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Before addressing the issue of whether GERD medications are effective or not it is helpful to know what you are dealing with. Possibly you are hearing about GERD for the first time and have only recently heard the word as part of a diagnosis given by your doctor. It’s also possible that he informed you that your problem was something called Gastroesophageal reflux disease. Either way you got the news it sounds pretty intimidating. GERD is caused by the abnormal backflow, often referred to as “reflux,” of food, stomach acid, and other digestive juices into the esophagus. “Oh, that stuff.” Right, if you have been awakened shortly after falling asleep with that nasty burning in your throat and mouth then you know exactly what GERD is. Moreover, GERD is the advanced stage of heartburn that can be very dangerous and should be taken seriously. It can actually lead to something life threatening so you are well advised to follow the direction of your doctor meticulously. As time rolls on and the occurrences of acid reflux become more repetitive, GERD may cause irritation and inflammation of the esophagus. You will know when that has happened when you doctor tells you that you have "esophagitis.” What she means by that is that you have developed sores (also called ulcers) in your esophagus which has resulted in the narrowing of your esophagus. This narrowing is also referred to as “stricture.” I well recall the day that my doctor announced that I was suffering from esophagitis due to Gastroesophageal reflux disease and that he was going to put me on a proton pump inhibitor. “Say what?” He might as well have been talking to me in a foreign language. I didn’t have a clue as to what he was talking about. All I knew was that it sounded really scary. That was three years ago and I am happy to say that GERD is under control and I no longer need the proton pump inhibitor. By the way, a proton pump inhibitor is not a machine but a purple pill. You have probably seen ads for it on TV. Of course, it comes with side effects about a mile long so be sure to read the label closely. For sure, proton pump inhibitors do work but you also get to the point that you can’t live without them. When you try to break the habit you will, most likely, experience considerable withdrawal symptoms. That certainly was the case with me. Probably the instruction from our physicians that we most often miss is the part about changing lifestyle and diet. In reality, those two things will do more to produce healing than prescribed meds. You cannot continue to abuse your body and expect it to heal. Long-term (often lifelong) medicine treatment is needed for more severe cases of GERD, because symptoms tend to return when the medicine is stopped. Now, I don’t know about you, but I just don’t think that staying on any medication for a prolonged period of time is in your best interest…especially when there are natural methods for solving your problem. By changing your diet to exclude acid reflux “triggers” you can get your GERD problem under control. That means greasy, fatty, and spicy foods are out. Also on the banned list are favorites like coffee, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, and carbonated drinks. Also helpful is to increase your intake of raw vegetables which provide enzymes necessary for good digestion. The most significant lifestyle change you can make, other than diet, is to avoid late meals and snacks. Give yourself at least 2 to 3 hours for your food to be digested prior to going to bed. Also, it’s important to avoid stress as much as possible since stress triggers excess stomach acid. Yes, that one is easier said than done, but necessary if you want to get well. GERD medications do work very effectively in most cases but they should only be a temporary fix. Your body is telling you that you need to make some changes. With aging things aren’t going to get better. They will only get worse unless you do something about it. Get started today. Richard Weirich co-hosts the internationally popular Health at Last Radio and has written numerous publications on heartburn, acid reflux, weight loss, health, and wellness. For more articles on heartburn and gerd medications click here and you can also visit the author's website here.
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