Lifestyle changes to ease heartburn symptoms

April 16, 2014  21:31

Heartburn is a gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and one in five people have had it at one time or another. Although medications can help to control reflux, lifestyle changes often do the trick, says Scott Gabbard, MD, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist on Health.clevelandclinic.org.

GERD affects people when the lower esophageal sphincter, which controls the opening between the esophagus and stomach, fails to close after food passes through, and stomach acids travel backward up the esophagus.

Dr. Gabbard lists excess stomach weight, fatty foods, large meals, and intake of alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, chocolate and peppermint as risk factors for GERD. He says lifestyle changes are most important to help prevent that sphincter from opening in the first place.

Here are his top recommendations to help GERD sufferers:

Lose weight. There is no other single thing you can do that can have a greater impact on your reflux, Dr. Gabbard says. “Fat causes the sphincter to open, as do large meals,” he says. ”No medicine can prevent you from getting reflux if you eat a pepperoni pizza and drink a full pitcher of beer.”

Cut alcohol and smoking to start with, and see whether you need to make other dietary changes.

Don’t eat for three hours before bed if reflux hits you hardest at bedtime — and use a 6- to 8-inch incline wedge pillow. “Those can be purchased on the Internet for $30,” he says.

Wear looser clothes that doesn’t compress your abdomen.

Take Prilosec® or Nexium® about a half hour before eating. Some patients mistakenly take them at bedtime, which doesn’t provide any benefit.

Medications such as Prilosec and Nexium are basically safe over the long term, although studies show they contribute to a slightly increased risk of osteoporosis, pneumonia and colon infections, Dr. Gabbard says. He says GERD sufferers should discuss them with their doctor. He also says to talk to your doctor if reflux symptoms don’t respond to treatment or are severe and persistent.

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