, place wood or cement blocks under the feet of your bed so that the head end is raised by 6 to 9 inches. If you can't elevate your bed, you can insert a wedge between your mattress and box spring to elevate your body from the waist up.

What is the best treatment for GERD?

The effective treatment of GERD provides symptom resolution and high rates of remission in erosive esophagitis, lowers the incidence of GERD complications, improves health-related quality of life, and reduces the cost of this disease. Proton pump inhibitors are accepted as the most effective initial and maintenance treatment for GERD.

Does GERD cause remission?

The effective treatment of GERD provides symptom resolution and high rates of remission in erosive esophagitis, lowers the incidence of GERD complications, improves health-related quality of life and reduces the cost of this disease.

Is gastroesophageal reflux disease a chronic disease?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic, relapsing disease that can progress to major complications. Affected patients have poorer health-related quality of life than the general population. As GERD requires continued therapy to prevent relapse and complications, most patients with erosive esophagitis require long-term acid suppressive ...

Can erosive esophagitis cause ulceration?

Erosive esophagitis is a chronic, recurring disease that can lead to further complications such as ulceration if long-term management is ineffective; secondary fibrosis and scarring can infrequently lead to esophageal stricture (Orlando 1999; Sontag et al 2006; Vakil et al 2006).

Can you use PPI for erosive esophagitis?

For most patients, initial acid suppressive therapy with a PPI is recommended . Once healing is achieved, the majority of patients with erosive esophagitis will require continued long-term (maintenance) acid suppressive treatment, usually with a lower dosage of their initial acid-suppressive therapy.

Does GERD require acid suppressive treatment?

As GERD requires continued therapy to prevent relapse and complications, most patients with erosive esophagitis require long-term acid suppressive treatment. Thus GERD results in a significant cost burden and poor health-related quality of life. The effective treatment of GERD provides symptom resolution and high rates of remission in erosive ...

Can GERD be underdiagnosed?

Failure to seek professional medical treatment can lead physicians to under-diagnose and under-treat GERD, with consequent poor control of symptoms, lost productivity, reduced quality of life, and an increased incidence of complications in affected patients.

What is the best treatment for GERD?

Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medications to treat your symptoms. Antacids: These drugs can help neutralize acid in the esophagus and stomach and stop heartburn.

How to stop reflux from stomach?

Fundoplication: This is a procedure that raises the pressure in your lower esophagus. The doctor will wind the top of your stomach around the LES. This tightens the muscle and raises pressure in your lower esophagus to stop reflux.

What is the difference between gastroesophageal reflux and gastroesophageal reflux?

GERD Causes. The term “gastroesophageal” refers to the stomach and esophagus. Reflux means to flow back or return. Gastroesophageal reflux is when what’s in your stomach backs up into your esophagus. In normal digestion, your LES opens to allow food into your stomach.

What is the ring between the esophagus and stomach called?

This ring is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). If you have it, you may get heartburn or acid indigestion.

How to reduce GERD symptoms?

Stopping smoking is important to reduce GERD symptoms. Elevate your head: Raising the head of your bed on 6-inch blocks or sleeping on a specially designed wedge lets gravity lessen the reflux of stomach contents into your esophagus. Don’t use pillows to prop yourself up.

How does LINX surgery work?

LINX surgery: Your doctor wraps a band of magnetic titanium beads around the place where your stomach and esophagus meet. The magnetic attraction of the beads keeps it loose enough to let food pass through into the stomach, but tight enough to stop reflux. GERD Complications.

What causes scar tissue in the esophagus?

Esophageal stricture: Stomach acid damages the lower part of your esophagus and causes scar tissue to form. This scar tissue builds up until it narrows the inside of the esophagus and makes it hard to swallow food. Barrett’s esophagus: Acid reflux changes the cells in the tissue that lines your esophagus.

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Lifestyle Changes

Over-The-Counter and Prescription Medicines

Surgery and Other Medical Procedures

Diagnosis

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Generally, the treatment begins with over-the-counter medication to control the stomach acid. If the pain prolongs for a few weeks the doctor may prescribe other treatments which include medications and surgery.
Medication

Antacids: Acts by neutralizing stomach acids, thereby providing quick relief.

Omeprazole . Aluminium hydroxide/Magnesium hydroxide/Simethicone . Magnesium Hydroxide


H-2 receptor blockers: H-2-receptor blockers do not act as quickly as antacids, but they provide longer relief and may decrease acid production from the stomach for up to 12 hours.

Cimetidine . Famotidine

Procedures

Linx surgery: Surgeon wraps a ring of tiny beads around LES, strong enough to keep the opening closed to refluxing acid but food can pass through it.

Nissen fundoplication: The upper part of the stomach is wrapped around the lower esophageal sphincter. This prevents the refluxes back in the esophagus.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Vegetables
  • Ginger
  • Oatmeal
  • Noncitrus fruits
  • Lean meats and egg whites.

Foods to avoid:

  • High fat foods
  • Tomatoes and citrus fruits
  • Chocolates
  • Garlic, onion and spicy foods
  • Caffeine and mint

Specialist to consult

Gastroenterologist
Specializes in the digestive system and its disorders.

Treatment

Clinical Trials

  • You can buy many GERD medicines over the counter. However, if you have symptoms that will not go away with over-the-counter medicines, you should talk with your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe one or more medicines to treat GERD. Antacids. Doctors may recommend antacids to relieve mild heartburn and other mild GER and GERD symptoms. Antacids are ...
See more on niddk.nih.gov

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

  • Your doctor may recommend surgery if your GERD symptoms don’t improve with lifestyle changes and medicines, or if you wish to stop taking long-term GERD medicines to manage symptoms. You’re more likely to develop complications from surgery than from medicines. Fundoplication. Fundoplication is the most common surgery for GERD. In most cases, it leads to long-term impr…
See more on niddk.nih.gov

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