Contents:
- Medical Video: Heartburn, Acid Reflux, GERD-Mayo Clinic
- What is stomach acid reflux?
- What is GERD?
- How to prevent stomach acid reflux and GERD?
Medical Video: Heartburn, Acid Reflux, GERD-Mayo Clinic
Almost everything associated with feelings of stomach pain, pain in the stomach, and bloating is often interpreted as an increase in stomach acid. But, actually not all the pain in this stomach is really caused by stomach acid reflux, it could also be due to GERD. That is why many people might think that stomach acid reflux and GERD are the same. In fact, both are indeed related but actually two different things. What is the difference between gastric acid reflux and GERD?
What is stomach acid reflux?
The stomach is one part of the digestive system which is responsible for breaking down the incoming food to be absorbed by the body. To facilitate this task, the stomach produces acids and enzymes. So, acid is deliberately produced by the stomach. But, if the amount of acid produced is too much, this can cause stomach problems, such as stomach acid reflux.
Acid reflux or also known as gastroesophageal reflux is backflow of stomach acid or rising stomach acid into the esophagus. At low levels, gastric acid reflux is a normal part of digestion and movement in the digestive system. Thus, gastric acid reflux is not said to be a disease.
Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, as long as stomach acid rises you may feel the food rises into the esophagus (without nausea or vomiting), or feels sour in the back of the mouth. You may also feel a burning sensation in the chest or known as heartburn. To avoid this, you should not eat foods that trigger increased stomach acid, such as fatty foods, coffee, and chocolate.
What is GERD?
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or gastroesophageal reflux disease is a continuation of gastric acid reflux. If gastric acid reflux often occurs, at least more than twice per week, then stomach acid reflux may have developed into GERD.
GERD also usually shows symptoms, such as:
- Heartburni.e. feeling hot like burning in the gut
- Food feels rising into the esophagus
- Acid on the back of the mouth
- Nausea
- Gag
- Bloated
- Difficulty swallowing
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Wheezing
- Chest pain, especially when lying down at night
Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded that gastric acid reflux is part of GERD which is a disease.
How to prevent stomach acid reflux and GERD?
Both stomach acid reflux and GERD can be prevented by changing lifestyle. Some things you can do to prevent stomach acid reflux and GERD are:
- Lose weight if you overweight
- Apply the principle of eating a little but often
- Try to keep your head higher (at least 10-15 cm) from the body during sleep
- Avoid sleeping after eating. Give a gap of 2-3 hours between eating and sleeping.
- Avoid wearing clothes or tight belts
- Avoid or limit consumption of foods or beverages that trigger increased stomach acid, such as soda, coffee, tea, oranges, tomatoes, chocolate, spicy and fatty foods
- Stop smoking and drink alcoholic beverages
If these lifestyle changes have not removed the acid reflux, you may need to use drugs, such as antacids (especially those containing magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide), H2 receptor blockers (such as cimetidine or famotidine), and proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole).
