How do you educate patients with GERD?

Discharge Instructions for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

1. Stay at a healthy weight.
2. Don’t lie down after meals.
3. Don’t eat late at night.
4. Raise the head of your bed by 4 to 6 inches.
5. Don’t wear tight-fitting clothes.
6. Don’t eat foods that might bother your stomach, such as:

What is the management for GERD?

GERD can usually be controlled with medication. But if medications don’t help or you wish to avoid long-term medication use, your doctor might recommend: Fundoplication. The surgeon wraps the top of your stomach around the lower esophageal sphincter, to tighten the muscle and prevent reflux.

Why is it important to manage GERD?

The effective treatment of GERD provides symptom resolution and high rates of remission in erosive esophagitis, lowers the incidence of GERD complications, improves health-related quality of life and reduces the cost of this disease.

How should you position a patient with GERD?

Sleep on your left side. Gravity will work in your favor on your left side as your stomach is now positioned below your esophagus, which makes reflux more difficult.

How do you know if acid reflux is in your lungs?

Acid reflux shortness of breath (dyspnea) often happens at night. It is caused by acid rising up in the back of the throat where it can enter the lungs and cause the airways to swell. This is the reason for acid reflux in lungs symptoms, such as coughing and choking.

Can acid reflux damage your lungs?

Lung and throat problems — If stomach acid backs up into the throat, this can cause inflammation of the vocal cords, a sore throat, or a hoarse voice. The acid can also be inhaled into the lungs and cause pneumonia or asthma symptoms. Over time, acid in the lungs can lead to permanent lung damage.

Is GERD a lifelong disease?

GERD is a chronic condition. Once it begins, it usually is life-long. If there is an injury to the lining of the esophagus (esophagitis), this also is a chronic condition. Moreover, after the esophagus has healed with treatment and treatment is stopped, the injury will return in most patients within a few months.

What do you need to know about Gerd?

Stomach acid that washes up into the esophagus can cause dangerous tissue damage.

How does Gerd impact your health?

Though it is a digestive condition, GERD can damage teeth and gums by allowing powerful stomach acids to flow back up the digestive tract and into the mouth. It can also cause other health problems. Stomach acid is strong enough to break down food, and can cause serious damage to your teeth.

How does Gerd start?

GERD is caused by frequent acid reflux. When you swallow, a circular band of muscle around the bottom of your esophagus (lower esophageal sphincter) relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow into your stomach. Then the sphincter closes again. If the sphincter relaxes abnormally or weakens, stomach acid can flow back up into your esophagus.

What is the best PPI to take for GERD?

They’re typically the most effective treatment for GERD. PPIs come in pill form. Many are available by prescription only, but a few are available OTC: lansoprazole (Prevacid 24HR) omeprazole (Losec, Omesec, Prilosec OTC) omeprazole with sodium bicarbonate (Zegerid) esomeprazole (Nexium)