August - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Awareness Month

August is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Awareness Month.  Gerd is the medical term for heartburn (indigestion), which is caused by stomach acids backing up into the lower esophagus, the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach.  The acids produce a burning sensation and discomfort between the ribs, just below the breastbone.  Another symptom is sour or bitter fluid backing up into the throat or mouth. Heartburn can occur after overeating and sometimes in reaction to medication. Don’t be concerned if you experience heartburn now and then; nearly everyone does (25% of pregnant women have it every day). However, months of heartburn can injure the esophageal lining. Most cases of heartburn can be prevented by following home treatment tips.

Home Treatments

• Eat smaller meals and avoid late-night snacks.
• Avoid foods that bring on heartburn. Alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, orange and tomato juices, peppermint and spearmint flavored foods, fatty or fried foods and carbonated drinks may make heartburn worse.
• Avoid alcohol, which irritates your stomach and esophagus and make your symptoms worse.
• Stop smoking. This is especially important because smoking promotes heartburn. Quitting will often relieve heartburn completely.
• If you are overweight, even a few pounds being overweight can worsen heartburn, try to lose weight.
• Avoid tight-fitting clothes, such as tight belts and waistbands.
• Raise the head of your bed six inches by placing telephone books under the mattress or legs of the bed frame.
• Don't lie down too soon after eating. Try to stay upright for at least two to three hours after each meal. Avoid large meals and snacks before bedtime.
• Try acetaminophen rather than aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or other anti-inflammatory drugs, which may cause heartburn.
• Take over-the-counter products for heartburn. Antacids, such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums and Gelusil, neutralize stomach acid. Acid controllers, such as Pepcid AC and Tagamet HB, reduce the production of stomach acid. Ask your pharmacist for advice on choosing one of these medications and follow the package instructions and your doctor's advice for their use.

When to Call a Health Professional

• If heartburn persists for one to two weeks despite home treatment. Call sooner if symptoms are severe or are not relieved at all by antacids or acid controllers.
• If stools are deep red, black or tarry. Small amounts of bright red blood on stool or toilet paper are probably due to a scratch in the anal area.
• If you suspect that a prescribed medication is causing heartburn. Antihistamines, valium, birth control pills, and anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, can sometimes case heartburn.
• If symptoms are not improved after one or two weeks of home treatment. Your doctor can evaluate your symptoms and prescribe a treatment plan that may include antacids or other medications.