GERD is related to the esophagus. The esophagus is a tube connecting the mouth and the stomach. Whatever we eat or drink passes through the esophagus and enters into the stomach. While this is happening, LES muscles are relaxed to let the eatables enter into the stomach and then it closes quickly. In people with weak LES muscle, some contents of stomach get returned in the esophagus and that is called reflux. When this happens it causes heartburn.
Now a days, GERD has become very common. Some people experience the symptoms of GERD even daily. Let us see some symptoms of GERD:
Symptoms of GERD:
Heartburn:
The first symptom of GERD is heartburn. Generally, heartburn occurs after half or one hour after meals. Heartburn may get intense when lying down, exercising or bending over. The burning sensation may start from the center of the chest and gets extended right up to the neck. Heartburn can occur frequently or from time to time but it happens periodically. That means the episodes of heartburn could be more severe or frequent for few weeks or even months and then it may get reduced to less frequent or even stop for few weeks or even months. Normally, heartburn always returns and it is a life long problem.
Regurgitation:
Regurgitation means that the refluxed fluid appears in the mouth. Mostly, the people with GERD, get a little quantity of fluid back up in the esophagus and that enters into the throat and thus it may come even up to the mouth. Patients of GERD may get the acid taste in their mouth.
Nausea:
Though nausea is rare in GERD, some people experience it frequently. Severe nausea can lead to vomiting. It is not yet known why some people suffering from GERD mainly have heartburn and others mainly have nausea.
There are some more rare symptoms of GERD as follows:
- Chronic cough
- Morning hoarseness
- Chest pain
- Asthma
- Belching
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Weight loss
These are the rare but possible symptoms of GERD. If any of such symptoms are observed it is assumed to be GERD first. Once it is confirmed, there are also some treatments available to treat GERD.
Treatments of GERD:
To treat GERD your medical history is very important. After getting the physical and lab tests done; your health care provider may advice you the line of treatment. There are mainly two types of treatments: non surgical and surgical.
Non surgical treatment:
Non surgical treatment is useful in initial stages of GERD. In this you may need to change your lifestyle like dietary changes, losing weight, quitting smoking etc. With little changes in your lifestyle you can reduce the frequency of GERD symptoms.
Taking antacids could be helpful in relieving the burning sensation. Antacids have been the first line treatment for gastroesophageal reflux. These antacids not only suppress gastric contents but also release the esophageal pressure.
You can also try elevating your bed from the head side for about 6 inches to prevent heartburn. It will reduce the reflux by the effect of gravity. Quitting smoking can also minimize the symptoms of GERD. You should also refrain from using tight fitting clothes that pressurize the abdomen.
Proton pump inhibitors such as Pantoprazole (Protonix) also help in the treatment of GERD.
Surgical treatment:
Surgery is considered when medical treatment is not effective. Anti-reflux surgeries are done in two ways: laparoscopic and open. In these surgeries, the upper portion of the stomach is rebuilt to prevent reflux entering into the esophagus.
Surgery would be an extreme; you can try using Protonix as it is an effective medication in treating erosive esophagus. It helps in reducing the production of stomach acids hence you will find relief from GERD symptoms.
Protonix may not be effective in getting immediate relief from the heartburn symptoms but it is surely efficient in reducing the pressure on the esophagus. It is helpful in treating any damage caused by stomach acids to the esophagus.
