People who experience heartburn at least two to three times a week may have gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. The most common symptom of GERD, heartburn, is estimated to affect 10 million adults in the United States on a daily basis. Heartburn is experienced as a burning sensation in the center of the chest, which sometimes spreads to the throat; there also may be an acid taste in the throat. Less common symptoms include: * Stomach pain (pain in the upper abdomen) * Non-burning chest pain * Difficulty swallowing (called dysphagia), or food getting stuck * Painful swallowing (called odynophagia) * Persistent laryngitis/hoarseness * Persistent sore throat * Chronic cough, new onset asthma, or asthma only at night * Regurgitation of foods/fluids; taste of acid in the throat * Sense of a lump in the throat The following signs and symptoms may indicate a more serious problem, and should be reported to a healthcare provider immediately: * Difficulty or pain with swallowing (feeling that food gets "stuck") * Unexplained weight loss * Chest pain * Choking * Bleeding (vomiting blood or dark-colored stools) *Treatment* Changes to the diet or lifestyle have been recommended for many years, although their effectiveness has not been extensively evaluated in well-designed clinical trials. Thus, these recommendations may be helpful in some, but not all people with mild symptoms of reflux. Weight loss — Losing weight may help people who are overweight to reduce reflux. In addition, weight loss has a number of other health benefits, including a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Raise the head of the bed six to eight inches — Although most people only have heartburn for the two- to three-hour period after meals, some wake up at night with heartburn. People with nighttime heartburn can elevate the head of their bed, which raises the head and shoulders higher than the stomach, allowing gravity to prevent acid from refluxing. Raising the head of the bed can be done with blocks of wood under the legs of the bed or a foam wedge under the mattress. Several manufacturers have developed "commercial products":http://www.bedge.com for this purpose. However, it is not helpful to use additional pillows; this can cause an unnatural bend in the body that increases pressure on the stomach, worsening reflux. Avoid reflux inducing foods — Some foods also cause relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, promoting reflux. Excessive caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, peppermint, and fatty foods may cause bothersome reflux in some people. Quit smoking — Saliva helps to neutralize refluxed acid, and smoking reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth and throat. Smoking also lowers the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter and provokes coughing, causing frequent episodes of acid reflux in the esophagus. Quitting smoking can reduce or eliminate symptoms of mild reflux. Avoid large and late meals — Lying down with a full stomach may increase the risk of reflux. By eating three or more hours before bedtime, reflux may be reduced. In addition, eating smaller meals may prevent the stomach from becoming overdistended, which can cause reflux. Chew gum or use oral lozenges — Chewing gum or using lozenges can increase saliva production, which may help to clear stomach acid that has entered the esophagus. Medication -- Over the counter medications such as Prilosec, Zantac, or Pepcid can also improve symptoms that are not controlled by the conservative measures listed above. For more than mild symptoms of reflux you should consult your healthcare provider. 2009-06-01T11:03:34-05:00 18 1 image/gif image001.gif 44434 2009-06-01T07:03:33-05:00 true 2009-06-01T11:03:34-05:00