Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD) is a disorder of the human digestive system. This condition occurs when stomach acid and stomach contents flow back into the esophagus.
This backflow or reflux can cause a painful and hot sensation like burning under the breastbone or what is known as heartburn. Symptoms of GERD that are often experienced apart from: heartburn or burning feeling in the chest is like the following:
- Nauseous
- Bitter taste in the mouth
- Caries on teeth
- Regurgitation (food returning to the mouth from the esophagus)
- Painful swallowing or difficulty swallowing
- Chronic cough
- Sore throat and hoarse voice
- Bad breath
Difference between GERD and ulcers
In ordinary people, GERD is often confused with ulcers because they both experience problems with the stomach organs.
Quoting the official website of the Ministry of Health, acute gastritis is inflammation and swelling that occurs in the stomach lining suddenly which causes excruciating pain, but is temporary.
FKUI-RSCM Gastroenterology Specialist Dr. Ari Fahrial Syam, explained that Ulcers only occur in the stomach with symptoms such as heartburn, bloating, nausea, vomiting, bloating, feeling full quickly and belching. Meanwhile, the main symptoms of GERD are a burning sensation in the chest and a bitter taste in the mouth. People can get GERD and stomach ulcers at the same time, but if it’s pure GERD, there are usually no stomach symptoms.
How to treat GERD and ulcers without medication
Studies show that dietary changes are the first-line treatment for GERD, not prescription drugs. Non-pharmacological therapies, such as dietary management, are currently considered the best way to manage GERD.
In the journal Current Medicinal Chemistry in 2019 it was also shown that the best treatment for GERD sufferers includes lifestyle changes. A lifestyle that often eats high-fat foods, coffee, chocolate, spicy foods and alcohol can increase stomach acid.
Gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School Dr. Jacqueline Wolf recommends 9 ways to treat stomach acid without medication, here’s how:
1. Eat little and slowly
When the stomach is full, stomach acid is susceptible to rising into the esophagus. For this reason, you can relieve it by eating smaller portions more often rather than eating large amounts three times every day.
2. Avoid certain foods
If you have a risk of stomach acid, you are advised not to consume certain foods that can trigger this.
There are several foods that trigger reflux, namely mint foods, fatty foods, spicy foods, tomatoes, onions, garlic, coffee, tea, chocolate and alcohol.
3. Avoid fizzy drinks
Fizzy drinks make you burp because of the gas in their content. This can help send acid to the esophagus. Therefore, you should just drink plain water rather than drinking fizzy drinks.
4. Don’t sleep after eating
You are advised to sleep three hours after eating. That means, you shouldn’t take a nap after lunch, and you shouldn’t eat dinner or snack in the middle of the night because it can make you feel sleepy and fall asleep immediately.
5. Don’t move too fast
After eating, you are advised not to do strenuous exercise. If you’re just going for a walk, that’s still allowed, but not for activities that are too strenuous. Moreover, activities that require you to bend need to be avoided. Because bending can send acid into your esophagus.
6. Sleep with your head higher
Ideally, your head should be 6 to 8 inches higher than your feet. This condition can be achieved by providing “extra high” support on the part of the bed that supports your head. Dr. Wolf doesn’t recommend creating a cushion by stacking pillows because he doesn’t think it will help the condition you need.
7. Maintain an ideal body weight
A body that is overweight has the potential to spread the muscle structures that support the lower esophageal sphincter, which can reduce the pressure that holds the sphincter closed.
This condition can cause stomach acid to rise and heartburn. For this reason, if you are advised to lose weight, that is an option you can try.
8. Stop smoking
The nicotine in cigarettes can relax the lower esophageal sphincter. This, as explained above, can cause problems with the digestive process.
9. Check your medications
If you’re taking medication, try checking out some medications, including postmenopausal estrogen, tricyclic antidepressants, and anti-inflammatory painkillers that can relax the sphincter.
Then others, especially bisphosphonates such as alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), or risedronate (Actonel), which are used to increase bone density can irritate the esophagus.
These are some things you can do to reduce stomach acid besides using medication. However, if these methods do not work well or you experience a more serious condition, immediately contact a doctor to get the right treatment.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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