WHAT IS GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a digestive disorder that affects the lower oesophageal sphincter, the ring of muscle between the oesophagus and stomach. Gastroesophageal refers to the stomach and oesophagus. Reflux means to flow back or return. Therefore, gastroesophageal reflux is the return of the stomach's contents back up into the oesophagus. Many people, including pregnant women, suffer from heartburn or acid indigestion caused by GERD. Doctors believe that some people suffer from GERD due to a condition called hiatal hernia. In most cases, GERD can be relieved through diet and lifestyle changes; however, some people may require medication or surgery.
WHAT LIFESTYLE AND DIET CHANGES ARE RECOMMENDED?
For mild GERD sufferers with infrequent symptoms, simple dietary and lifestyle changes may be enough to provide some relief. For this reason, diet and lifestyle changes are the most common first step when exploring treatment options. Some suggested practices to relieve heartburn symptoms or acid reflux may include the following:
- Watch Diet: Be conscious of which types of foods and beverages seem to agitate your symptoms most often, and monitor your consumption of them. Avoid foods that trigger symptoms. Some common reflux triggers include coffee, tea, or carbonated beverages; fatty, fried or spicy foods; and other foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, garlic, onions, peppermint, or chocolate.
- Eat Frequent Small Meals: Larger meals take longer to empty from your stomach and may apply extra pressure on the valve between the stomach and the oesophagus.
- Watch Weight: Excess weight can potentially distort oesophageal valve anatomy and subsequently cause reflux.
- Avoid Reclining within Three Hours of Eating: When you lay flat, gravity is no longer keeping stomach contents in place, making it easier for your stomach acid to flow up and reach the oesophagus or throat.
- Raise the Head of Your Bed by Six to Eight Inches: When you rest at a slight incline, gravity can work in your favour to reduce night-time reflux episodes.
- Refrain from Smoking: Studies show that nicotine weakens the muscle that controls the valve between the stomach and the oesophagus.
- Avoid Alcohol: Alcohol, especially white wine and beer, has been reported to induce reflux.
- Reduce Pressure on Stomach: Too much pressure can squeeze your stomach and increase your GERD-related symptoms. You can reduce pressure on the stomach by maintaining a healthy weight, eating smaller meals, and wearing loose-fitting clothes.
WHY KIMS?
At KIMS, one of the best heartburn treatment hospitals in Hyderabad, we correctly diagnose patients with troubling or unknown GERD-related or heartburn symptoms. Our heartburn treatment service is dedicated to evaluating, educating and treating patients with illnesses related to gastroesophageal reflux or esophageal motility disorders. Our best heartburn treatment specialist hospitals in Hyderabad offer comprehensive, streamlined approach that focuses on improving the quality of life of patients and reducing the risk of long-term complications caused by these disorders and by prolonged use of acid reflux medicines medications. KIMS capitalizes on the expertise of best acid reflux treatment doctors in Hyderabad the who use the least invasive procedure to reduce surgery risks and improve recovery time.