Contents:
- Medical Video: Heartburn, Acid Reflux, GERD-Mayo Clinic
- What is the connection between fatigue and GERD?
- Actually, what causes severe fatigue in GERD sufferers?
- So, what is the right treatment for this condition?
Medical Video: Heartburn, Acid Reflux, GERD-Mayo Clinic
Have you ever felt that your body is in a very tired state, making it difficult for you to move? It may seem trivial because it usually gets well soon after waking up from a long sleep. However, in some cases, the cause of fatigue you experience can be triggered by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you know. How could that be?
What is the connection between fatigue and GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is often equated with gastric acid reflux. Both of them both result in abdominal pain as a result of rising stomach acid into the esophagus.
However, both GERD and gastric acid reflux are different conditions even though they are still interrelated.
Look, GERD can be said to be more serious than gastric acid reflux. Because the increase in stomach acid in GERD is more common than usual gastric acid reflux. Or simply, GERD is a development of more severe gastric acid reflux that causes damage to the esophagus.
So bad, GERD will cause a variety of symptoms that are quite disturbing such as chest pain, sore throat, chronic cough, until the body is weak and exhausted.
These conditions will gradually disrupt sleep patterns so that your body feels much more tired than usual.
Actually, what causes severe fatigue in GERD sufferers?
The fatigue that you experience, as a complication of GERD, is certainly different from the fatigue that occurs in general. Again, the main cause of fatigue is GERD disease or increased acid reflux in severe conditions. How can?
Look, when you are standing upright, all organs, including the digestive system, are in a normal position. That is, the acid gas in the stomach is still there.
Well, when you want to sleep automatically your body position is lying down. Here, the body organs will also adjust the position of your body, as well as the stomach.
However, stomach acid cannot adjust, because the gas produced from this stomach actually returns to the esophagus. Finally, you will feel like there is a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn), cough that occurs continuously, even nausea.
This condition then makes you uncomfortable so it is difficult to sleep well. That is why, you can easily feel tired, even when you are not preoccupied with busy activities.
In fact, sleep deprivation is not the only cause of fatigue due to GERD disease. Take drugs that aim to control GERD symptoms, such as histamine blockers; cimetidine (tagamet); ranitidine (zantac); famotidine (pepcid); nizatidine (axid); and proton pump inhibitors (PPI), also at risk of triggering a severe weakness.
These drugs can indeed reduce the high production of stomach acid, but on the other hand can also inhibit the absorption of iron and vitamin B12 from food. This nutrient deficiency over time results in anemia as well as a tired body.
So, what is the right treatment for this condition?
Because fatigue due to GERD is different from fatigue in general, the handling will also be different. In essence, you need treatment that is in accordance with the severity of GERD disease, in order to get optimal sleep quality so that it is not easily tired.
Some people may work only by using over-the-counter medicines to neutralize the rising stomach acid. However, some serious cases of GERD require prescription drugs to relieve symptoms.
In addition, it is important for you to avoid foods and drinks that can trigger stomach acid, don't lie down immediately after eating, and try to sleep with the pillow slightly higher than your body to help the acid gas not go back up the esophagus.
If the cause of fatigue you experience is because of the medication you regularly take, you should consult further with your doctor to make sure what type of drug is suitable and does not cause side effects on your body.
