Updated on June 27, 2024.
Sometimes the signs of acid reflux are unmistakeable, from searing heartburn to sour-tasting acid bubbling up in your throat. But sometimes the signs are vague, like hoarseness or a cough. If you experience any of these regularly (at least twice a week) talk to your healthcare provider (HCP). You could be among the millions of Americans with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD is marked by chronic, frequent acid reflux. Reflux is when digestive juices from the stomach back up into the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. Left untreated, GERD can damage your esophagus and potentially lead to cancer.
Fortunately, these seven strategies can help you manage GERD.
Say no to bubbles
“The first thing I recommend is that people with GERD look at their diets,” says Linda Lee, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine & Digestive Center in Maryland. “It helps to reduce carbonation, including seltzer water and sodas. Those bubbles can carry up acid from the stomach.”
Cut the fat
A low-fat diet can minimize acid reflux. “Foods rich in fat will slow down your stomach-emptying and make more stomach acid," Dr. Lee explains. That's because these foods take longer to digest.
Reduce caffeine
Caffeine can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, a valve designed to keep stomach contents, including gastric acid, out of the esophagus.
“I tell patients they can have a cup of coffee a day if it’s truly just one cup, but not that gigantic cup from Starbucks,” Lee says.
Slim down
“For long-term management, I recommend weight loss because it’s an independent factor for more frequent and more severe reflux,” Lee says. In fact, a study in the journal Obesity found that a structured weight-loss program led to complete relief of GERD symptoms in the majority of overweight and obese participants.
Take the right meds
Antacids are great for occasional heartburn, providing short-term relief by neutralizing stomach acid. But for GERD, the first-line treatment is usually a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). This type of drug decreases the amount of acid in your stomach. PPIs include over-the-counter lansoprazole (Prevacid) and prescription pantoprazole (Protonix). Another type of acid-lowering medication for GERD is an H2 blocker.
Send cigarettes packing
Some evidence suggests that quitting smoking can improve acid reflux, especially when medications aren’t enough. A study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that quitting smoking was associated with significant relief from heartburn and acid regurgitation among normal-weight participants who took anti-reflux drugs at least weekly.
Consider surgery
Fundoplication treats GERD by looping a portion of the top of the stomach around the lower end of the esophagus. This effectively creates a new sphincter, or valve. It works well but it’s not for everyone. HCPs usually recommend it for those with severe GERD symptoms who do not find sufficient relief from medication and lifestyle changes.
