Guarding against GERD
Heartburn a warning sign of acid reflux disease
The feeling creeps up on you - a tinge of pain in the upper chest, behind the sternum. Gradually, the burning sensation becomes nearly intolerable, and you find yourself praying that an antacid tablet will help.
More than one-third of otherwise healthy Americans suffer from heartburn at least once a month. Seven percent experience heartburn as often as once a day. Sometimes, however, the painful sensation is but one symptom of a larger problem, GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Joseph, 30, is but one of the approximately 2 percent of adult Americans who suffer from GERD. He worked a high-stress job, maintained poor seating posture, and had what he describes as "massive coffee and nicotine intake," and a generally poor diet laden with acidic and fatty foods.
He would eat a typical meal and then suddenly, he said, "my stomach was on fire." Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD, but other symptoms, such as regurgitation of gastric contents into the mouth or lungs, asthma, and hoarseness may occur. GERD generally occurs after meals, but can sometimes happen during sleep, which signals a more severe condition. The tissue of the esophagus may eventually erode due to exposure to stomach acid, and ulcers and difficulty swallowing may result.
Joseph ate lots of Tums™ and cheaper generic antacids, but the symptoms kept getting worse. He finally went to a doctor, who gave him a chart explaining what to avoid - no acidic foods like oranges and onions, and no caffeine or cigarettes. Other things to avoid are chocolate, fatty foods, and overeating.
According to
www.gerd.com, lifestyle modification alone is generally not enough to treat GERD. The Web site advises that GERD sufferers should discuss risk factors with their doctors, who will devise an appropriate treatment plan.
After his first doctor visit, Joe's symptoms went away with the help of over-the-counter antacids, but would recur with indulgence. After two years of recurrence, he finally grew tired of the problem. Worried about permanent damage to his gastrointestinal system, he went to a doctor and had an "upper GI" test, along with various blood tests.
Joseph had an h. pylori infection in his stomach, which contributed to the symptoms of GERD. Additional stress due to poor habits made the problem worse. Because of the bacterial infection, medication including antibiotics was necessary.
Today, Joseph's main weapon against GERD is moderate consumption of foods that might trigger symptoms. The most major change, he says, was switching from morning coffee to green tea. Four months after treatment, Joseph still takes a medication twice a day to reduce the production of acid in his stomach.
Still, Joseph occasionally lets himself enjoy problem foods like bratwurst, raw onions and coffee. He is aware that he may be dealing with the problems of GERD for the rest of his life. "I know if I indulge in the wrong combination of foods," he says, "I'll pay for it."
Consultant your physician for more information about GERD, or visit
www.gerd.com or
www.gastrotherapy.com.
