New York is one of the largest cities on earth. Many people visit or move to New York for many reasons, including medical reasons. Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is a prevalent problem affecting most Americans at some point in their lives. Heartburn, a burning sensation in the lower chest and upper abdomen, can be caused by stomach acid leaking from the stomach into the esophagus. If you have acid reflux, paying Dr. Matthew Shawl in New York will benefit you.
Some of the possible treatments for acid reflux include:
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can help alleviate acid reflux immensely. Some simple lifestyle changes that will reduce acid reflux include:
- Quit smoking
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Maintain an upright position for at least three hours after eating
- Avoid tight-fitting clothing
- Avoid fatty, fried foods and other problem foods, including caffeine, chocolate, mint or spearmint, alcohol, and onions. Limit or eliminate alcohol consumption
- Avoid lying down after a meal.
- Eat small, frequent meals instead of large meals.
- Exercise regularly will also help you lose weight if you are overweight.
You can make several other lifestyle changes to decrease acid reflux, including dietary changes and sleep position changes, which you may discuss during the examination.
Medicines
Antacids neutralize stomach acid to reduce heartburn pain but do not treat the underlying cause of reflux, so they have to be taken often to help with reflux symptoms. There are several antacid preparations available that contain a variety of ingredients such as magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia), aluminum hydroxide (Gaviscon), calcium carbonate (Tums), and sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer). Antacids should be used for short periods, typically less than two weeks. Side effects may include constipation, diarrhea, gas, or belching. Other over-the-counter antacids are available without a prescription, but they are generally weaker at neutralizing acid than prescription antacids.
H2 Receptor Antagonists such as ranitidine (Zantac) and famotidine (Pepcid) reduce stomach acid production and can be helpful for people with reflux disease if taken three times per day. A prescription is required. Side effects may include headache, constipation, and diarrhea. A newer class of medications is known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and rabeprazole (Aciphex), decrease stomach acid production more effectively than theH2 receptor antagonists and are generally more effective for reflux disease. These medicines should be taken once daily and can be taken as a single dose or divided into doses throughout the day.
Surgery
Fundoplication is a surgical procedure for the treatment of acid reflux disease. It involves wrapping the upper part of the stomach around the esophagus to create a valve or sphincter, which slows down stomach emptying and reduces the reflux of stomach acids into the esophagus. Some effects of this surgery are swallowing difficulties, gas bloat syndrome, and weight loss.
Dr. Matthew Shawl is an excellent doctor for GERD in New York. He has many years of experience dealing with reflux disease and knows the correct methods to cure this condition. If you are suffering from acid reflux disease, you should visit Dr. Matthew, and he will provide you with the best treatment plan to treat your illness.
