Eliminating certain foods can lessen severity of acid reflux
Dear Doctor: What are the best medications for acid reflux? I’ve tried doxycycline and metronidazole (Flagyl), for H. pylori infections, which made me sick, as well as Prilosec and Pepto-Bismol.
Dear Reader: That’s a question asked by many people in the United States, where gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects an estimated 20 percent of the population. The condition is less common in other parts of the world, although its worldwide incidence is increasing.
Some degree of reflux normally occurs after eating but is not felt. However, when a significant amount of the stomach’s acidic contents rises up to the esophagus, it injures the esophageal tissue – and causes pain. The thick lining of the stomach can handle the acidity; the esophagus cannot. The burning sensation under the breastbone after eating is what people commonly identify as “heartburn.” Some people even feel the regurgitation in the back of their throat and mouth.
My first thought in your case has nothing to do with medications. That’s because acid reflux is normally prevented by a sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus – and there are chemicals in our diets that relax this sphincter, allowing the acidic contents to rise up. These chemicals, found in chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and mint, can allow the lower esophageal sphincter to loosen, as can, to a lesser degree, onions and garlic.
For some people, acid reflux will persist even with dietary changes. When the reflux is severe and enduring enough to damage the esophagus, treatment is necessary. The best treatment is to decrease the acidity of the material coming up. Antacids like calcium carbonate or aluminum hydroxide can help in the short-term, but they do not provide long-term relief; H2 blockers can. They block the histamine-2 receptor in the stomach and thus decrease acidity.
So, in other words, keep trying – and make sure a doctor keeps an eye on your symptoms and the condition of your esophagus.