Acid Reflux, Heartburn and GERD Symptoms Causes and Risk Factors Complications Triggers and Management Acid Reflux, More Commonl

He art burn and GERD Acid reflux, more commonly known as heartburn, affects most people at least occasionally, but affects about 44% of Americans monthly, 14% weekly, and up to 7% daily ( 1). People who have heartburn symptoms frequently are often diagnosed with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Acid Reflux, Heartburn and GERD ▪ Acid reflux is irritation in your esophagus caused by the acid from your stomach flowing backward. ▪ Heartburn refers to the symptoms that you feel because of this acid ▪ Certain foods can increase heartburn symptoms in some people. regurgitation. Avoid foods that trigger heartburn symptoms for you. Following are ▪ GERD is acid reflux that occurs at least twice a week and interferes foods that commonly trigger heartburn: with daily life.  Alcohol ( 2)  Tomatoes  Carbonated beverages (1)  Garlic Symptoms 1 1 ▪ Burning sensation in chest or throat  Chocolate ( )  Onions ( )  Coffee, tea & caffeine ( 2)  Spicy foods ▪ Chest pain, possibly 1,3-5 worse when swallowing  Fatty or fried foods ( )  Mint  Medium- to well-done  Citrus foods ▪ Difficulty swallowing 3 ▪ Dry cough barbecued meat ( ) ▪ Meals: Eating large meals or eating too quickly can ▪ Hoarseness or sore throat 4 6 ▪ Regurgitation of food or sour liquid trigger heartburn ( ). Avoid overeating, eat slowly ( ), and (acid reflux) eat 5 or 6 small meals rather than a few large ones. ▪ Sensation of having a lump in your throat ▪ Certain medications: Blood pressure medications, aspirin, ibuprofen or birth control can worsen heartburn ( 3,6 ). Causes and Risk Factors ▪ Eating close to bedtime or snacking at night ( 6): Wait at least ▪ Hiatal hernia – part of the stomach and the lower esophageal sphincter 2 hours after a meal before lying down. move up above the diaphragm, causing the sphincter to weaken ▪ Diet: A high-fiber diet may reduce reflux symptoms ( 4), as may ▪ Weak esophageal sphincter – this circular muscle between the meals made of liquids and carbohydrates ( 7). esophagus and stomach that is supposed to keep food from ▪ Exercise: Abdominal workouts, exercises that require you to bend regurgitating may become weak over (as in some yoga moves), exercising with a full stomach, and ▪ Pregnancy – the hormones of pregnancy combined with the especially vigorous activities can worsen heartburn symptoms ( 4). pressure of a growing fetus on the stomach can cause acid reflux However, that doesn’t mean you should forego exercise altogether. ▪ Smoking – can damage muscle reflexes in the throat, increase how Gentle exercises such as walking or riding a bike not only won’t much acid the stomach makes, and relax the lower esophageal worsen heartburn, they can actually help you avoid it ( 2,4 ). Wait sphincter ( 2) approximately 2 hours after a meal before exercising. ▪ Abdominal obesity – can put pressure on the stomach, causing reflux REFERENCES 3 ▪ Certain diseases such as asthma, diabetes or H. pylori infection ( ) 1. Kaltenbach T, Crockett S, Gerson LB. Are lifestyle measures effective in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease? an evidence-based approach. Arch Intern Med. Complications 2006;166(9):965-971. ▪ Damage to cells in your esophagus can cause it to scar and become 2. Zheng Z, Nordenstedt H, Pedersen NL, Lagergren J, Ye W. Lifestyle factors and risk damaged, making it difficult to swallow. for symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux in monozygotic twins. Gastroenterology. 2007;132(1):87-95. ▪ Damage to your esophagus can cause an open sore, called an ulcer, 3. Pandeya N, Green AC, Whiteman DC, Australian Cancer Study. Prevalence and deter - that can bleed and make swallowing painful and difficult. minants of frequent gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in the australian community. ▪ Barrett’s esophagus, a condition in which the cells in your esopha - Dis Esophagus. 2012;25(7):573-583. 4. Festi D, Scaioli E, Baldi F, et al. Body weight, lifestyle, dietary habits and gastroe - gus change and become more likely to cause cancer. sophageal reflux disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2009;15(14):1690-1701. Triggers and Management 5. Read NW. Food and hypersensitivity in functional dyspepsia. Gut. 2002;51 Suppl 1:i50-3. 6. Yamamichi N, Mochizuki S, Asada-Hirayama I, et al. Lifestyle factors affecting gas - Certain foods and lifestyle factors can trigger heartburn or other symp - troesophageal reflux disease symptoms: A cross-sectional study of healthy 19864 toms of acid reflux. Note which things cause or worsen heartburn for adults using FSSG scores. BMC Med. 2012;10:45-7015-10-45. you and try to avoid them. 7. de Baptista GA. Nutrients and dyspepsia: Paradigms and reality. Curr Opin Clin Nutr ▪ Being overweight or obese, especially in the abdomen, can increase Metab Care. 2005;8(5):562-567. heartburn episodes. Weight loss in those who are overweight or obese can improve heartburn symptoms ( 3,4 ). ▪ Sleeping positions: People often have increases in heartburn symp - toms at night while they are sleeping. Sleeping with the head of your bed elevated can help this, as can sleeping on your left side ( 1). www.southwestnetwork.org COPYRIGHT © 2013 Southwest Network 06.18.13 Intranet | Resources | Health & Wellness Flyers A–Z | Heartburn and GERD