Acid reflux impacts about 20% of American adults. What causes it?
So you're feeling that uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest. Your mouth tastes bitter or sour. The back of your throat is burning.
While the occasional heartburn episode usually isn't an indicator of anything major, continuous and recurring symptoms may be an indication of a health issue, such as acid reflux, that's worth consulting your doctor about.
"Acid reflux can be managed by most people if they learn the behavior changes they can make and how to appropriately use over-the-counter medications," gastroenterologist Dr. Brijen Shah, a spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association, tells Paste BN.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) impacts about 20% of adults in the U.S., and is more common in women and those who are older, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Here's what medical experts want you to know about the causes and treatments related to acid reflux.
What causes acid reflux?
Acid reflux is referred to in the medical community as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for more severe and long-lasting cases. Both occur when the acidic contents of your stomach are regurgitated up into your esophagus, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
"Acid reflux is either caused by conditions or foods that increase the production of acid or situations or foods which might cause the lower esophageal sphincter to excessively relax, allowing acid and food contents to travel into the esophagus," Shah explains. "We think of acid reflux as a chronic condition that comes and goes." More and more research shows it has a relationship to distress as well as diet.
Some causes of GERD include being overweight or obese, being pregnant, having a hiatal hernia and smoking or being exposed to smoke. Certain medications can also cause or irritate existing acid reflux symptoms, including benzodiazepines, calcium channel blockers, certain asthma medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and tricyclic antidepressants, according to NIH.
How to get rid of acid reflux
In most cases, acid reflux can actually be eradicated for good. Having a hiatal hernia will prolong your symptoms, but in other instances, you can fix your acid reflux, medical experts say.
"Most acid reflux can be alleviated with changes in behavior," Shah says. "This can include avoiding certain items such as fried or spicy food, alcohol, tobacco, excessive amounts of chocolate or peppermint. Also, eating large quantities of food can lead to increase acid production and acid reflux. Sometimes making sure that you say sit upright for 60 minutes after eating can also help prevent acid reflux."
While lifestyle changes are often the first line of defense against acid reflux, doctors may recommend other measures if those changes prove to not be enough to eradicate symptoms. Some next-level treatments include over-the-counter or prescription medications, such as antacids, foaming agents, histamine (H2) blockers or protein pump inhibitors.
For others, surgery may be a better option compared to long-term medication usage. Common surgeries, according to Northwestern Medicine, include Nissen fundoplication — in which the upper part of the stomach is wrapped around the lower esophageal sphincter in order to fix a hiatal hernia and prevent acid reflux — or the Linx procedure, in which a metal ring is implanted at the lower esophageal sphincter in order to create a reflux-preventing barrier.
This story has been updated to fix a typo.