There are a few different ways people go about trying to treat their acid reflux. Depending on the severity of their condition, simple lifestyle changes can be enough while at the other extreme, surgery can be tried as a last resort. Below we list the main treatments:

Food and drink

Rather than immedately presrcibing drug treatments, doctors will often review a patient's diet with them to see if there are any changes that can be made that would relieve their acid reflux. Some of the foods well known to cause acid reflux amongst others include fatty foods, spicy foods, chocolate, citrus fruits, dairy products and peppermint. Drinks-wise it is best to try and limit intake of coffee and alcoholic beverages. It is also recommended to eat smaller meals to reduce the amount of acid produced at any one time and not to eat before going to bed to relieve nighttime acid reflux.

Weight loss

Being overweight is a contributory factor in acid reflux since there is more pressure on the stomach which causes the acids to backflow to the esophagus. Losing excess weight has a myriad of health advantages and should be a primary health goal for all overweight people not least to help gain acid reflux relief.

Position changes

The majority of GERD sufferers report that the symptoms are at their most severe when they are lying down trying to sleep. This nighttime acid reflux is not a result of any coincidence but due to losing the aid of gravity in keeping the acidic juices down in the stomach. Sleeping on the left side has been known to help reduce the problem. Another common solution is to elevate the head using extra pillows or a special acid reflux pillow.

Medications and drugs

There is wide range of drugs registered for treatment of GERD, and they can be grouped by the way in which the treat the condition:

• Proton pump inhibitors such as Prevacid and Nexium are very effective in stopping acid secretion in the stomach by blocking the proton pump.
• Antacids such as TUMS and Pepto-Bismal work by neutralizing the acid in your stomach and can be taken before a meal or when symptoms strike.
• Alginic acid such as Gaviscon which works by creating a barrier to block the refluxing stomach acid from getting into the esophagus.
• Prokinetics such as Domperidone which strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) and speed up the transit of contents through the intestines.

Your doctor will be able to advise you on the best drugs to take, whether they be prescription or not, and any common side-effects that you may experience.

Surgery

If none of the aforementioned treatments are able to effectively relieve acid reflux then surgery may be the only remaining option. Also, in younger people surgery is becoming increasingly popular since the cost of a lifetime of prescription medication is not attractive. In addition, the long-term effects of prolonged drug use is uncertain. The common surgical operation for GERD is called Nissen fundoplication. It involves strengthening the LES by wrapping around the upper part of the stomach and also repairing a hiatus hernia if the patient has one.

More acid reflux treatment articles:

• Is There An Acid Reflux Cure?
• Getting Acid Reflux Relief Fast - Try Acid Reflux Medication
• Treating Acid Reflux - Nexium Is The Most Often Prescribed Drug
• Can You Gain Relief With An Acid Reflux Pillow?
• Is Acid Reflux Surgery Right For You?
• Is Treating Acid Reflux Without Nexium An Effective Method?
• Common Remedies For Treating Reflux
• How To Stop Acid Reflux

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