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Suggest Treatment For Acid Reflux
Question: What can I do to stop acid reflux. I have allergies; I have a heart condition and have had a number of nose bleeds in the past year. My main problem is the acid reflux at nighttime.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
different aspects of treatment
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Reflux can be bothersome. If you treat it comprehensively with lifestyle changes (diet mainly) and medication and there is still no improvement then you may need to be tested for the H pylori bacteria.
If this bacteria is present, it can worsen or cause reflux. It requires treatment with at least 2 antibiotics along with reflux medication. A blood test checks for the presence of this bacteria.
Treatment--(1) use small frequent meals instead of large meals. The large meals stimulate more acid production.
Best to use small meals/portions
(2)reduce acid/spicy/fried/fatty foods including caffeine, chocolate, mint, tomato and other citrus fruits, onion
Fatty foods can relax the sphincter (valve) at the end of the esophagus so that food/acid can come back up
(3)weight loss of excess weight reduces the pressure on the stomach so that less food comes back up
(4)waiting at least 2 hours before laying down. Some persons also need to elevate the head of the bed
(5)persistent use of the medication, if you are using pantoprazole persistently and there is no improvement, may need to switch to an alternative eg nexium, prilosec,prevacid.
It can take these medications 5 to 7 days to kick in and they need to be used consistently
As mentioned before, if there is improvement then you should consider testing for H pylori
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
different aspects of treatment
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Reflux can be bothersome. If you treat it comprehensively with lifestyle changes (diet mainly) and medication and there is still no improvement then you may need to be tested for the H pylori bacteria.
If this bacteria is present, it can worsen or cause reflux. It requires treatment with at least 2 antibiotics along with reflux medication. A blood test checks for the presence of this bacteria.
Treatment--(1) use small frequent meals instead of large meals. The large meals stimulate more acid production.
Best to use small meals/portions
(2)reduce acid/spicy/fried/fatty foods including caffeine, chocolate, mint, tomato and other citrus fruits, onion
Fatty foods can relax the sphincter (valve) at the end of the esophagus so that food/acid can come back up
(3)weight loss of excess weight reduces the pressure on the stomach so that less food comes back up
(4)waiting at least 2 hours before laying down. Some persons also need to elevate the head of the bed
(5)persistent use of the medication, if you are using pantoprazole persistently and there is no improvement, may need to switch to an alternative eg nexium, prilosec,prevacid.
It can take these medications 5 to 7 days to kick in and they need to be used consistently
As mentioned before, if there is improvement then you should consider testing for H pylori
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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