Can You Get Rid of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?

Some people can manage gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms on their own with lifestyle changes or by taking non-prescription medicines.

Acid reflux is a condition in which the acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus, which is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

When acid reflux occurs more than twice weekly, is chronic, or causes uncomfortable symptoms or damage, it is considered to be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Some people can manage gastroesophageal reflux disease on their own with lifestyle changes or by taking non-prescription medicines. 

Home remedies to help get rid of symptoms of GERD include:

• Avoid foods that worsen symptoms 
  • Coffee
  • Chocolate
  • Alcohol
  • Peppermint
  • Fatty or greasy foods
  • Spicy foods
• Don’t smoke
• Don’t overeat
• Weight loss if overweight or obese
• Don’t eat two to three hours prior to going to bed
  • Lying down with a full stomach can make reflux worse
• Elevate the head of the bed six to eight inches using blocks of wood or rubber under two legs of the bed or a foam wedge under the mattress
• Avoid medications such as aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that may aggravate GERD
• Take medications with plenty of water
• Wear loose clothing around the stomach area

If lifestyle modifications do not relieve symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, medications used to treat the condition include: 

• Antacids
  • For mild symptoms
  • Examples include aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide (Maalox), calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide (Rolaids), sucrose and calcium carbonate (Tums), and simethicone (Mylanta)
• Histamine blockers
  • Stronger and longer-lasting than antacids
  • Examples include cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), and nizatidine (Axid AR)
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
  • For frequent and more severe symptoms
  • Examples include esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (AcipHex) 
• Prokinetics
  • Helps the stomach empty faster
  • Examples include bethanechol (Urecholine) and metoclopramide (Reglan) 
• Antibiotics
  • Can help the stomach empty faster
  • Fewer side effects than prokinetics

Surgery may be recommended in severe cases of gastroesophageal reflux disease when symptoms do not improve with lifestyle changes or medications. 

Surgery used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease includes: 

• Fundoplication
  • A laparoscopic procedure in which a thin tube with a small video camera is inserted into the abdomen and the top part of the stomach is sewn around the esophagus to reduce reflux
• Endoscopic techniques
  • Endoscopic sewing uses small stitches to tighten the sphincter muscle
  • Radiofrequency creates heat lesions or sores to help tighten the sphincter muscle
  • Results for endoscopic techniques are not as good as those for fundoplication