SIGNS /SYMPTOMS of GERD

GERD is a chronic condition, so it is more serious than occasional heartburn.  While some patients experience symptoms less often, an effective treatment needs to be found to help the problem.  To find out if you are suffering from acid reflux GERD, you may experience pain in the middle of the chest, spreading into the neck.  Some sufferers mistake it for a heart attack the pain can be so intense.   This pain can last two or more hours.

The onset of gerd generally happens after eating, and lying down can make it worse.  Other symptoms include acid regurgitating into your mouth, a bitter taste, and a dry cough / hoarseness in the morning.  Children with acid reflux gerd may experience vomiting and other respiratory problems.

*For more information on signs and symptoms of acid reflux gerd, CLICK HERE!*

HOME TREATMENTS

Severe cases of acid reflux may need the attention of a doctor, but there are some simple steps that you can take at home to alleviate the symptoms or avoid the onset of reflux.  Once you have suffered through a bout of acid reflux, the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure will become your mantra when eating.

Since the stomach can only handle a certain amount of food, eating smaller meals more often instead of one huge meal will help the stomach acid break food down at a reasonable rate instead of being forced up.  Don’t lie down right after eating, and avoid eating late at night.  As an added measure of help, raise the foot of the bed by six to eight inches with blocks to aid gravity in acid reflux relief.

Greasy and acidic food will trigger attacks.  Don’t eat cream or tomato based foods, fatty fried things, chocolate or caffeine.  Mints are also known to be problematic, as well as smoking and alcohol.  Find out what your specific triggers are and avoid those foods, or be prepared with an antacid nearby.

ANTACIDS

Taken ahead of time, antacids neutralize the acid in the stomach.  Best taken every few days, these will help with heartburn, but can cause side effects over a long period of time.  Gaviscon, Maalox, Mylanta, and Tums are the popular brands.

A second type of antacid, known as H-2 blocker, also help with heartburn by preventing acid production.  Tagament, Pepcid, and Zantac fall into this category.  These work best one hour before meals, since they don’t affect acid already in the stomach, just the new production of acid.

If you suffer from severe acid reflux GERD and trying these steps at home does not relieve symptoms, your doctor can help. There are more invasive ways to treat your symptoms, and your doctor can determine if there is any damage or if surgery is necessary.  Good luck in finding relief!

The reason this happens more at night is you are lying in bed and the contents of the stomach are free to come right on up to the esophagus. There is no gravity for it to fight. There are doctors who have recommended elevating the head of your bed and sleeping on an acid reflux pillow wedge.

Acid reflux pillows elevate your head and your neck to restore the gravity that stomach contents have to fight to get to the esophagus.  They are a way of treating acid reflux naturally.

There are some made of foam and some are plastic wedges which are soft enough on which to sleep. The best ones are the inflatable type. This is because they can be adjusted to fit the person who will be using the pillow.

If you are a sufferer from acid reflux this may well be a solution for your night time pain and problems. They are used for other problems as well, but their main goal is to relieve the symptoms of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). This is why they are called acid reflux pillows.

The pillows can be found in many places. If you want to look online, simply put in the search term for the pillows and you should be able to find a variety available. They are also sold at other stores in your neighborhood. Drugstores are a good place to look as well as larger retail stores which carry a variety of items.

The price can vary from $20 to $100. This will depend upon where you purchase your pillow and what type of pillow you buy. If you suffer from acid reflux at least three times a week or more, you may want to check into this method of fighting the problem you are battling. Everyone has different ideas of what type of pillow may be comfortable so the one you choose should be of the right type of material for your needs.

While some people prefer the foam type, an inflatable one may work better for you. It can be inflated for raising your head and neck to just the right comfort level to prevent acid reflux but allow you to sleep comfortably. Many people find it difficult to sleep in this position but if you are suffering from acid reflux you are not sleeping anyway.

It will not hurt to give acid reflux pillows a try. Who knows? You may get the first good night’s sleep you have had in a long time.

The symptoms of acid reflux include a pain in the center of the esophagus (the familiar symptoms of “heartburn”) and in some cases, difficulty swallowing. These symptoms of acid reflux tend to be worse at night, especially after a heavy evening meal. Acid reflux is not an especially serious disease, but it is certainly one that no one wants to have.

If you only suffer from the symptoms of acid reflux once in a great while, this is probably not serious – everyone has a touch of heartburn from time to time. When people talk about acid reflux disease, they generally mean cases where the symptoms of acid reflux recur often, usually being quite severe. An occasional bout of heartburn, however, is probably nothing to get too worried about.

If you suffer from the symptoms of acid reflux disease, then you know how painful and irritating it can be. Thankfully, there are some things which you can do to stop acid reflux now and make your acid reflux episodes less frequent.

One of these ways to lessen the symptoms of acid reflux is to avoid foods which tend to trigger symptoms. These foods differ from person to person, but the most common ones are acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits and so on. Other common triggers are fried foods, alcoholic beverages and coffee. The best way to determine which foods are giving you trouble is to keep a  “food diary” and track what you ate and when you had symptoms of acid reflux. If a particular food causes acid reflux episodes repeatedly, you’ll want to eliminate it from your diet. By simply avoiding the foods which are triggering your symptoms of acid reflux, you’ll avoid suffering from this problem less often.

Your posture also plays a role in acid reflux. If you tend to recline after eating, this makes it much easier for stomach acid to work its way into the esophagus (this is what is responsible for heartburn). Remember what your parents always told you and make an effort to stand up and sit straighter.

You can also prevent some acid reflux episodes by simply taking a walk after your meals – this stimulates digestion and allows you some time where your esophagus is not in a good position for the symptoms of acid reflux to appear.

By following these simple tips and adopting healthy lifestyle habits like a good diet and regular exercise, you’ll be able to avoid suffering the symptoms of acid reflux as often – and of course, you’ll enjoy better health overall, which is never a bad thing.

Find out how an acid reflux sufferer, fed up from repeated debiliting bouts of acid reflux, stood up to the uncaring drug companies and discovered guaranteed relief in the most surprising place.