Acid Reflux: A Disease Anyone Can Have
Nowadays, acid reflux has become a disease that we are all familiar with, whether in families or offices. This disease is often heard of because many people face this condition. It can be said that it is a disease caused by lifestyle.
Acid Reflux (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: GERD) occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. This happens because the lower esophageal sphincter, which separates the esophagus and stomach, relaxes, allowing fluids or acid to overflow from the stomach into the esophagus.
Symptoms of Acid Reflux include
- Burning sensation in the middle of the chest
- Sour or bitter belching in the mouth and throat, or feeling of fluid reflux into the esophagus
Sometimes acid reflux may not have the specific symptoms mentioned above but may present with non-specific symptoms such as
- Chest pain
- Tooth decay, bad breath
- Hoarseness
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic cough without a clear cause
Common symptoms are as follows
- Feeling like there is a lump in the throat
- Constant throat irritation
- Chronic cough
- Feeling a sour acid taste in the mouth
Diagnosis
The doctor will take a history and perform a physical examination. Taking a history is important to understand the patient’s lifestyle and detailed information. In cases with clear symptoms and no other abnormalities, the doctor can immediately diagnose the disease. However, if symptoms are unclear, further tests are needed to confirm the disease and identify other abnormalities.
Additional diagnostic tests such as endoscopy are usually performed after about 4 weeks of medication without improvement or if there are indications of other diseases.
Treatment of Acid Reflux can be done in several ways
1. Lifestyle modification is very important because acid reflux symptoms can improve by adjusting certain daily lifestyle habits as follows
- Avoid certain foods such as tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, fried foods, high-fat foods, spicy foods, sour fruits, chocolate, etc.
- Have dinner at least 3 hours before going to bed
- Eat appropriate portion sizes
- Quit smoking and avoid alcoholic beverages
- Sleep on the left side
- Elevate the head about 6 inches while sleeping
- Avoid stress
2. Medication Medication is an effective treatment for most patients, such as
- Antacids to reduce stomach acid
- Medications that coat the stomach lining
3. Surgery is considered on a case-by-case basis. Surgery is an option for patients whose symptoms do not improve with medication, have contraindications to medication, or frequently relapse after stopping medication.
Acid reflux is not a life-threatening disease but affects quality of life. Many people neglect to see a doctor early. If left untreated, complications may occur, and the opportunity to treat by lifestyle modification is lost, making treatment more difficult and causing suffering from symptoms. Therefore, if abnormalities are found, it is important to consult a doctor promptly.
Dr. Sirinthip Sridemma
Head of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Liver Disease Center
Phyathai 3 Hospital
