Heartburn is such a prevalent concern that it is sometimes misdiagnosed due to bad lifestyle choices. Although infrequent heartburn may not be cause for alarm, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is marked by chronic, recurrent heartburn. If not treated properly, it could result in severe consequences such as perpetual damage to your esophagus as its lining is repeatedly exposed to acidic contents from your stomach. Though patients should not diagnose nor self-treat GERD in San Antonio, TX, particular lifestyle adjustments could assist in addressing the condition and reducing the dependency on mediation. Skilled gastroenterology specialist Robert Narvaez, MD, MBA of Digestive & Liver Disease Center of San Antonio PLLC, discusses some recommendations to help you improve your life quality with reduced GERD symptoms.
- Adjust Your Eating Habits
Gastric pressure is reduced by preventing your stomach from being overly full. Thus, lighter meals are better. Six tiny meals, for instance, are healthier than three huge meals. Eating slowly also aids weight loss by placing less food in your stomach at once.
Moreover, it would help if you recognized what meals could cause reflux. Carbonated beverages, spicy or fatty foods, coffee, tea, mint, tomatoes, onions, chocolate, garlic, mint, and alcohol are some of the items that are more prone to trigger reflux. If you constantly eat these foods, consider removing them from your menu and gradually reintroducing them one at a time to see what foods aggravate your GERD symptoms.
- Aim for an Ideal Weight
Whereas anybody could get heartburn, GERD appears to be more common in adults who are obese or overweight. Excessive weight, particularly in the abdominal region, exerts extra strain on the stomach. For this reason, you are more prone to have stomach acids move up past the sphincter into your esophagus, triggering heartburn.
If you are overweight, Dr. Narvaez recommends a one to two pounds per week weight loss strategy. On the other hand, if you are already deemed to be at a healthy weight, ensure you keep it up with frequent exercise and a balanced diet.
- Stop Smoking
Are you looking for more incentive to quit smoking? It could help with heartburn, especially important for persons who suffer from GERD, whether they are passive or chronic smokers. Nicotine compromises the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which keeps acidic contents in your stomach from backing up. For this reason, you might suffer heartburn symptoms more often.
- Review Your Prescriptions
Whereas some drugs help restore the sphincter’s function, others aggravate the esophagus. Over-the-counter antacids could significantly alleviate heartburn symptoms but are not safe for regular use. Check with your doctor about what prescriptions you should start or adjust to relieve your symptoms.
- Avoid Wearing Tight Apparel
There is nothing amiss with wearing restrictive clothing unless you suffer from GERD. Donning tight clothes, particularly belts and bottoms, puts undue stress on your stomach; thus, increasing the likelihood of heartburn. To help with GERD symptoms, loosen your garments.
Additional simple remedies for GERD symptoms include reducing activity upon eating, adjusting your sleeping habits, and trying relaxation techniques.
Heartburn is a bothersome condition that could result from a range of factors. Implementing these easy dietary and lifestyle adjustments has proven beneficial in numerous GERD patients. Nonetheless, not all persons find relief in these measures. If your GERD symptoms do not seem to improve despite all the necessary effort, you should talk to Dr. Narvaez. At Digestive & Liver Disease Center of San Antonio PLLC, he takes an individualized approach to care, utilizing medications and advanced care alternatives, including surgery to correct the sphincter muscle. Call the office or request an appointment online today for expert care.
