‘Tis the season of resentment.
Dr. Mark Pochapin, Scholtz-Leeds, professor of medicine and director of the department of gastroenterology and hepatology at NYU Langone Health, said he often sees patients suffering from heartburn, indigestion or stomach upset during the holidays.
Just in time for Thanksgiving, Pochapin gets to the bottom of acid reflux, heartburn, and Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).), sharing tips and tricks for filling yourself up without feeling dirty.
How can one differentiate between heartburn, acid reflux and GERD?
Acid reflux is a condition in which acid from the stomach flows back into the esophagus. GERD is the name of a chronic condition that causes persistent symptoms as a result of acid reflux or damage to the esophagus. The main symptoms of GERD are heartburn and nausea.
What are some other symptoms that can be caused by acid reflux?
In addition to heartburn and vomiting, chronic acid reflux can over time cause symptoms such as a burning or bitter taste in the mouth, sore throat, chronic cough, hoarse voice, ear pain, asthma-like symptoms, or non-cardiac chest pain. Is. One or more of these symptoms may be present. Acid reflux can happen silently without causing any symptoms. Symptoms vary according to the person.
What causes acid reflux?
Normally, stomach acid stays in the stomach due to gravity and a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter, which tightly closes the esophagus. Acid reflux can result from many different underlying causes and contributing factors.
These may include dietary, mobility, neurologic, medication, or structural anatomic issues, such as hiatal hernia, which can prevent the valve from functioning properly, allowing stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus. Factors such as being pregnant, being overweight, smoking, taking certain medications, overeating, and consuming certain foods and beverages can also contribute to the occurrence of acid reflux.
What are some common triggers of acid reflux that people should be aware of?
Different foods and beverages can trigger acid reflux in different people. Examples of common dietary triggers for acid reflux are caffeine, tomato-based products, fatty or spicy foods, chocolate, mint, and alcohol. Other triggers may include eating a heavy meal or lying down after a meal.
When we eat too much, our stomach overfills and forces food back up into the esophagus. Lying down removes the natural protective barrier of gravity, plus it contributes to the flow of contents back into the esophagus. Smoking is also a risk factor and potential trigger for acid reflux.
How is GERD diagnosed?
GERD usually occurs diagnosis Through a clinical examination and medical history taken with your doctor. In many cases, your doctor may prescribe a trial of histamine-2 receptor antagonist or proton pump inhibitor medication to reduce acid and determine if it reduces symptoms.
In some cases, your gastroenterologist may perform other tests, such as an upper endoscopy to look at the lining of your esophagus for signs of inflammation or other damage, or, if necessary, to better determine the extent and underlying cause. Additional pH, manometry or other testing. Of your reflux.
How should GERD be treated?
It is important to visit your health professional for repeated or persistent symptoms for a complete evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and treatment plan. Treatment may include modifying your diet to eliminate foods that trigger symptoms, eating smaller meals, stopping eating at least two to three hours before bedtime, and possibly elevating the head and neck area. This may involve sleeping on a wedge pillow or other inclination.
weight management This may also play a role, as excess weight can contribute to reflux. medicines Available both over the counter and by prescription to help neutralize or reduce stomach acid, ease and heal symptoms, and prevent damage to the esophagus.
In some cases, endoscopic and surgical options are available to alleviate associated symptoms.
What dietary modifications are recommended for someone with acid reflux?
First of all, we advise you to keep a diary with symptoms, the foods and drinks you consume. Because these dietary triggers can vary from person to person, the first step is to identify the trigger foods for you. This is how you can get started Limit or even eliminate these triggers From your diet.
It may also be helpful to eat smaller, more frequent meals rather than larger meals – and avoid eating at least two to three hours before bedtime. One of the other things I suggest people do is take a walk after eating. Walking helps with mobility, helps to empty the stomach and move things along in the digestive process.
Is acid reflux a symptom of a more serious condition?
For some people, acid reflux may result from other underlying motility, neurological or structural physical problems, which your gastroenterologist can help diagnose. Acid reflux can cause a variety of symptoms and aggravate other conditions, such as lung disease or ear/nose/throat conditions.
Chronic, persistent acid reflux, if not treated, can lead to and, for some people, even progress to more serious conditions such as esophagitis. Barrett’s esophagus Or esophageal cancer. That’s why an accurate diagnosis and treatment is so important – to ease your symptoms, but also to heal the esophagus and prevent additional damage.
Are there specific foods commonly found in holiday meals that people with GERD should avoid?
If you have GERD and you know your trigger foods, it’s best to limit these, even during the holidays, if possible. But many of us experience heartburn during the holidays simply because of the amount of festive food and beverages consumed. It’s tempting to eat a nice big meal over the holidays and then lie down straight for a nap, but all that food can cause pressure on the stomach and lower esophageal sphincter.
Should we do portion control?
Portion control is essential to help us feel better when we eat great food during the holidays. Eating smaller portions, allowing a little more time to digest between meals, and getting up and walking around will help empty the stomach and make us feel better overall.
Is it beneficial to adjust eating times or habits during the holiday season to manage acid reflux?
The best way to feel better and reduce the risk of reflux or heartburn is to try to keep those portions a little smaller, keep time between portions and don’t eat so late. Give the stomach time to empty so that when we go to bed, our stomach is not full and acid does not flow back up and damage the esophagus.
What are the possible complications of untreated GERD?
Over time untreated GERD can lead to esophagitis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the esophagus. If not treated, esophagitis can cause narrowing from the lesion causing food to get stuck in the esophagus, so when someone eats, they feel like the food is not going down. This is called dysphasia. It can also progress when the lining of the esophagus changes due to chronic acid reflux, leading to the development of Barrett’s esophagus and, in a small percentage of cases, esophageal cancer.
How should people with GERD deal with alcohol consumption during the holidays? Does hydration play a role?
If alcohol is one of your triggers, you may want to limit it during the holidays. In addition to reflux, excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for many disease processes and overall is not healthy for us.
Drinking water and staying hydrated is always a good idea. Overall, it’s great for your health and can even help with eating smaller portions during the holidays. If you suffer from GERD, you should avoid drinking too many fluids right before sleeping.
Dr. Mark Pochapin Scholtz-Leeds is Professor of Medicine and Director of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NYU Langone Health. He Advanced endoscopy and expertise in preventing, detecting and diagnosing gastrointestinal cancers.
