Gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD)
Do u have burning sensation in ur chest(heart burn)after eating,regurgitating sour/bitter liquid to the throat/mouth?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a common digestive condition in adults
A 🧵on GERD-causes,symptoms&dietary management👇
Do u have burning sensation in ur chest(heart burn)after eating,regurgitating sour/bitter liquid to the throat/mouth?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a common digestive condition in adults
A 🧵on GERD-causes,symptoms&dietary management👇
🔸 Introduction
GERD occurs when the sphincter muscle, a muscle ring separating the stomach from the esophagus, does not close properly.
This causes stomach acid, bile, and other contents to reflux into the esophagus and irritate its lining, causing discomfort and pain.
GERD occurs when the sphincter muscle, a muscle ring separating the stomach from the esophagus, does not close properly.
This causes stomach acid, bile, and other contents to reflux into the esophagus and irritate its lining, causing discomfort and pain.
🔸Risk factors& causes
GERD can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity.
🔹Overweight
🔹Have a family history of GERD, 🔹Hiatal hernia
🔹Pregnancy
🔹Delayed Stomach Emptying:
are at higher risk of developing GERD.
GERD can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity.
🔹Overweight
🔹Have a family history of GERD, 🔹Hiatal hernia
🔹Pregnancy
🔹Delayed Stomach Emptying:
are at higher risk of developing GERD.
🔹 Irregular sleep pattern
🔹Stress
🔹Fatty and fried foods late at night.
🔹Excessively eating acidic foods
🔹Irregular meal times and long gaps between meals.
🔹Processed foods and refined sugars
🔹Improper chewing.
🔹Smoking and alcohol
🔹Stress
🔹Fatty and fried foods late at night.
🔹Excessively eating acidic foods
🔹Irregular meal times and long gaps between meals.
🔹Processed foods and refined sugars
🔹Improper chewing.
🔹Smoking and alcohol
🔸Symptoms of GERD
GERD symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most common symptom is
🔹Heartburn,
🔹A burning sensation in the chest that can be felt after eating or lying down.
🔹Regurgitation,
🔹Difficulty swallowing,
🔹Coughing,
🔹Wheezing and hoarseness.
GERD symptoms can range from mild to severe. The most common symptom is
🔹Heartburn,
🔹A burning sensation in the chest that can be felt after eating or lying down.
🔹Regurgitation,
🔹Difficulty swallowing,
🔹Coughing,
🔹Wheezing and hoarseness.
🔹If you have night-time acid reflux, you might also experience:
🔹An ongoing cough
🔹Inflammation of the vocal cords (laryngitis)
🔹New or worsening asthma
🔹An ongoing cough
🔹Inflammation of the vocal cords (laryngitis)
🔹New or worsening asthma
🔸Several factors can exacerbate acid reflux symptoms:
🔹Smoking: Tobacco smoke can irritate the digestive system and worsen GERD symptoms.
🔹Large or Late Meals: Eating substantial meals, especially late at night, can trigger or worsen acid reflux.
🔹Smoking: Tobacco smoke can irritate the digestive system and worsen GERD symptoms.
🔹Large or Late Meals: Eating substantial meals, especially late at night, can trigger or worsen acid reflux.
🔹Certain Foods (Triggers): Foods high in fat or fried can trigger GERD symptoms.
🔹Certain Beverages: Alcohol&coffee can potentially relax the lower esophageal sphincter, which may lead to the backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus.
🔹Certain Beverages: Alcohol&coffee can potentially relax the lower esophageal sphincter, which may lead to the backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus.
