If you are experiencing pain or burning sensations from your chest to your neck and throat, you might be experiencing heartburn, one of the major symptoms of GERD or acid reflux.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux to some, is a mucosal damage brought about by the aberrant backward flow of the stomach acid to the esophagus. It is usually caused by a brief or permanent change in the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus. This may be due to the ineptitude of the lower esophageal sphincter, temporary lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, or a hiatal hernia.
The most common symptoms of GERD include heartburn, regurgitation, and swallowing difficulty. However, people suffering from this disease could also experience pain in swallowing, chest pain, nausea, and too much salivation. GERD also causes damage to the esophagus. When this happens, people who suffer from this disease tend to manifest chronic cough, asthma, laryngitis, sinusitis, and damaged teeth.
According to studies and medical observations, GERD may be prevented by positional therapy. People who suffer from this disease may find relief by raising the head of the bed, elevating the upper body with pillows or by sleeping in a sitting-up position. Traditionally, elevating the head is usually done with the aid of plastic or wooden bed raisers. This requires a lot of effort. Luckily, through an orthopedic pillow, one can raise the height of the head very easily.
By using a foam wedge orthopedic pillow, one can elevate the head of a person with GERD. The head should be raised with six to eight inches to prevent gastric acid reflux. Orthopedic pillows may also be used to avoid different pains and aches caused by the uncomfortable sleeping position, especially to those who endure GERD.
Doctors also suggest different actions to prevent acid reflux, one of which is a decrease in the excessive intake of meals. Eating humongous amounts of food increases acid production. Doctors, therefore, suggest that people with GERD eat moderately, especially for dinner. They should also avoid eating or drinking food that may trigger acidity like acidic fruits, juice, fatty foods, coffee, tea, chocolate, and very spicy foods.
The truth is there is no single treatment for acid reflux. However, doctors usually compel their GERD patients to undergo one of the three GERD treatments. These treatments include:
- Lifestyle Modification which consists of diet and sleeping position alterations;
- Medications which consist of different drugs approved to treat GERD like antacids, Sucralfate, and Mosapride;
- and Surgery. Surgery may come in the form of Nissen fundoplication or vagotomy.
