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How to Select the Right Acid Reflux Treatment that will Work for you?

Author: Dr Nathan Jones
by Dr Nathan Jones
Posted: Dec 02, 2013

Did you experience a feeling of throwing up just when your stomach contents regurgitated? In fact, there is a medical term for this. The term is called GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease or commonly known as acid reflux disease. This occurs once the gastroesophageal sphincter weakens causing a few gastric juice moves up towards the esophagus. Though the majority of individuals experienced the mild form, nonetheless if allow unaided, this may turn into a chronic condition that needs immediate treatment.

Best Offered Treatments for Acid Reflux

There are a number of treatment methods for acid reflux disease irrespective of the reason and symptoms the patient experiences. Listed down below are treatments for GERD for the alleviation of this pestering disease.

  • Prescription Medicines: Taking up medicines are the first option in treating mild types of GERD. Typically, there are three categories of medicines for acid reflux. These medicines involves the proton-pump inhibitors, H2 blockers and antacids. To know much more about these, read below.
  • Antacids: Taking up this medication neutralizes gastric acids within the stomach. In addition, this medication is considered to be the first drug to be taken for fast alleviation from the disease’s symptoms. Even so, this medication doesn’t have a long lasting effect. Generally, doctors purchase these along with other GERD medications to maximize its potential effects. One should remember that there are unwanted effects that one can experience in taking up this medication. The common ones are constipation and diarrhea. Antacids can either be prepared in the form of pill or liquid.
  • Blockers: The main purpose of this medication is that it helps you cope with your acid reflux by minimizing the production of hydrochloric acid within the stomach. This assists to reduce the urge of regurgitating these acids. Like any other medicines, there are also a few unwanted effects just like vomiting, nausea, headache, loose bowel movement and constipation.
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): PPI’s closely resemble the effects of an H2 blocker. Like the latter, PPIs also help in lowering the production of gastric juice. Nevertheless, PPI’s are much potent compared to an H2 blocker. This medication helps repair the esophagus because of heartburn brought on by corrosion of acids resulting from regurgitation. These are only available in a pill form. Due to the potency of this medication, there are lots of unwanted effects that a patient may experience which includes stomach discomfort, headache, stomach problems, nausea, and vomiting. Lastly, this medication also needs a medical prescription from your physician in order to buy one.
  • Surgery: If you're suffering from heartburn more frequently than you should, maybe your doctor will advise you that a surgical treatment can be the right kind of acid reflux treatment to opt for. With the acid reflux surgery, the upper portion of your stomach will be wrapped and attached to the bottom of your esophagus. This works because the passage for the acid to move up will be tightened and strengthened.
  • Also, another way of doing the surgical treatment is through the use of a laparoscope. There will be a necessity for the doctor to do a small incision in your belly to allow passage of a thin tube with a built in camera to enter your stomach. The patient who will go through laparoscopy will recuperate quickly compared to that of a surgical treatment exactly where a large incision is included.

When such surgical procedure is undergone, you will experience trouble in swallowing as well as you feel bloated. Heart attack and infection are the two other serious negative effects when choosing laparosc

  • Endoscopic Treatment: In endoscopic acid reflux treatment, no cuts will be made in your stomach as this is not truly regarded as a medical procedure. This functions by means of placing a thin tube or endoscope from your throat going to your esophagus, which is normally performed by your doctor. With this treatment; your muscles are strengthened avoiding the acid and food to move up in your esophagus. The side effects of endoscopic treatment may include bloating, pain in your stomach, bleeding and trouble swallowing.
  • The GERD Diet: The diet normally includes foods that will aid stabilize stomach’s acidity. These are:
  • Coriander juice, coconut water, and buttermilk? Bitter gourds, pumpkins, fiber-enriched foods, cucumbers and leafy vegetables.
  • Whole grains and foods rich in protein? Take care not to opt for milk high in fat since acid production in your stomach will likely to increase; cold fat free milk is strongly recommended.
  • The best advice you can get from your medical doctor if you are suffering from a moderate sort of acid reflux disease is to take some steps to alter your lifestyle. Through altering some of your habits, it may help you manage your heartburn signs and symptoms. Enlisted below are a few recognized acid reflux treatments:
  • If you're done eating, just sit down appropriately. Preserving in a slouch position will only increase the possibilities of your food to regurgitate.
  • You also need to decrease your servings of food for much easier digestion. Also, restrict alcohol intake and give up smoking.
  • It is strongly recommended that one have at least three hours waiting period before going to sleep after you eat.
  • You must also try taking some precautions with foods rich in fat, spicy foods, citrus fruits, mint, and chocolate since this will only aggravate the signs and symptoms of GERD.
  • Ensure 8 hours of rest daily to promote proper digestion of food.
  • Reduce those extra few pounds in your body.
  • Have a happy lifestyle. Carry out some yoga, meditation and workout to eliminate stress.
  • Put on something comfortable. It's also advisable to prevent wearing constricting clothes particularly in the abdominal area.

Things to Consider When Selecting an Acid Reflux Treatment

When opting for a GERD treatment, there are a lot of things to consider. It is necessary that you weigh the benefits and risks of each one and determine the cost of each treatment. Initially, you ought to opt for simple acid reflex remedies such as medicine and changes in lifestyle. But, if symptoms of heartburn persist, then you should seek advice from your doctor.

About the Author

GERD can be treated in a number of ways. You can choose the type of Acid reflux treatment that is under your spending budget and works well for the symptoms you are experiencing. BestRefluxTreatments

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Author: Dr Nathan Jones

Dr Nathan Jones

Member since: Dec 01, 2013
Published articles: 1

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