In , 4. GERD is a result of a weak lower esophageal sphincter. That weakness allows the contents of your stomach to flow back up into your esophagus.
Certain foods and beverages can trigger GERD. Some of the more common food triggers include:. If you take medication and have symptoms of GERD, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss switching or stopping the medication with you. The most common symptoms of GERD are acid indigestion and heartburn. You may frequently burp and feel bloated. Acid in your esophagus can make it spasm. That causes pain and a feeling of tightness in the chest. Some cases of heartburn may be a sign of a more serious condition.
See your doctor if your heartburn:. In most cases, doctors diagnose acid reflux by reviewing symptoms and medical history. You may be able to ease your symptoms by making a few simple changes :. The most common surgical treatment options include:. For most people, GERD is a manageable condition.
If left untreated, though, GERD can lead to serious complications. Scar tissue can cause the esophagus to become too narrow esophageal stricture. This can make swallowing difficult and painful.
Stomach acid entering into your lungs can cause serious harm. Lung damage can make you more likely to have chest congestion and wheezing. This puts you at increased risk for recurrent pneumonia or asthma. These symptoms most often include. Indigestion is not a disease. However, indigestion may be a sign of certain digestive tract diseases or conditions. Indigestion is not always related to eating. Sometimes digestive tract diseases such as peptic ulcer disease , gastritis , and stomach cancer cause chronic indigestion.
However, most often doctors do not know what causes chronic indigestion. After discussing your symptoms and medical history with you, your provider can usually diagnose heartburn easily. If you have heartburn, your provider may prescribe over-the-counter antacids, which may come in a chewable tablet.
They might also recommend prescription drugs such as H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors, which reduce how much acid your stomach makes. Providers may also recommend lifestyle changes, like losing weight and quitting smoking, which can increase stomach acid production.
Other changes often include reducing stress, exercising more, avoiding food around bedtime, raising the head of the bed about 6 inches, and eating more high-protein, low-fat meals. Your provider may request more testing if lifestyle changes and medication did not help.
These tests include a pH test to check for acid in your esophagus or an endoscopy. This test uses a small tube with a camera and light to see inside of your digestive tract and spot any issues. For nearly 20 years, Laurie Hayes struggled with losing her voice. The preschool teacher, who once sang in local bands, never You feel something rising in your throat.
It burns and tastes acidic. Now you feel it behind your breastbone. Despite what it's called, heartburn—or that burning feeling in your chest—has nothing to do with your heart. Here are Who gets it?
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