Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Home Treatment

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Home Treatment

Home treatment measures may help you control the symptoms of mild gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These include making lifestyle changes and taking nonprescription medicines that reduce or block acid. These include antacids (for example, Tums), H2 blockers (for example, Pepcid), and proton pump inhibitors (for example, Prilosec OTC). If you have been using nonprescription medicines to treat your symptoms for longer than 2 weeks, talk to your doctor. If you have GERD, the stomach acid could be causing damage to your esophagus. Your doctor can help you find the right treatment.

You can make changes to your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms of GERD. Here are some things to try:

• Change your eating habits.
  • It’s best to eat several small meals instead of two or three large meals.
  • After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down. Late-night snacks aren't a good idea.
  • Chocolate, mint, and alcohol can make GERD worse. They relax the valve between the esophagus and the stomach.
  • Spicy foods, foods that have a lot of acid (like tomatoes and oranges), and coffee can make GERD symptoms worse in some people. If your symptoms are worse after you eat a certain food, you may want to stop eating that food to see if your symptoms get better.
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
• If you have GERD symptoms at night, raise the head of your bed to by putting the frame on blocks or placing a foam wedge under the head of your mattress. (Adding extra pillows does not work.)
• Avoid or reduce pressure on your stomach. Do not wear tight clothing around your middle. Lose weight if you need to. Losing just 5 to 10 pounds can help.

GERD: Controlling heartburn by changing your habits

Along with lifestyle changes, nonprescription medicines may be needed to control occasional heartburn. Medicines used for home treatment of GERD include antacids (for example, Tums), H2 blockers (for example, Pepcid), and proton pump inhibitors (for example, Prilosec OTC). If you have been using nonprescription medicines to treat your symptoms for longer than 2 weeks, talk to your doctor. If you have GERD, the stomach acid could be causing damage to your esophagus. Your doctor can help you find the right treatment. For more information about prescription forms of these drugs, see the Medications section of this topic.

Last updated:	March 31, 2008
Author:	Monica Rhodes
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC