Signs of acid reflux can be painful. And it can be dangerous if left untreated.
Gastroesophageal reflux (acid reflux) is when stomach acid flows into the esophagus where it doesn’t belong. Over time, that acid can cause damage, irritation, and symptoms will get progressively worse. If left untreated, it could eventually lead to irreversible changes in the cell structures in the esophagus and increase your risk of esophageal cancer.
The most common signs and symptoms of acid reflux are:
If you experience acid reflux two or more times per week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can eventually lead to more serious conditions and should be evaluated by a doctor. Without proper treatment, chronic GERD can cause Barrett’s esophagus and eventually lead to esophageal cancer (Schedule an appointment here)
Identifying foods that cause your acid reflux is often the first step in treatment. The most common foods that worsen reflux include:
To reduce the likelihood of acid reflux, you should avoid
If diet and lifestyle changes haven’t relieved your acid reflux, your doctor may recommend non-prescription medication and over-the-counter remedies if your symptoms are mild.
Antacids are commonly used for short-term relief of acid reflux. Examples of antacids include Tums®, Maalox®, and Mylanta®.
Cells in the lining of the stomach release a chemical called “histamine” to tell other cells to start making stomach acid. H2 blockers stop these acid-producing cells from responding to histamine, reducing the amount of acid in your stomach. However, they are somewhat less effective than proton pump inhibitors.
Examples of histamine antagonists available in the United States include ranitidine (Zantac®), famotidine (Pepcid®), cimetidine (Tagamet®), and nizatidine (Axid®).
Patients with moderate to severe symptoms of acid reflux that have not responded to the lifestyle modifications and the options described above usually require treatment with prescription medications. Most patients are treated with a proton pump inhibitor.
These medications interfere with a stomach enzyme responsible for acid production, reducing the amount of acid your stomach creates. PPIs are the most powerful medications available to treat acid reflux.
PPIs include omeprazole (Prilosec®), esomeprazole (Nexium®), lansoprazole (Prevacid®), dexlansoprazole (Kapidex®), pantoprazole (Protonix®), and rabeprazole (Aciphex®), which are stronger and more effective than the H2 antagonists.
Some of these medications, like omeprazole, are available without a prescription.
Chronic acid reflux cases should be evaluated by one of our board-certified gastroenterologists.
If you’ve had signs of acid reflux symptoms for over 5 years, you should see one of our specialists immediately. (Schedule Now)
We’ll perform thorough testing to determine the health of your esophagus, and then plan out a custom treatment plan. At GCSA, we offer a variety of advanced procedures to diagnose and provider acid reflux treatment options.
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