GERD, or Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease, is defined as significant mucosal damage caused by extreme reflux in the esophagus. GERD is mainly caused by the esophagus entering the stomach at an improper angle. At times, if there is not enough stomach acid present, GERD like symptoms can be felt.

The most common adult symptoms in of GERD are heartburn, problems with swallowing or painful swallowing, vomiting / regurgitation, nausea, and chest pains. While detecting GERD in children can be difficult, parents can look out for the following symptoms: poor sleeping habits, swallowing problems, ear infections, irritability, loss of appetite, and acidic smelling breath.

There are a few different ways GERD can be treated without excess medication or surgery. A change of diet has been shown to decrease the symptoms of GERD. The following foods have been shown to increase the symptoms of GERD: excess caffeine and alcohol consumption, foods high in fat, acidic foods including tomatoes and citrus fruits, carbonated beverages, chocolate, mints, and milk based products. Eating large meals and eating within a couple hours before bedtime has been shows to increase symptoms. A balanced diet will also decrease the possibility of obesity, which has been shown to increase the symptoms of GERD. Quitting smoking also will reduce the risk of GERD.

Some studies have shows that people who sleep on their left side and those who elevate their bed a few inches at the head, have shown decreased symptoms of GERD.

If adjusting sleeping habits and diet doesn’t help cure symptoms completely, there are still many medications approved to treat GERD. There are various over the counter drugs which are labeled to help treat GERD, many of which are antacids. To obtain stronger prescription drugs, you will have to consult with your doctor to determine the best course of action. Unless your doctor says otherwise, it is important that these drugs only be used in periods when symptoms are present. Creating a reliance on these drugs will cause more health issues later on.

The last resort to permanently cure GERD is to under go a surgical treatment known as the “Nissen Fundoplication.” This operating requires two small incisions in the stomach. In this operation, the surgeon will wrap the upper part of the patient’s stomach around the lower end of the esophagus. By doing this, stomach acid is prevented from entering the esophagus. The operation is relatively risk free, with a mortality rate below 1%. Almost 90% of patients are symptom free years later.

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