GERD (GastroEsophageal Reflux Disorder)

GERD is a common disorder. It most often is perceived as heartburn, but can have varied symptoms from chest pain similar to angina to causing asthma. Reflux is the chemical term used to describe fluid climbing a pipe. In this case, its acid in your stomach climbing the esophagus, the pipe between your mouth and stomach (what the British call a gullet. When you have GERD it is important to avoid the following foods:

• Mints, peppermint and spearmint
• Fatty foods; these delay emptying of the stomach, and thus, give the acid in your stomach more time to irritate the esophagus.
• Chocolate (of any kind)
• Coffee (with or without caffeine)

Other factors that aggravate acid reflux are:

• Alcohol (of any kind)
• Cigarette smoking or chewing tobacco use

A final tool for managing acid reflux requires elevating the head of your bed with 4 inch blocks underneath the front legs/posts. This will help to keep the acid from climbing up your esophagus at night when you are lying flat.