Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
What is GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, more commonly known as GERD, is a common, chronic condition which is when the contents of your stomach flow upwards—or “reflux”—into the esophagus. The esophagus is a long tube that connects the throat to the stomach.
Reflux causes heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest, and regurgitation, which is when fluid or food comes back up (or refluxes) in your esophagus.
In This Article:
What Causes GERD?
Stomach acid and contents are usually kept down in the stomach by several barriers, including a flap at the bottom of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). But certain risk factors can weaken this barrier and increase your risk for GERD:
- Smoking
- Being overweight, which puts pressure on your stomach and LES
- Eating large meals or eating late at night
- Eating certain “trigger” foods like fatty, fried, or acidic foods
- Drinking coffee, alcohol and other beverages
Diagnosing GERD
A diagnosis of GERD usually starts with your doctor taking a history of your symptoms and completing a physical examination. Your provider may also order certain tests to examine the structure of your digestive system and measure how often and for how long acid is refluxing into your esophagus.
Treating GERD
The first line of treatment for GERD is usually lifestyle changes:1
- Eating smaller and more frequent meals and waiting at least two hours to lie down after eating
- Keeping your head and torso slightly elevated about 6 inches while sleeping
- Quitting smoking
- Avoiding trigger foods
- Losing weight
Your provider may also recommend taking over-the-counter medication that neutralize your stomach acid or reduce the production of stomach acid. In more severe cases of GERD, your doctor may also recommend prescription-strength medication.
How GERD Affects COPD
Some studies have found that GERD is more common in people living with COPD. GERD can also worsen COPD exacerbations, and some COPD medications are thought to worsen reflux.
GERD can also make you cough more in the morning when you wake up, which can be difficult to distinguish from coughing associated with COPD.
What You Can Do Today
- Try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Eat dinner earlier too, so you have at least two hours before you lie down to go to bed.
- Identifyyour trigger foods by keeping a journal of what you eat and drink and when you experience symptoms.
- Limit your trigger foods to avoid experiencing symptoms.
- Speak to your provider to ask if seeing a gastroenterologist or other specialist may be helpful.
- If you’reexperiencing heartburn and regurgitation at night, elevate yourself by using a special wedge pillow that raises your head and torso.
- Take all your COPD and GERD medications as prescribed.