GERD Relief

Specific options for
 GERD relief include:
 
  • Diet and lifestyle changes
  • Medication
  • Surgery.
     
Your doctor may suggest that you avoid certain foods that make your acid reflux worse. You might be told to avoid eating anything close to bedtime (see GERD Diet). In some people, it helps to make lifestyle changes, such as stopping the use of tobacco products (see Smoking and GERD) or losing weight.
 
If lifestyle and diet changes don't provide enough GERD relief, medication is another option. For example, your doctor can prescribe drugs to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach.
 
Finally, surgery may be done to tighten the lower esophageal sphincter and improve your symptoms. This surgery can be done with laparoscopic techniques (a special video camera is used), which often leave smaller scars. There are also a couple of newer options available for people considering GERD surgery.
 
(Click GERD Treatment for the full eMedTV article on how to treat the causes and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD