Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAcid Reflux DefinedTreatmentSevere SymptomsTreating Severe CasesAcid Reflux–Friendly Meals

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Acid Reflux Defined

Treatment

Severe Symptoms

Treating Severe Cases

Acid Reflux–Friendly Meals

Treatment for acid reflux might include medication and lifestyle changes. This article includes information about acid reflux, including how it relates to chronic conditions, lifestyle changes that may prevent symptoms, and food choices that may help.

Acid Reflux

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid refluxis when stomach contents and acids go back up the esophagus. It might also be calledgastroesophageal reflux (GER). It’s common for people to experience symptoms of GER every so often.

This can happen because something is causing the valve (lower esophageal sphincter) at the bottom of theesophagusto relax. This valve should only open one way: to let food and liquids go down. But when it becomes relaxed, stomach contents may go back up.

If acid reflux, or GER, occurs more than a few times a week, it may be chronic (a condition that lasts a long time). Chronic acid reflux may be a condition calledgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Some of the symptoms of GERD include:

GERD is common, and it can happen to anyone. However, some of the risk factors for GERD include:

How to Treat Acid Reflux for Symptom Relief

Acid reflux is common. Fortunately, there are several things that can be used at home to try to stop the symptoms. Many of them can be done at home.

When to Seek HelpAcid reflux may happen every so often, such as after a big meal. However, if the symptoms go on too long or are happening more than a few times a week, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. The treatments for chronic acid reflux (which may be GERD) will be different. GERD can lead to complications, making treatment and prevention necessary.

When to Seek Help

Acid reflux may happen every so often, such as after a big meal. However, if the symptoms go on too long or are happening more than a few times a week, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. The treatments for chronic acid reflux (which may be GERD) will be different. GERD can lead to complications, making treatment and prevention necessary.

Avoid Food Triggers

Certain types of foods might bring on symptoms. Every person is different, so it may take some trial and error to figure out which ones are the problem.

It might be possible to eat certain trigger foods in smaller amounts or singly without it resulting in acid reflux. Some foods could be a problem when eaten closer to bedtime, so avoiding them later in the day may be helpful.

Foods that may affect the lower esophageal sphincterand lead to reflux include:

Take OTC Medications

Many over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can help with acid reflux. They work in different ways, so it may be necessary to use trial and error and to work with a healthcare provider to find the right one.

Be Careful of Overreliance on OTC DrugsIf you find yourself reaching for an OTC drug more than a few times a week for heartburn, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. It may be time to make some changes to diet and lifestyle, or try a different type of drug or combination of drugs, to get the problem under control.

Be Careful of Overreliance on OTC Drugs

If you find yourself reaching for an OTC drug more than a few times a week for heartburn, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. It may be time to make some changes to diet and lifestyle, or try a different type of drug or combination of drugs, to get the problem under control.

The types of OTC medications available include:

Review Your Medications

In some cases, acid reflux may be related to medications. If this is the case, it may be possible to adjust the dosage or switch to a different class of drugs to avoid the problem. Talk to a healthcare provider about how to manage this side effect if it happens.

The medications that may cause the esophageal sphincter to relax, leading to reflux can includeestrogen, tricyclic antidepressants, andnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), such as Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen sodium).

Other medications may actually cause irritation to the esophagus. This is also personalized, but some of the drugs that are known to cause this problem includebisphosphonatesFosamax (alendronate), ibandronate, and Actonel (risedronate).These are used to treat osteoporosis.

Elevate the Bed

Raising the head of a bed or sleeping surface may help with symptoms of acid reflux. It may help to use gravity to advantage. When laying on an incline, the acid may not be able to come up from the stomach as easily as it can when lying flat.

Health Benefits of Sleeping With a Wedge Pillow

Make Lifestyle Changes

Making some changes in everyday activities can also help in reducing the chance of having reflux, or in calming symptoms if it does happen.

Here are some things to try:

Is Eating Before Bed Bad For You?

Severe Acid Reflux Symptoms

Some acid reflux symptoms are considered severe. Having any of these symptoms might mean that the condition has worsened.

Seek medical care if any of the following occur:

It’s also possible for GERD to cause complications. When the signs go untreated, over time, they can lead to problems both inside and outside of the esophagus.

Some of the potential complications include:

Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

What Is the Treatment for Severe Acid Reflux?

When acid reflux is severe, the first step might be to try a PPI medication to see if that helps. If not, it may be time to do some testing to make sure that there isn’t another condition, such as an ulcer oreosinophilic esophagitis, causing the symptoms. If not, PPI therapy might be used intermittently (on and off).

Your healthcare provider may recommendendoscopy. A flexible tube with a light and a camera on the end is inserted into the esophagus to see what is happening inside it.

Reflux monitoring is another possible test, which is done to see how much acid is in the esophagus over a 24-hour period. A healthcare provider may also order other tests, as needed, for the symptoms.

For treatment, all the lifestyle interventions mentioned previously might be recommended first, along with a PPI. When esophagitis is a problem, surgery may be recommended. Sucralfate might be recommended for pregnant people with reflux.

Hiatal Hernia Surgery: Long-Term Care

It may seem as though eating for acid reflux needs to be boring or restrictive. However, there are many types of ingredients that can be used to make meals that won’t lead to symptoms.

Consider adding more of these foods to the diet:

Food groups that may not trigger symptoms include:

Dining Out Choices for People With Heartburn

Keeping afood and symptom diarycan help. Knowing how one reacts to certain foods can help in ruling them in or out.

Summary

Acid reflux is common but it shouldn’t happen to anyone more than a few times a week. Lifestyle changes such as altering the diet and stopping smoking may help. Over-the-counter medications may also help.

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract.2021;22:24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for GER & GERD.Katz PO, Dunbar KB, Schnoll-Sussman FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ.ACG clinical guideline for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Am J Gastroenterol.2022;117:27-56. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001538.Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract.2021;22:24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for GER & GERD.Katz PO, Dunbar KB, Schnoll-Sussman FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ.ACG clinical guideline for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Am J Gastroenterol.2022;117:27-56. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001538.Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract.2021;22:24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for GER & GERD.Katz PO, Dunbar KB, Schnoll-Sussman FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ.ACG clinical guideline for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Am J Gastroenterol.2022;117:27-56. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001538.Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).

Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.

Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.

Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract.2021;22:24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for GER & GERD.

Katz PO, Dunbar KB, Schnoll-Sussman FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ.ACG clinical guideline for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Am J Gastroenterol.2022;117:27-56. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001538.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).

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