Did you know that GERD is the most common gastrointestinal disorder worldwide? In Western culture, it has a prevalence of 20% of adults. In Asian communities, it was found that it has a prevalence of less than 10%.

As you can see, gastroesophageal reflux disease is quite common. But don’t fret because you have ways to prevent it! This page discusses it, so keep reading to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid acid refluxes.

What Is GERD?

GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. This condition happens when the body’s stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the tube that connects your stomach (esophagus) and mouth. The acid reflux or the backwash can irritate your esophagus lining.

Many experience GERD in their lifetime. About 1 in 5 United States citizens suffers from this condition. Don’t worry because it isn’t permanent – you must take your medicine as your physician prescribes. The most common medicine to treat those with GERD is Prilosec, and if you want discounts, look for Prilosec Promotions and coupons to lessen your medical costs.

While GERD is highly treatable, if you leave it untreated, it can be a lifelong disease. It’s recommended that you consult your healthcare provider immediately if you experience the following symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Symptoms of GERD

The following are the common symptoms and signs of GERD:

• Dysphagia or trouble swallowing 
• Heartburn or a burning sensation in your chest (after eating, at night, or when lying down)
• Upper abdominal pain
• Backwash or regurgitation of sour liquid or food

Do you experience acid reflux at night, then you may already experience the following:

• Sudden asthma or worsening asthma
• An ongoing cough
• Laryngitis or inflammation of your vocal cords

Remember that you should never self-diagnose. Use this page as a guide to help confirm and make your suspicions stronger. If you have symptoms above and are troubled, it would be best to visit a physician for a proper health examination and diagnosis.

It’s imperative if you’ve been experiencing chest pain, any pain in your arm or jaw, and shortness of breath. These may be signs of a heart attack, where GERD patients are more susceptible to heart diseases.

How Can I Prevent GERD?

Save your esophageal living from damage and a list of diseases by preventing GERD from occurring. The following lifestyle changes may be complex for some people, but it’s a must to prevent stomach acid reflux.

Control Your Weight

The most significant factor associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease is obesity. Did you know that if you’re overweight, you’ll be three times more likely to develop acid reflux than those with an average weight? It’s because the stomach fat pressures your stomach and pushes the gastric juices into your esophagus. Additionally, your GERD symptoms may be extra uncomfortable when you’re overweight.

Avoid Trigger Foods

You should first avoid your trigger foods when you’re at risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease. You may love the following foods, but your health is more important than your cravings. Avoid these foods and find alternatives for them so that it won’t put your health at risk.

• Mint
• Chocolate
• Onions
• Fatty foods
• Acidic foods, e.g., citrus and tomatoes
• Carbonated beverages
• Coffee (and any caffeinated beverages)
• Spicy foods
• Peppermint
• Garlic
• Fried foods

Don’t Fill Up on Large Meals

Eating large meals can affect your acid reflux. It’s because large meals would expand your stomach, and this can increase the LES’ upward pressure. When your LES or lower esophageal sphincter is pressured, it can increase the chances of GERD and reflux.

Don’t Lie Down Immediately After Eating

There’s a reason why our parents and other healthcare professionals advise people not to lie down immediately after eating. Doing this can increase the chances of acid reflux since you’re putting pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter and stomach.

Consider staying upright to ensure that gravity’s doing its work. It can ensure that the stomach’s contents won’t back up, encouraging the food to flow into the intestines. Wait for two to three hours after your meal. After a meal, consider catching up with your family or sitting in your seat for a while. It’s also a good idea to walk after meals so that you won’t find the need to eat bedtime snacks too.

Try Elevating Your Bed

Find ways to elevate the head of your bed since raising it just six to eight inches can ensure that gravity keeps the gastric acid down in your stomach. An elevated bed is also great for back pain, especially for people with lower back problems. It helps take the pressure off whenever they sleep. You can enjoy both advantages while saying goodbye to nighttime acid reflux.

Just be sure you don’t use extra pillows to elevate your bet since it would only raise your head, not the entire upper body. It sadly won’t help with GERD.

Final Thoughts

When people get a disease, they first worry about whether it’s permanent. They worry whether or not they can treat it. Naturally, our body is our only way of living a fruitful life; it’s only natural that we take proper means to care for it. As such, this page covers the things you can do to prevent acid reflux from occurring (again).