Changing My Diet Helped My GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, often referred to as GERD, is a disease that occurs when stomach acid moves up into the esophagus which can lead to mucosal damage. Often the person suffering from GERD suffers from heartburn. This condition occurs when the barrier between the esophagus and stomach changes or when a hiatal hernia is present.
No matter what is causing your symptoms, your main concern is to get relief. Trust me, I know as I have been there and done that. We tried proton pump inhibitors and, when they didn’t provide the desired relief, my doctor recommended surgery. At that point, I started looking at alternative treatments and that’s when I learned a change in diet can be of great help.
Did you know that if you are overweight, you are more at risk of developing GERD and needing help with proton pump inhibitors? When you are overweight, pressure is placed on the stomach which may cause this acid to come back up. Certain foods and drinks may also trigger symptoms. It can be any number of things that lead to symptoms appearing for you. My triggers were garlic, caffeine and tomato sauce. Yours may be different.
When you are diagnosed with GERD, your doctor may have prescribed one or more proton pump inhibitors. That is exactly what mine did and I tried them. Once I started taking them though, I noticed my symptoms improved somewhat, but did not go away completely. I started doing research on my own. This is when I learned that my obesity and unhealthy eating habits may be the cause of my suffering. I also learned that proton pump inhibitors have side effects such as an increased risk of fracture.
I decided the time had come to try to lose weight and eat better. I started eating more fruits and vegetables and I developed an exercise routine. Spreading meals out throughout the day seemed to help also. By doing so, I was able to determine which foods which trigger my GERD and I eliminated them completely from my diet. I’m glad I found this solution. I don’t know how long I could have held out against the surgery if this didn’t work.
Halitosis and Acid Reflux – What You Need to Know
If you suffer from bad breath or halitosis, is it caused by your condition or is it due to the use of proton pump inhibitors? Many believe that these medications are the result of the acid reflux, but lately some have started to blame this problem on the medications themselves. Studies are currently being conducted to see which leads to this embarrassing condition. In the past, doctors would often use bad breath to help diagnose acid reflux disease so this question becomes even more confusing. How do you know what to believe?
In a study conducted in Brazil in 2006, researchers make a connection between the use of proton pump inhibitors and bad breath. A large number of patients taking these medications complained of halitosis so they decided to look further into this matter. They discovered that bad breath would originate from different sources. Often the source would not be oral. They came to the conclusion that an overgrowth of bacteria, in the intestine or in the mouth, is what was causing breath to be sour.
Many experts have now come to the conclusion that halitosis is rarely related to the acid reflux. Rather the odors that come from the mouth have traveled up from the stomach which has led them to believe they the odors are related to the use of proton pump inhibitors. In fact, they are now suggesting that previous diagnoses of halitosis due to acid reflux were incorrect. The medications were always the problem. It appears that, when one tries to treat halitosis through the use of proton pump inhibitors, the bad breath actually becomes worse.
Where does this leave someone suffering from halitosis and acid reflux? If you have this disease and find that you develop bad breath or that your halitosis becomes worse, you need to have a good breath product on hand. Your doctor may be able to make some recommendations as to which to use. Remember that he or she has prescribed the proton pump inhibitors to prevent more serious medical conditions. Do not stop taking your medication without discussing it with your doctor for this reason.
The Benefits of Proton Pump Inhibitors
Do you suffer from ulcers or acid reflux? If so, your doctor may recommend that you take proton pump inhibitors. These medications are designed to reduce the amount of acid your body produces. They do this by blocking the enzyme responsible for producing the acid in the stomach wall. This helps to prevent ulcers caused by excess acid and also allows any existing ulcers to heal. If you suffer from Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, your doctor may also prescribe these medications. If you have any of these conditions and your doctor has not recommended you take these drugs, speak to him or her today. They may be of great help.
There are a number of proton pump inhibitors and all work in the same manner. No one particular inhibitor has been found to be the most effective. The main difference you will find between these drugs is the way they are broken down in the body. Drug interactions also differ by the inhibitor chosen. In addition, some proton pump inhibitors last longer in the body so fewer doses are needed.
There are some side effects associated with the use of proton pump inhibitors that you should be aware of. Headaches and rash have been seen with the use of these medications. Many experience constipation, diarrhea, nausea and/or abdominal pain. Overall though, most people do tolerate these drugs well. If you take high doses or use proton pump inhibitors for longer than one year, you may be more at risk of fractures associated with osteoporosis. These fractures are commonly seen in the wrist, hip or spine. Try to take the lowest dose possible and for the shortest period of time for this reason.
Acid reflux can be very serious if left untreated. It can lead to more serious conditions such as Barrett’s esophagus or erosive esophagitis. For this reason, doctors often try this medication to reduce acid production. You need to be aware of the risks though and try to take low doses for short periods of time. The benefits do appear to outweigh the risks although studies are still being conducted. If your doctor recommends a proton pump inhibitor, discuss your concerns with him or her. Only when you have all facts in hand will you be able to make an informed decision as to your care.
The doctor tells me about Proton Pump Inhibitors
I had been having a lot of problems with heartburn and stomachaches in the past several months. I tried changing the types of things that I was eating, but this did not seem to help me very much. I realized that it would be best for me to go to the doctor to find out what was wrong. My doctor told me that I needed to take proton pump inhibitors, as he felt that I had probably developed an ulcer. He further explained to me that this type of medication actually greatly reduces the amount of acid that the stomach produces so that the ulcer has a chance to heal. I will start taking this medication this afternoon.
PPI – simplified diagram
Proton Pump Inhibitors diagram
PPI ‘s – closer than you think
Simply said, Proton Pump Inhibitors are designed for the purpose of sustained, lasting modification of the so-called gastric acid.
More specifically, the goal is to reduce the output of acids, to lower the levels. Of all the different medications and treatments currently available to the general population, the PPI’s are certainly the most effective ones, with highest availability and market saturation overall.
There are several different sub-categories of PPI’s and in addition there are new categories currently in development. Early indicators point to higher efficiency in treatment with these newly developed types of PPI. Along , however, come new side effects that are not yet fully known.
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