It’s Time to Get a Handle on Acid Reflux

Have you ever eaten a spicy dish and noticed that you had a burning sensation soon after in your chest? It’s a scary feeling, but it most often happens because of an increase in stomach acid.

Acid reflux affects many people, but it’s not just an inconvenience; chronic reflux leads to serious health issues. Seeking treatment for chronic acid reflux is necessary to relieve symptoms and prevent serious complications.

At Texas Digestive Disease Consultants, Dr. Ilyas Memon provides an expert evaluation and various treatments for acid reflux. Dr. Memon is a board-certified gastroenterologist who offers medications and other lifestyle tips to keep acid away.

Causes of acid reflux

Acid reflux is common when your stomach contents back up into the esophagus or throat, causing discomfort from the acid that mixes with food in the stomach.

Occasional acid reflux after eating a large meal or an especially spicy dish is relatively common. Still, you should only feel it occasionally. Chronic acid reflux is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

Acid reflux happens when acid sneaks past the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. The valve prevents stomach contents from returning to the esophagus, but sometimes, it relaxes too much, leading to chronic reflux.

Many things cause GERD, including the following:

• Smoking
• Obesity
• Hernia
• Pregnancy
• Medications

Symptoms of acid reflux often include burning in the chest, nausea, and a sore throat from the constant backwash of acid. Symptoms may be severe or mild and usually worsen with a large meal or an incredibly spicy dish.

When to see a doctor for reflux

If you notice a burning sensation in your chest or abdomen shortly after eating, and it happens several times a week, it's a good idea to seek help for acid reflux. Although it may seem like a simple inconvenience, GERD can lead to severe complications without treatment.

A bout or two of acid reflux after eating spicy wings or an especially acidic dinner isn’t surprising; keep an eye on it and try over-the-counter antacids. But if you notice that once or twice turns into every other day, it’s crucial to seek treatment from our team.

Lifestyle changes that help

The excellent news about acid reflux is that it can usually be controlled with simple lifestyle changes and over-the-counter antacids. Certain things worsen acid reflux; finding your specific triggers is the first step in cutting back on acid.

Our team also recommends other lifestyle changes that help manage your symptoms, and they include:

Cut back on alcohol and tobacco

Alcohol and smoking both contribute to worsening acid reflux. Smoking relaxes your lower esophageal sphincter, which causes acid to back up into the esophagus. Alcohol increases acid in the stomach, also worsening the condition.

Eat smaller meals

Eating a large meal expands the stomach and increases stomach acid production. Smaller meals digest much faster and require less acid, reducing acid reflux symptoms.

Lose weight if necessary

Excess weight, especially around the abdomen, puts pressure on the stomach and its contents, causing reflux. Losing weight and wearing loose clothing helps reduce pressure on the abdomen, reducing symptoms.

Eat an earlier dinner

Eating a large dinner late at night and then lying in bed is a surefire way to worsen acid reflux. Plan on eating dinner several hours before bed and sit up straight for at least an hour after eating to prevent acid from creeping up.

Try over-the-counter antacids

Over-the-counter antacids are a good idea, especially when you have frequent reflux. Although they don't fix the problem, they work to reduce acid in the stomach to prevent painful symptoms.

Successful treatments for acid reflux

Sometimes, lifestyle changes and home treatments aren’t enough to manage GERD and acid reflux. If you can't get a handle on reflux alone, it's crucial to seek treatment to avoid unnecessary complications.

Our team evaluates your symptoms and discusses your diet to determine the best treatment route. We aim to treat reflux without surgery, but in some cases, it’s necessary. Medications to control the acid in your stomach are often successful and include:

• Antacids
• Alginates
• Histamine receptor antagonists
• Baclofen
• Proton pump inhibitors

Medications are often very successful for most people, but sometimes they are not enough. Severe cases of GERD may require minor surgical procedures to prevent serious complications from chronic reflux.

A Nissen fundoplication is a prevalent and successful procedure for severe GERD. It’s often a laparoscopic procedure where a surgeon wraps the upper part of the stomach around the bottom portion of the esophagus to prevent reflux.

Surgery is the last resort because of the risks and need for anesthesia — but sometimes it’s necessary to keep reflux at bay.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Memon for acid reflux, call one of our conveniently located offices in Texas or request a consultation using our online booking feature.