Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease,Symptoms and Prevention

Today, I will write about one of the diseases of our age. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Generally, people call it Reflux because it is the easiest way to say that. Also the other names for this disease are Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD), Gastric Reflux Disease, or Acid Reflux Disease.

The valve of the stomach is the barrier between our stomach and esophagus. It holds the top of the stomach closed and helps to stomach to keep the food inside for the digestion with the hydrochloric acid.

If the valve of the stomach cannot work properly and the food and the stomach acid comes through to the esophagus, and it happens too often, it means that you have the disease reflux.

Symptoms:

1. Heartburn

2.Regurgitation (Burping)

3.Trouble swallowing (Dysphagia)

4.Nausea

5.Chest Pain

6. Coughing

If you have these symptoms and they are too often, please go and see your doctor. You may have the disease reflux.

Prevention:

1. Sleep on the left side, or with your upper body raised.

2. Don’t drink alcohol or fizzy drinks like coke. Especially when you are hungry and haven’t eaten anything.

3. Lose weight

4. Eat smaller meals.

5. Don’t eat anything before 3 hours when you go to bed. If you are too hungry prefer the foods which are easy to digest.

Images: Google Images

Source: Mayo-Clinic Encyclopedia