According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux (GER) occurs when the contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus (a tube that connects the mouth to the stomach) during or after a meal. The lower esophageal sphincter normally closes to help keep food in the stomach. If the sphincter does not close, then food can come back into the esophagus, resulting in gastroesophageal reflux. GER can occur in children and adults.
Common GER Symptoms in Infants
GER is common in infants, with more than half experiencing reflux in the first three months of their life. Severe symptoms are not common. Symptoms of GER include spitting up, vomiting, coughing, irritability, poor feeding or blood in the stools. Some infants may experience any number of these symptoms.
Rare GER Symptoms in Infants
Rarely infants may experience symptoms that may be of greater concern, according to the NIH. Symptoms include breathing problems; irritability or refusing to feed as a result of pain; acid burning the esophagus which could lead to blood loss; or, as a result of not being able to keep food down, growth problems. These are not common, and if an infant experiences, then a health care provider should be alerted immediately.
GER Symptoms in Adults
According to MedLine Plus, common symptoms of GER in adults include a burning pain in the chest or nausea after eating a meal. Other symptoms that could indicate GER that are less common are difficulty swallowing, hiccups, a sore throat or a cough or wheezing. GER can be exacerbated in pregnant women taking medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure, bronchodilators for asthma or sedatives for insomnia.
Medication: H2-Blockers
According to the NIDDK, H2 blockers work to prevent acid from backing into the esophagus. H2 blockers are effective for both children and adults. They are available in liquid form for children. Common types include ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid).
Medication: Proton-pump inhibitors
Other effective medications for the treatment of GER are proton-pump inhibitors. They work by blocking stomach acid from being produced, resulting in a decreased chance of reflux. Common types of proton-pump inhibitors include omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium) and lansoprazole (Prevacid).
Over-the-Counter Medications
Antacids can also be used for fast-acting, but brief relief of GER and related symptoms. Antacids help neutralize the acid in the stomach. Antacids often empty from the stomach in an hour and therefore are not a long-term treatment for GER. Antacids are either aluminum, magnesium or calcium based.
Prevention
Children, especially infants, often outgrow GER. Adults can benefit from changes in eating habits to possibly decrease the occurrence of heartburn. Foods to avoid to help reduce potential triggers are chocolate, citrus fruits and drinks, tomatoes, spicy foods, peppermint, alcohol and caffeine.
