All You Need To Know About Acid Reflux (GERD)

What is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is the weakening of the valve that connects the stomach to the oesophagus. When this happens, the stomach acid flows back to the oesophagus or the food pipe. As this acid is an irritant, the inner lining of the food pipe also becomes inflamed which may cause huge discomfort. You’ll have a sense of a hot, acidic, sour fluid at the backup of the throat. You’ll even experience chest pain when lying down especially immediately after eating. If acid reflux symptoms happen more than once twice every week it can cause acid reflux disease commonly referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

This disease is extremely common especially in India as around 10 million people are affected during a year. The reflux of the stomach’s liquid contents occurs in most conventional individuals. Pregnancy, obesity, diabetes, asthma, etc all can cause reflux of acid into the oesophagus.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux:

Being overweight or eating citrus/fatty foods can result in acid reflux. There are plenty of symptoms of acid reflux but the most common symptom is heartburn. Following are the symptoms of Acid Reflux

• Heartburn: A burning pain that moves up to the chest or throat from your stomach.
• Regurgitation: A sour acid backing up into your mouth.
• Burping
• Bloating
• Bloody Vomiting
• Black stools
• Hiccups
• Dysphagia
• Nausea
• Weight loss
• Dry cough
• Sore throat

Treatment of Acid Reflux

The first step in treating this disease is to change and improve your diet and lifestyle. But if it persists, your doctor will recommend some medications. Based on the severity of your disease, he can suggest the most effective treatment.

The treatment involves the following:

• Over the Counter Medications:

There are various medications which include antacids, H-2 receptor blocker, proton pump inhibitors, etc.

Antacids: Antacids that neutralize stomach acid like Mylanta, tums, etc can provide quick relief.

Medicines that reduce acid production include cimetidine, nizatidine, and ranitidine. Unlike antacids, they do not provide quick relief but longer relief which can last up to 12 hours.

Medications block the production of acid and aid in healing the oesophagus. These include omeprazole and lansoprazole.

• Surgery

Generally, this disease is controlled through medication. But if medication isn’t sufficient, your doctor might suggest the subsequent surgeries:

 Fundoplication: in this, the doctor wraps your stomach around the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) to tighten the muscle and forestall reflux.

 LINX device: a hoop of magnetic beads is wrapped around the stomach in this process. The magnetic effect is powerful enough to keep the junction closed to refluxing acid.