What are the Acid Reflux Disease Treatments Available?

Acid reflux is a condition that is shared by millions of people in the world. Acid reflux disease occurs when the sphincter muscle at the base of the esophagus does not close like it should.

The result is the contents of the stomach and the acids in it go back up to the esophagus. The acid causes a burning pain and if this condition is not treated immediately, the acid can damage the esophageal tissue and lining.

So what are the acid reflux disease treatments available to people afflicted with acid reflux disease?

Acid Reflux Disease Treatment: Medication

If you are suffering from acid reflux and you notice that the condition is becoming more severe and occurring more and more frequently, take this as a sign that you need to pay your doctor a visit. Your doctor will be able to make a proper diagnosis of your condition, pin point the causes of your acid reflux condition and prescribe to you an appropriate acid reflux disease treatment.

There are many acid reflux disease treatment options available to you -- over-the-counter medications as well as prescription drugs. However, some doctors are apt to recommend instituting lifestyle changes first before prescribing medications. Should the lifestyle changes fail to work, your doctor may prescribe an acid reflux disease treatment in the form of prescription drugs, which are known to work well at alleviating acid reflux pains. In rare cases when drugs fail to work, surgery is the last acid reflux disease treatment option that a doctor would recommend to correct the problem.

Acid Reflux Disease Treatment: Lifestyle Changes

The rise in the number of people afflicted with acid reflux disease is attributed by many doctors to diet that consists of carbohydrates and fat, and sedentary lifestyle. Also, people who are overweight or obese are more likely to have acid reflux disease. This link between obesity and acid reflux is attributed to the fact that the excess weight in the midsection increases the pressure on the stomach, which in turn makes it hard for the esophageal sphincter to work normally. This is the reason that a low-fat diet is one of the acid reflux disease treatments administered to afflicted individuals. In this kind of acid reflux disease treatment, you are required to avoid foods that can trigger your condition.

Acid reflux is worse during nighttime. Acid reflux is more pronounced among sufferers when they are lying down because the position allows the stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus and even into the mouth. Thus, an acid reflux disease treatment can be as simple as sleeping on an incline position, either by raising the head of the bed by a few inches or by using wedge pillows.