🔸Diagnosis
Several tests may be used to diagnose GERD :
▪️X-ray of the upper digestive system
▪️Endoscopy
▪️Ambulatory acid (pH) test (monitors the amount of acid in the esophagus)
▪️Esophageal impedance test (measures the movement of substances in the esophagus)
Several tests may be used to diagnose GERD :
▪️X-ray of the upper digestive system
▪️Endoscopy
▪️Ambulatory acid (pH) test (monitors the amount of acid in the esophagus)
▪️Esophageal impedance test (measures the movement of substances in the esophagus)
▪️Test for H. Pylori
▪️Test for celiac and gluten sensitivity
▪️Food sensitivities
▪️Check for abnormal bugs in your gut, bacterial overgrowth, yeast overgrowth, and parasites
▪️Test for celiac and gluten sensitivity
▪️Food sensitivities
▪️Check for abnormal bugs in your gut, bacterial overgrowth, yeast overgrowth, and parasites
🔸Why Antacids r not a good solution?
Antacids provide temporary relief.Most of these antacids r almunium hydroxides,calcium carbonates/magnesium carbonates
Antacid is designed to neutralize acid&lower acid production,which eases the symptom temporarily,but worsen actual prob
Antacids provide temporary relief.Most of these antacids r almunium hydroxides,calcium carbonates/magnesium carbonates
Antacid is designed to neutralize acid&lower acid production,which eases the symptom temporarily,but worsen actual prob
🔸 Dietary & lifestyle Management
Dietary and lifestyle changes are the first step in treating GERD.
🔹Lose weight if you are overweight — of all of the lifestyle changes you can make, this one is the most effective.
Dietary and lifestyle changes are the first step in treating GERD.
🔹Lose weight if you are overweight — of all of the lifestyle changes you can make, this one is the most effective.
🔹Get rid of possible food allergens for a short period of time, like two weeks. Gluten and dairy are the most common ones
🔹TRIGGER FOODS
Some foods are known to trigger symptoms of GERD.
By keeping a food diary, you can identify ur trigger foods&change your diet to reduce discomfort. Below is a list
of some foods recognized to trigger symptoms of GERD & how they affect the digestive tract: 👇
Some foods are known to trigger symptoms of GERD.
By keeping a food diary, you can identify ur trigger foods&change your diet to reduce discomfort. Below is a list
of some foods recognized to trigger symptoms of GERD & how they affect the digestive tract: 👇
▪️Coffee and caffeinated beverages relax the lower esophageal sphincter.
▪️Citrus fruits and juices
▪️Tomatoes and processed tomato-based products such as tomato juice, and pasta and pizza sauces are highly acidic.
▪️Citrus fruits and juices
▪️Tomatoes and processed tomato-based products such as tomato juice, and pasta and pizza sauces are highly acidic.
▪️Carbonated beverages cause bloating which increases pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter causing acid reflux.
▪️ Chocolate contains a chemical called methylxanthine from the cocoa tree, which is similar to caffeine. It relaxes the
lower esophageal sphincter
▪️ Chocolate contains a chemical called methylxanthine from the cocoa tree, which is similar to caffeine. It relaxes the
lower esophageal sphincter
▪️Peppermint, garlic and onions relax the lower
esophageal sphincter causing acid reflux.
▪️Fatty, spicy or fried foods relax the lower esophageal sphincter as well as delay stomach emptying and therefore cause acid reflux.
esophageal sphincter causing acid reflux.
▪️Fatty, spicy or fried foods relax the lower esophageal sphincter as well as delay stomach emptying and therefore cause acid reflux.
▪️Try to get rid of the triggers for a few weeks, like alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine, all of which trigger reflux.
▪️Maintain a Food log: keep a note of food eaten,timing along with water intake to understand the triggers better.
▪️Maintain a Food log: keep a note of food eaten,timing along with water intake to understand the triggers better.
▪️Regular meal timings:Plan your meals better&stick to that schedule.keep fixed times so that your body&stomach remembers,they will get food at these particular times &produce acid uniformly
▪️Mindful eating:
✅take deep breaths prior to meals
✅Chew thoroughly
✅Eat without any distraction (gadgets)
✅Listen to your hunger& fullness cues
▪️Avoid processed foods -Processed foods & refined sugars inflame the stomach, affect acid activity,&trigger reflux symptoms.
