- Lose weight: Extra weight puts pressure on your abdomen, pushing your stomach upwards and causing acid reflux - Eat slowly and chew thoroughly: Put down your fork after every bite, and pick it up after you have fully chewed and swallowed that bite. - Don’t lie down after eating: The habit of lying on the couch after eating allows acid reflux to occur. Wait at least three hours before lying down or going to bed. - Elevate the head of your bed: If you regularly experience acid reflux while in bed, try elevating your head. You can do this by placing wood or blocks under the feet of the head of the bed, or by inserting a wedge between your mattress and box spring. Don’t do this with extra pillows, as that creates pressure on your neck and back. - Stop smoking: Smoking is shown to relax the esophageal sphincter. Diagnosing GERD At Vanguard Gastroenterology, our physicians can usually diagnose GERD with a physical examination, but we may recommend certain procedures to confirm our diagnosis. Patients can have an upper endoscopy to examine the esophagus and stomach. We can check for any inflammation or take a tissue sample. An ambulatory acid probe test can also be used. Patients have a monitor placed in their esophagus to identify when stomach acid regurgitates there. Additionally, patients can have an esophageal manometry which measures the rhythmic muscle contractions and the coordination and force exerted by your esophagus. Lastly, our staff may recommend an x-ray. A chalky liquid coats the inside lining of your digestive tract so the x-ray can provide a silhouette of the esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine. GERD And Acid Reflux Treatment Other than the lifestyle changes described above, at Vanguard Gastroenterology we often begin with over-the-counter medications. These include antacids such as Mylanta, medications to reduce acid production such as Pepcid AC and Zantac, and medications that block acid production and heal the esophagus such as Prevacid and Prilosec. If these treatments don’t prove to be effective, our physicians will prescribe medications for GERD. These commonly include prescription-strength H-2-receptor blockers, prescription-strength proton pump inhibitors, and medication to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter. Surgery For Acid Reflux GERD can usually be controlled with medication and lifestyle changes. However, the long-term use of medication can sometimes create its own problems. In some cases, surgery is a possibility to treat GERD. Surgical options include: - Fundoplication: The top of the stomach around the lower esophageal sphincter is wrapped to tighten the muscle and prevent reflux. This is usually done with a laparoscope and is minimally invasive. - LINX device: A ring made of tiny magnetic beads is wrapped around the area of the esophageal sphincter. The magnetic attraction between the beads is strong enough to keep the sphincter closed to keep acid from refluxing, but is weak enough to allow food to pass through.