Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Troublesome Symptoms:
Symptoms that persist for greater than two weeks and affect quality of life.
- Asthma
- Chronic Cough
- Chronic Hoarseness
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Alarm Symptoms
Symptoms that signal complications or alternative diagnosis.
Normally require immediate medical care and should not be treated at the self-care level.
- Dysphagia
- Frequent Vomiting
- GI Bleeding
- Anemia
- Choking
- Unexplained Chest Pain
- Weight Loss
Lifestyle changes
- Dietary changes
- Medication changes
- Elevate the head of bed
- Weight reduction
- Smoking cessation
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid tight fitting clothing
- Avoid foods that decrease lower esophageal pressure (fats chocolate alcohol peppermint)
- Avoid direct irritant foods (spicy foods acidic juices coffee)
- Include protein-rich meals in diet (augments lower esophageal pressure)
- Eat small meals and avoid eating prior to sleeping
- Discontinue if possible medications that promote reflux (calcium channel blockers beta-blockers nitrates theophylline)
- Take direct irritant drugs with water if they cannot be avoided (tetracyclines quinidine potassium iron aspirin NSAIDs