✅take deep breaths prior to meals
✅Chew thoroughly
✅Eat without any distraction (gadgets)
✅Listen to your hunger& fullness cues
▪️Avoid processed foods -Processed foods & refined sugars inflame the stomach, affect acid activity,&trigger reflux symptoms.
🔸Lifestyle management
Overall lifestyle can be the only real issue that can be causing acidity
Here are few changes that you must make👇
🔹Exercise regularly: moderate& low impact exercise can be quite beneficial for acidity. Activities like walking, very light jogging, yoga
Overall lifestyle can be the only real issue that can be causing acidity
Here are few changes that you must make👇
🔹Exercise regularly: moderate& low impact exercise can be quite beneficial for acidity. Activities like walking, very light jogging, yoga
🔹Post meal relaxed walk: take a 15-20min of stroll Post meal
▪️Sit less, take a stroll every 30min/1hr for 2-3min
▪️To avoid GERD symptoms, do not exercise right after you eat.
▪️Sit less, take a stroll every 30min/1hr for 2-3min
▪️To avoid GERD symptoms, do not exercise right after you eat.
🔹Sleep:Yes, sleep and circadian rhythm are linked with your digestive function. Sleep disturbance or late night shifts can make you vulnerable to acidity.
Keep a gap of min 3hrs between the last meal and bedtime.
Keep a gap of min 3hrs between the last meal and bedtime.
🔹 Early dinner - Have dinner at least 3-4 hours before bedtime so the stomach is light before bed.
Elevate the head end of the bed by placing wooden blocks under the bedpost. Using extra pillows will not provide relief.
Elevate the head end of the bed by placing wooden blocks under the bedpost. Using extra pillows will not provide relief.
🔹Avoid alcohol - If you have GERD, any type of alcohol may worsen acid reflux or heartburn so preferably avoid alcohol
🔹Stop smoking (smoking relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter)
🔹Avoid clothing that is tight around the stomach area
🔹Stop smoking (smoking relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter)
🔹Avoid clothing that is tight around the stomach area
🔸Some simple remedies to manage GERD!
▪️Fennel seeds(saunf): chew them post meals or you can soak 1tsp of fennel seeds overnight and drink the water(if you like the seeds,you can chew them too)
▪️Black raisins(munaka): soak 4-5 overnight, eat them in the morning.
▪️Fennel seeds(saunf): chew them post meals or you can soak 1tsp of fennel seeds overnight and drink the water(if you like the seeds,you can chew them too)
▪️Black raisins(munaka): soak 4-5 overnight, eat them in the morning.
▪️Cumin seeds/powder: Cumin seeds work as a natural neutralizer and therefore can be chewed raw to alleviate GERD.
Drink cumin seed water (made by boiling one teaspoon cumin seeds in a cup of water till the quantity of water reduced to half)or consume it in the morning.
Drink cumin seed water (made by boiling one teaspoon cumin seeds in a cup of water till the quantity of water reduced to half)or consume it in the morning.
▪️Sabja seeds: they're coolant for the body&excellent to overcome acidity. Just add 1-2 tbsp to water.Let it soak for at least 15 minutes. Once it swells up, becomes transparent, drink it.
You can also add this to your water bottle and keep sipping on it all through out the day
You can also add this to your water bottle and keep sipping on it all through out the day
🔸Conclusion
A combined approach of lifestyle
changes, nutrition, exercise&stress reduction can be effective in
reducing symptoms.
I have highlighted the remedies &lifestyle changes for managing GERD.
But if the problem continuously persists,one must see a Doctor!!
A combined approach of lifestyle
changes, nutrition, exercise&stress reduction can be effective in
reducing symptoms.
I have highlighted the remedies &lifestyle changes for managing GERD.
But if the problem continuously persists,one must see a Doctor!!
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