Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a condition that causes painful symptoms, including chest pain, burning sensation in your chest, dry cough, sore throat, regurgitation of food or a feeling there is a lump in your throat. Over time, these symptoms can become progressively more severe and even cause damage to the esophagus and stomach.
Causes
Acid reflux is caused by a number of factors, and identifying the underlying cause can help you to best determine how to treat it. For example, being overweight, smoking cigarettes or consuming excess amounts of alcohol can lead to the development of acid reflux, according to MedlinePlus. Taking medications, such as beta-blockers, asthma medicines, calcium channel blockers, progestin, sedatives or antidepressants all have been linked with increased incidence of acid reflux. Weakening of the esophageal sphincter can cause acid reflux.
Dietary Considerations
A person's diet may strongly influence the onset of acid reflux symptoms, according to Medline Plus. These foods include alcohol, chocolate, citrus fruits, tomatoes, spicy foods, high-fat foods, mint and full-fat dairy items. Foods that cause gas, such as beans, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage and kale also should be avoided if they result in negative symptoms. Note any foods that cause acid reflux symptoms and avoid them whenever possible.
Types
Types of at-home acid reflux treatments include herbal remedies, such as licorice, slippery elm, chamomile and marshmallow, according to the Mayo Clinic. Lifestyle modifications, such as refraining from wearing tight-fitting clothing, not lying down after eating, placing pillows underneath the back and neck to elevate the body and refraining from smoking can reduce the severity of heartburn or the frequency of its occurrence.
Warning
While at-home treatments may help to relieve some of the effects of acid reflux, more severe cases of acid reflux or symptoms that progress over time can result in health complications, according to Medline Plus. These include dental issues, chronic cough, ulcers in the esophagus and Barrett's esophagus, which can lead to cancer and esophageal inflammation. If you experience bleeding, choking, chronic vomiting, appetite loss and difficulty swallowing, you should seek the advice of a medical professional.
Over-the-Counter Medications
A number of medications that can be purchased over the counter are available to treat heartburn at home. These include antacids, which are designed to neutralize acid in the stomach. Other medications can reduce acid production, including Tagamet, Pepcid and Zantac, according to the Mayo Clinic. Prohibiting acid production and healing the esophagus is the aim of other OTC at-home treatments, including Prevavid and Prilosec OTC.
