This makes it more likely that acid will reflux. Symptoms include pain that gets worse after a meal and acid regurgitation. Doctors usually avoid prescribing too many medications while a woman is pregnant because the medicine can be passed along to the fetus.
Instead, doctors usually recommend making lifestyle changes, such as avoiding foods known to cause acid reflux and sleeping with the head slightly elevated. Taking antacids that contain magnesium, aluminum, and calcium may be permitted. In addition to antacids, common heartburn medications that are typically considered safe in pregnancy include famotidine Pepcid.
For more severe cases, other medications known as proton pump inhibitors like lansoprazole Prevacid can often be used. Always check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications during pregnancy.
The tube has sensors that can detect if acid is refluxing past the esophagus. Upper endoscopy: This test involves using a special tube with a camera on its end. The upper endoscopy test can help a doctor identify any signs of damage, tumors, inflammation, or ulcers in these areas. Your doctor will usually take a tissue sample known as a biopsy. Acid from the stomach can damage the lining of the esophagus if GERD is left untreated.
This can cause:. The acid can also cause a change in the cells in the esophagus over time. About 10 to 15 percent of people with GERD will develop this condition. Eating certain foods are known to increase the amount of acid in the stomach, which can lead to symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. Avoiding these foods may help to reduce symptoms without taking medications.
Examples include:. Also, if you are overweight, taking steps to reduce your weight can help. This includes healthy eating and exercising whenever possible. If you are not exercising regularly, a good goal is to strive for 30 minutes of exercise five times a week. For babies with GERD, a doctor might recommend diet changes, such as adding a small amount of rice cereal to breast milk or formula to thicken it to make reflux less likely.
Holding a baby upright during feeding, and at least 30 minutes after, may also reduce symptoms. Avoiding overfeeding can help as well. In older children, a doctor may recommend an elimination diet of foods known to aggravate acid reflux these foods tend to be the same for children and adults.
It is important to see your doctor when changes are not helping or when symptoms occur twice a week or more. Antacids : First-line treatments for acid reflux are usually antacids. These medicines act quickly to reduce the effect of stomach acid, which can relieve symptoms. Examples of these medicines are Tums and Rolaids.
Sometimes taking these medicines with antacids can help. Examples of these medicines include cimetidine Tagamet and famotidine Pepcid. Proton pump inhibitors: These medications work longer than H2 blockers to reduce acid in the stomach. They can also help heal the stomach lining. Prokinetics: These are medications like metoclopramide Reglan.
There is controversy as to whether these medications benefit people with GERD. Many new prokinetics have been removed from the market due to serious side effects. One surgical approach is known as Nissen fundoplication.
This involves wrapping a portion of your stomach around the esophagus to strengthen the LES. Symptoms of heartburn are often mistaken for heart attack, but the two conditions are unrelated. Spicy foods or large meals can also be the root of distress.
Other sources of heartburn include aspirin or ibuprofen, as well as some sedatives and blood pressure medications. Tobacco in cigarettes is known to affect LES function too; cigarette smoking relaxes the muscle, which can result in heartburn.
Being overweight or pregnant can also trigger heartburn due to added pressure on the abdomen and stomach. Symptoms usually begin shortly after eating and may persist for hours or fade in minutes.
In addition to burning in the chest, you may have a sour taste in your mouth, coughing, or hoarseness. You may also feel like you have food "stuck" in your throat. Many people experience worsening heartburn when they lie down or bend over, because these actions allow stomach acid to move more easily into the esophagus. What should you do to prevent or relieve heartburn? Your doctor might start by suggesting simple lifestyle changes, says Dr.
Avoid foods that trigger the problem; eat smaller, more frequent meals; and wait hours after you eat before lying down. Over-the-counter antacids can help and may be taken after meals or as needed.
Your doctor could also suggest an H2 blocker or proton pump inhibitor, both of which are available over the counter or with a prescription. Heartburn, acid reflux and GERD are different but related. Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux, and GERD is a condition characterized by severe acid reflux. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Q: Are heartburn and acid reflux the same thing?
What about GERD? Related Articles. Have Heartburn?
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