Occasional Gerd
- Signs & Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Resources & Support
Baking soda can provide immediate relief from occasional acid reflux or heartburn. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, could be an inexpensive, safe way to treat many ailments.
- Causes and symptoms of GERD Occasional acid reflux is common and can be the result of eating certain foods, lying down too soon after eating or eating too much. Recurrent acid reflux caused by GERD has other causes and complications. GERD can affect all ages, sometimes for unknown reasons.
- While nearly half of American adults have occasional heartburn, only about one in five develops persistent heartburn, regurgitation or other symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Still, GERD is the most common upper gastrointestinal disease in the Western world, according to a 2012 review in the “World Journal of.
Heartburn, also known as acid indigestion, is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or acid reflux. You may experience GERD when acid contents in your stomach back up into your esophagus. This occurs when a muscle at the end of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), fails to operate properly. The LES opens when swallowing to allow the passage of food to the stomach and then closes to prevent food juices from returning, or refluxing, back into the esophagus.
The cause of heartburn is unknown, but certain factors may contribute to the condition. They include:
- Specific foods such as garlic, spicy foods and fried foods
- Smoking
- Caffeine
- Pregnancy
- Being overweight
- Alcohol
- Certain medications, such as nitrates and some muscle relaxants
A condition known as hiatal hernia also may contribute to heartburn. A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach is above the diaphragm, the muscle wall that separates the stomach from the chest. The diaphragm helps the LES keep acid from coming up into the esophagus. When a hiatal hernia is present, it is easier for the acid to come up.
Occasional heartburn doesn't mean you have GERD. Ten percent of the population experiences heartburn and other symptoms of GERD at least once a week. But heartburn that occurs more than twice a week may be considered GERD, which can lead to more serious health problems such as inflammation of the esophagus or Barrett's esophagus and lung problems.
Our Approach to Heartburn
Medications and changes to diet and lifestyle can often relieve heartburn symptoms. If these options fail, however, a surgery called fundoplication can provide a cure. UCSF gastrointestinal surgeons usually perform this as a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure, inserting tiny instruments and a miniature camera through several small incisions.
UCSF surgeons helped pioneer laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, and they perform many of these procedures each year. Compared with traditional open surgery, minimally invasive surgery has significant benefits for patients, including a faster recovery, lower risk of infection, and less pain and scarring.
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UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.
- Heartburn and GERD
What is heartburn?
Most people describe heartburn as a burning sensation in the center of the chest behind the breast bone. It may radiate upward toward the throat. Heartburn is usually caused by acid reflux in the esophagus.
The lining of the esophagus is much more sensitive to acid than the stomach, which is why the burning sensation is felt. In people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), persistent heartburn can be painful, can disrupt daily activities, and can awaken a person at night.
Is heartburn dangerous?
Heartburn is a symptom. It is very common; it is estimated that over 44% of adult Americans have heartburn at least once a month. Nevertheless, if heartburn occurs on a regular basis, the acid that causes heartburn has the potential to injure the lining of the esophagus. It can cause ulceration, which may cause discomfort or even bleeding.
Stricture (narrowing of the esophagus caused by acid, which leads to scar formation) can also result from chronic and frequent acidic reflux. People with stricture have difficulty swallowing food.
Severity, frequency, or intensity of symptoms cannot distinguish between patients with or without erosive GERD. However, heartburn that occurs
- more frequently than once a week,
- becomes more severe, or
- occurs at night and wakes a person from sleep,
may be a sign of a more serious condition and consultation with a physician is advised.
Atypical symptoms such as hoarseness, wheezing, chronic cough or non-cardiac chest pain may also need to be evaluated by a physician for GERD as a cause. Even occasional heartburn – if it has occurred for a period of five years or more, or is associated with dysphagia – may signal an association with a more serious condition.
People with longstanding chronic heartburn are at a greater risk for complications including stricture or a potentially pre-cancerous disease that involves a cellular change in the esophagus called Barrett’s esophagus.
When are over-the-counter preparations appropriate to treat heartburn?
Multiple preparations are available without a prescription to treat occasional heartburn. These include:
- antacids, which neutralize acid (e.g., sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide);
- alginic acids (e.g., Gaviscon, Foamicon), which form a foam barrier to reflux; and
- low-dose H2 blockers (e.g., Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac, Axid), which reduce acid production – and are available in higher doses by prescription to treat GERD.
These medications are useful to relieve intermittent heartburn, particularly if brought on occasionally by foods or various activities.
Occasional Gerd
Antacids and alginic acids give the most rapid relief. The H2 blockers give more sustained relief and are most useful if taken prior to an activity known to bring on heartburn, like eating spicy foods.
Prilosec OTC, Zegerid OTC, and Prevacid 24HR are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) now available over-the-counter. These are far more powerful than the other medications mentioned above. They are recommended to be taken daily for 14 days. They are not intended to be taken on an as needed basis. If the symptoms are not improved or if they recur after stopping the PPI, one should see a doctor.
Causes For Heartburn Daily
Over-the-counter preparations provide only temporary symptom relief. They do not prevent recurrence of symptoms or allow an injured esophagus to heal. They should not be taken regularly as a substitute for prescription medicines – they may be hiding a more serious condition. If needed regularly, for more than two weeks, consult a physician for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Heartburn Causes And Remedies
Adapted from IFFGD Publication: GERD Questions and Answers. Revised 2010 by Ronnie Fass, MD, Chair, Division of GI and Hepatology, Metro Health Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. Original Contributors: Joel E. Richter, MD, Philip O. Katz, MD, and J. Patrick Waring, M.D. Editor: William F. Norton, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Milwaukee, WI.