Ask the Doctor: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) 101

Ask the Doctor:

Question: I sometimes have acid reflux, which is horrible. What is it and how can I prevent it?

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid reflux or reflux esophagitis  is a condition when the contents of the stomach regurgitates ( leaks) back into the esophagus and causes an burning irritation – due to some acid and the digestive enzyme pepsin – in the esophagus.

Let’s step back and talk about the anatomy and physiology.  Digestion begins in the mouth with chewing and the secretion of saliva. Both break down foods in order to allow easy swallowing and help the stomach with food breakdown. Once the food is chewed and coated with saliva, it is called chyme. A ball of chime is called a bolus. Once the bolus heads down the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach, it will enter the stomach via the lower esophageal sphincter valve. This valve is a ring of muscle that circles the lower most end of the esophagus where it joins the stomach. It opens for food to enter the stomach and closes when food is not present. With GERD, the sphincter does not close properly.

Reason Why GERD Occurs and Ways to Prevent it:

There are many reasons GERD may occur. Overeating, not chewing foods properly, digestion abnormalities, high levels of progesterone, infection, injury, hiatal hernia or pharmaceutical drugs.

Ways to prevent GERD; It’s usually a simple thing: eat less processed foods, chew foods thoroughly, pay attention if certain foods cause mild GERD symptoms and pharmaceutical drugs.

Foods that may contribute to GERD include: coffee, alcohol, acidic foods: grapefruit, tomatoes, garlic, onions, spicy foods, soda pop, chocolate and peppermint.

If you have GERD: The above will help greatly. A few botanical and nutritional supplements below will help but be sure to consult with your doctor first, especially if on any medicines.

Botanicals:

Herbs that sooth and protect the digestive tract are ideal. A few favorites are: licorice, chamomile, marshmallow and slippery elm. Finding a tea that contains a few of these would be ideal but they are also available in capsules.

Nutritional supplements:

Quercitin, curcumin, vitamin E, and choline may all help as they are anti- inflammatory. Optimizing digestion overall will be important; therefore, probiotics, castor oil packs will help.

A side note: prolonged chewing creates more saliva and the saliva will help neutralize any acid that may reflux back into the esophagus.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Be well,

dr. heather

Photo courtesy of Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/39056429@N08/5164237441/sizes/z/in/photolist-8Sm4Sz-aEpu1R-aEpuYR-aEtimU-aEtmfU-7H4o2C-7CsCSC-9CdEHr-dX8emQ-cXVkFm-dQN1FM-cbP5jo-7FySfK-e2CNgY-e2CMLf-e2x8BX-7FCP5A-dWom8q-en889k-en8Bic-adN6EP-diwVgi-datqJU-dcv6HJ-a7DDdE-95kb7C-crcLx5-crcK6A-crcFX1-8B96wk-8BcdiQ-crcTMm-crcUFw-crcVVf-crcXbG-cvSrro-dCVAxb-aFLUkv-atCwmb-cBMbGj-cBLTwA-cBLvxG-btZoTP-btZoRg-btZoWD-7KiuRC-8ycdwY-adQVhC-adQVnU-adN6KR-adQVkA/