Treating Your Acid Reflux

Find out the best approach to handling your acid reflux so you can enjoy mealtimes again.

You need that cup of coffee to get you going in the morning but you know you’re going to pay for it later. You love spicy foods but they don’t love you back. You wish you could go out with friends after work and have a drink without being doomed to an evening of heartburn. If any of these scenarios sound familiar then you certainly know all too well about the frustrations and pains that come with having acid reflux. Our Longmont, CO gastroenterologist, Dr. Jonathan Jensen, offers up some ways to treat your acid reflux symptoms for good.

If you suffer from acid reflux and heartburn pretty frequently then you might have a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is pretty much just a fancy way of saying that you suffer from chronic acid reflux, in which stomach acids and the foods that you just consumed actually travel back up from the stomach, irritating the lining of your esophagus.

Diet and Lifestyle

One simple way to tackle your acid reflux is to take a long hard look at your diet. Do you eat a lot of spicy or acidic foods? Do you consume a lot of citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruit? Do you tend to eat larger less frequent meals, often eating dinner not long before going to bed?

While we aren’t saying it’s easy changing your diet, it can be a surefire way to reduce your symptoms. Stay away from foods that trigger your heartburn. If you are a smoker, it’s time to quit. Also try eating smaller meals more frequently and not eating anything about two to three hours before going to sleep.

If you are someone who takes OTC pain relievers or aspirin pretty regularly, you may also want to limit your intake. If you are overweight or obese, this is also a great time to chat with our Longmont GI doctor about the best ways to lose weight to improve your acid reflux symptoms.

Medications

Again, it might seem obvious but taking over-the-counter antacids occasionally may be a great way to stave off a nasty bout of heartburn. It’s the calcium, magnesium and aluminum within these antacids that are great for neutralizing acids in the stomach. Of course, those with chronic or severe acid reflux may not find the relief they need and may require acid blockers.

Acid blockers can be prescribed by one of our Longmont GI specialists to help block the production of excess stomach acid. Prescription acid blockers can be an amazingly effective way to protect against acid reflux for several hours. Sometimes proton pump inhibitors are the best option, particularly if prescription acid blockers haven’t provided you with the proper symptom relief.

Colorado Center for Digestive Disorders in Longmont, CO is here to provide the highest quality gastroenterological care you can get. If acid reflux is affecting your daily life, it’s time you put a stop to it and gave us a call.