Information on GERD

Home Treatment for GERD

Gastroesophagial reflux disease commonly referred as GERD is a condition when the acidic stomach contents regurgitate back in to the esophagus which can cause inflammation and heart burn. As the food travels from the esophagus in no time it is not blessed with a protective layer which can tolerate acidic contents, as a result when these contents regurgitate back to the esophagus which contain acids and pepsin which are produced by the stomach damage and inflame the lining of the esophagus leading to esophagitis. Keep the following points in mind to minimize regurgitation of acid and GERD:

• Eat small meals at frequent intervals, instead of 2-3 large ones prefer eating 5-6 times a day.
  
  
  Let your dinner be very light, your lunch can be little heavy (but not if you have a sedentary lifestyle). Properly chew each morsel before gulping it down, as this would not only help in digestion but also give time to your brain to send satiety signals to stomach.
  
• Never lie down or bend too much immediately after a meal. Make yourself busy in household chores or reading or writing.
• Have a time gap of at least 2-3 hours between your meals and sleeping time and while sleeping, sleep with your neck and shoulders on an incline.
  
• Avoid smoking, alcohol, tobacco, foods which are known to cause reflux like too spicy foods, oily or fried foods, red pepper, meat, pickles, cakes and pastries with heavy dressings, sour foods, strong tea, coffee and carbonated beverages.