Heartburn is such a common occurance for so many Americans. One is every 10 Americans has a daily episode of heartburn. For many of those people, the symptoms are chronic, and relief seems so far out of reach. This chronic suffering has been given the title of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. This disease is of major concern, as 25% to 35% of Americans have been diagnosed (1). If you are one of those people, you know how miserable it can be.
The standard symptoms of this disease are heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia (trouble swallowing). Other symptoms may include coughing, chest pain, or even wheezing. Prolonged symptoms cause serious damage to the lungs, and can add many complications to the patient’s health, including increased risk of pheumonia, asthma, or even idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (1).
The cause of this disease, physiologically speaking, starts with the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. This most commonly occurs in cases of obesity or pregnancy. In other words, when there is a direct increase in body mass, GERD is more of a possibility. “In obese individuals, epidemiologic studies suggest the prevalence of GERD considerably higher than in the non obese population (2). In pregnancy, there is an elevation in progesterone which increases the patient’s risk of developing GERD, as progesterone reduces lower esophageal spincter tone which leads to reflux. Also in pregnancy, morning sickness (vomiting), increased volume of food, changes in sleeping habits, all weaken the esophagus’ function. GERD is typically first treated with medication, but the symptoms can be managed and controlled through diet.
Foods that worsen the symptoms are citrus fruits, chocolate, drinks with caffeine or alcohol, fatty and fried foods, garlic and onions, mint flavorings, spicy foods, as well as tomato based foods (3). First and foremost, avoiding large meals is key. Eat smaller, more frequent meals to avoid added pressure on your digestive system. Certain specific foods can help alleviate symptoms. Apples, such a red delicious apple, can help as well as almonds and drinking an increased amount of water, which will dilute the stomach acid. Chamomile and fennel tea sooths the esophagus. Adding two to three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water can also help prevent GERD symptoms from reoccurring.
Conventional medications used to treat GERD are calcium carbonate, antacid-alginic acid combinations, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. Before treatment begins, a full dietary and lifestyle patient history needs to be obtained so that treatment can be individualized. Every person is different, and will have different triggers of different symptoms. Not everyone will react positively to every food treatment or to every medical treatment.
1. Kolhstadt, Ingrid. “Food and Nutrients in Disease Management.” Pgs. 159-170. 2. Friedenberg, Frank, et al. “The Association Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Obsesity” American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2008; 103:2111-2122. 3. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerd/
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