Options to control acid reflex

Q: My doctor says that I have GERD and has put me on medication that reduces my stomach acid. What else can I do to stop the pain and nausea that I feel after eating? — Greg T., Moline, Illinois

A: GERD requires prompt and effective treatment. It can increase your risk for ulcers in the lining of the esophagus, difficulty swallowing, and cancer; trigger breathing problems, sore throat and coughing; and affect voice quality. This happens when the flap at the end of your esophagus — your lower esophageal sphincter — doesn’t close tightly after you swallow food or liquid, allowing stomach acid to enter the esophagus.

For most folks with GERD, prescription and over-thecounter proton pump inhibitors are the go-to remedy. The country’s bill for the pill? Twenty billion annually. But, according to a 2022 study, $14 billion of that is spent unnecessarily. And, we might add, unwisely.

The American Gastroenterological Association guidelines say PPIs should be taken at the lowest dose and for the shortest amount of time possible. Why? One example: A recent study in Neurology found that taking PPIs for 4.4 years or longer increased the risk of dementia by 33%. But taking PPIs for a shorter amount of time didn’t increase the risk.

Non-prescription H2 blockers (Pepcid and Zantac, for example) also reduce stomach acid, but they can interfere with other medications and you shouldn’t take them if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or with certain medical conditions.

So, talk to your doctor about minimizing the damage from GERD with a combination of (supervised) medication and lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, avoiding foods that trigger reflux and elevating the head of your bed when sleeping.

If medication and lifestyle treatments don’t ease your GERD, you may be a candidate for Nissen fundoplication — a laparoscopic surgery that tightens the junction between your stomach and esophagus, preventing reflux.

For more info on managing GERD, check out the iHerb. com blog: “GERD: “What It Is, Foods + Supplements That May Help, + More.”vv

Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook. com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb. com, the world’s leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively.