Fifteen approaches to easing GERD symptoms at home: dietary adjustments, herbal solutions, proper posture, and additional strategies
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition that affects many people. If you're one of them, there are several options to help manage your symptoms.
Antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medication options for GERD, with PPIs recommended for long-term treatment. However, there are also natural, low-risk remedies that can provide relief.
Breathing exercises, such as belly breathing, have been found to reduce symptoms of GERD and improve quality of life. Pressure on the belly can worsen reflux, so avoiding tight clothing and certain exercises can help prevent this.
Beyond avoiding food triggers, eating smaller meals, and having dinner early, other home remedies to manage GERD symptoms include:
- Consuming aloe vera juice before meals, which has anti-inflammatory properties that may soothe the esophagus. Use purified aloe vera juice free of aloin, as aloin can act as a laxative.
- Taking deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which may help increase mucus production to protect the stomach lining and esophagus from acid.
- Eating half a banana after dinner or chewing soaked black raisins; bananas help neutralize acidity and alleviate heartburn.
- Drinking a glass of cold milk can quickly neutralize excess stomach acid and reduce burning sensations.
- Using baking soda (half a teaspoon mixed in half a cup of water) can provide rapid relief by neutralizing stomach acid.
- Incorporating turmeric into your diet for its anti-inflammatory effects that soothe digestive irritation.
- Chewing gum (avoiding peppermint or spearmint flavors) may help increase saliva production, which can reduce acid in the esophagus.
- Sleeping on your left side helps keep stomach acid below the esophagus, reducing reflux risk, whereas sleeping on the right side can worsen symptoms.
- Raising the head of your bed by approximately 8 inches can reduce nighttime reflux.
- Maintaining a moderate weight, avoiding alcohol and smoking, eating slowly, remaining upright for at least 2 hours after eating, and wearing loose clothing are beneficial lifestyle strategies.
- Avoid lying down immediately after eating and refrain from eating for at least 3 hours before bedtime to minimize reflux episodes.
These remedies complement dietary adjustments and can provide natural, low-risk symptom relief. However, persistent or severe symptoms warrant consultation with a healthcare provider.
In some cases, surgery may be necessary. Fundoplication is the most common surgical treatment for GERD, involving sewing the top of the stomach to the end of the esophagus to increase pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter. For a small number of cases, endoscopy may be an option, involving a doctor inserting a tube with an attached camera down a person's esophagus and delivering a treatment.
Bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass surgery, may be recommended for people with GERD who have obesity. Individuals taking ginger supplements should discontinue them before having a surgical procedure.
Certain factors can increase a person's likelihood of developing GERD, including being pregnant, having overweight or obesity, smoking, experiencing exposure to secondhand smoke, having a hiatal hernia, and taking certain medications. Ginger is not recommended for people with bleeding disorders due to its potent blood-thinning properties.
Without treatment, GERD can lead to complications such as esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal cancer, esophageal stricture, chronic cough, asthma, inflammation of the voice box, hoarseness, tooth decay, and complications in other parts of the body.
Remember, while these home remedies can help manage your GERD symptoms, it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider if your symptoms persist or worsen.
- Acid reflux can be managed with various options, including antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
- The recommended long-term treatment for GERD is proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
- Breathing exercises, like belly breathing, can help reduce symptoms of GERD and improve quality of life.
- Pressure on the belly can worsen reflux, so avoiding tight clothing and certain exercises can prevent this.
- To manage GERD symptoms at home, consider consuming aloe vera juice or taking deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL).
- Bananas can help neutralize acidity and alleviate heartburn, so trying half a banana after dinner may help.
- Drinking a glass of cold milk can quickly neutralize excess stomach acid and reduce burning sensations.
- Using baking soda (half a teaspoon mixed in half a cup of water) can provide rapid relief by neutralizing stomach acid.
- Incorporating turmeric into your diet can soothe digestive irritation due to its anti-inflammatory effects.
- Chewing gum may help increase saliva production and reduce acid in the esophagus.
- Sleeping on your left side reduces reflux risk, while sleeping on the right side can worsen symptoms.
- Raising the head of your bed by approximately 8 inches can reduce nighttime reflux.
- Maintaining a moderate weight, avoiding alcohol and smoking, eating slowly, and wearing loose clothing are beneficial for managing GERD symptoms.
- Avoid lying down immediately after eating and refrain from having a meal for at least 3 hours before bedtime to minimize reflux episodes.
- Fundoplication, the most common surgical treatment for GERD, involves sewing the top of the stomach to the end of the esophagus.
- In some cases, endoscopy may be an option for treating GERD, with a doctor inserting a camera down the esophagus and delivering a treatment.
- Individuals taking ginger supplements should discontinue them before surgery, such as gastric bypass surgery.
- Factors increasing the likelihood of developing GERD include pregnancy, obesity, smoking, hiatal hernia, and certain medications.
- Ginger is not recommended for people with bleeding disorders due to its potent blood-thinning properties.
- Without proper treatment, complications like esophagitis, cancer, and esophageal stricture can occur.
- Remember, while home remedies help manage symptoms, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare provider if symptoms persist or worsen.
- Persistent or severe GERD symptoms necessitate consultation with a healthcare provider.
- Bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass surgery, may be recommended for people with GERD who have obesity.
- Other chronic medical conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and COPD can exacerbate GERD symptoms.
- Achieving optimal health and wellness involves understanding and managing conditions such as digestive health, eye health, hearing health, mental health, skin care, nutrition, weight management, and cardiovascular health.
