Learn effective strategies and medical options for managing acid reflux and GERD, including lifestyle adjustments, dietary tips, and medications like PPIs and H2 blockers for symptom relief and long-term care.

Proven Ways to Control and Treat Acid Reflux Effectively

Managing acid reflux starts with lifestyle changes. Elevate your head during sleep, avoid late-night meals, and steer clear of smoking and alcohol consumption. Adjust your diet by limiting foods that relax the lower esophageal sphincter, such as chocolate, spicy foods, citrus fruits, peppermint, fatty dishes, caffeine, and carbonated drinks. Losing extra weight can also alleviate symptoms significantly, especially for those who are overweight.

Medical Options for Acid Reflux: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly prescribed, with H2 blockers offering an alternative with fewer side effects.

Doctors often recommend H2 receptor antagonists for two weeks. If symptoms continue, switching to PPIs for 4-8 weeks may be necessary. Common PPIs include omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, pantoprazole, and esomeprazole. These medications decrease stomach acid production and help with heartburn relief but might not prevent reflux or regurgitation episodes. Potential side effects include increased fracture risk, heart issues, and gastrointestinal infections like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and C. difficile.

It’s advisable to seek medical advice for proper treatment.

H2 Receptor Blockers: Drugs such as ranitidine, cimetidine, nizatidine, and famotidine may be used temporarily but are less effective long-term due to tolerance development.