Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD or GERD), also known as acid reflux is a disease of the lower oesophagus and stomach. This disease when the lower oesophageal sphincter does not close properly and stomach contents leak back, or reflux, into the oesophagus. People with GORD often have symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation. Anyone, including infants, children, and pregnant women, can have GORD.
Now there are two main types of treatment of GORD: lifestyle modification and medications
Lifestyle modification
To prevent or minimize symptoms of GORD, the following health tips are recommended:
• Avoid lying down soon after eating.
• Eat three hours or more before bedtime.
• Lose weight if you are overweight.
• Avoid certain foods, such as caffeine, carbonated drinks, chocolate, mints, high fat foods, fried foods, and tomato sauces.
• Eat smaller meals.
• Stop smoking.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol use.
Medical treatment
Medical treatment for GORD includes:
• Proton Pump Inhibitors – Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) reduce the amount of acid produced by your stomach, and are usually the first treatment for GORD.
• H2 receptor antagonists – H2 receptor antagonists also reduce the amount of acid produced by your stomach.
• Motility stimulants – These medicines speed up the rate at which your stomach empties. They also improve the squeezing of the sphincter muscle, to help stop stomach contents being brought back up into your oesophagus. They are normally used to reduce symptoms such as bloating and a feeling of fullness soon after you start a meal.
• Alginates and Antacids – Alginates and antacids are usually available without a prescription and are best taken when symptoms occur.
Surgical treatment
A goof news for patients with GORD is that in addition to long term medication, surgery brings potential benefits. A recent study of a large team of researchers, led by Professor Adrian Grant from the University of Aberdeen, has found that a early surgery is beneficial for patients with chronic symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
The findings revealed that that surgical treatment was more effective than long-term drug therapy, especially in patients with the most troublesome symptoms, certainly up to one year after the procedure. However, this treatment is more costly than medical management and scientists were not sure more costly than medical management