Gastroesophageal Reflux: Symptoms And Treatment
After a hearty meal composed of spicy chicken pieces and an extra flavorful beef fare, you’d usually send out a burp. However, later on, you experience a somewhat bitter taste and then all of a sudden, you find that bits of the food that you just ate are actually back to your mouth.
The situation may well be a case of gastroesophageal reflux. It is a medical term for a dysfunction that happens somewhere on the lower chest, particularly between the stomach and the esophagus. A patient who has this condition may sense minor discomfort on the said part of the body. The challenge here is to ascertain the gravity of the condition.
Heartburn is one of the most common symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, where the individual feels a somewhat burning sensation in the esophagus close to the stomach. Even though a heart problem may also exhibit a similar sign, remember that it’s also common to GERD. Nausea, chest pains, extreme salivating, involuntary regurgitation and difficulty in swallowing are the other indications of the illness.
There is a prospect that something is wrong with the area between your stomach and esophagus when you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above. It is best to do your research and obtain help so you’ll know very well what to do.
The next best thing to do is to go to an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Clinic where you could undergo some lab tests so that the doctors can give you the appropriate prognosis. The clinic boasts of capable staff and all the needed equipment to help you with the treatment of your illness.
What you can do to help yourself heal from this condition is to undergo certain lifestyle adjustments. There should be an end to bad habits like smoking and drinking alcohol. Specialists will instruct you to adhere to some modifications on your diet plan. These include two hours without eating before bedtime and the avoiding acidic food.
What’s more is that your sleeping practices may sometimes get affected. For example, your doctor may advise you to change your sleeping position and lie on the left side, making sure that you elevate your head for a few inches. Moreover, if you’re using an innerspring mattress, you may be asked to switch to a foam mattress instead. The lifestyle changes listed above are not too difficult to comply with and they do a lot in helping you avoid gastroesophageal reflux episodes.
ENT Head & Neck Centre is where you can avail of diagnosis, management and treatment of various head and neck conditions, including Tonsillitis and Gastroesophageal Reflux. Call now for an appointment the center’s consultant and surgeon, Dr. Loy. (6784)