Lifestyle modifications for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Introduction

Key Points

Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be painful and, if allowed to continue, can lead to complications including esophagitis. Making adjustments to your lifestyle can help provide relief.

• Quitting the use of tobacco products can help relieve symptoms of GERD.
• Changing your diet can help prevent heartburn, the main symptom of GERD. Losing weight, not overeating, and cutting out alcohol and caffeine can make heartburn less likely to occur.
• Sleep problems resulting from symptoms of GERD can be lessened by not lying down within 3 hours of eating and by raising the head of your bed 6 in. (15 cm) to 8 in. (20 cm).

What is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Why is it important to include lifestyle changes in treating GERD?
How can I modify my lifestyle to relieve symptoms of GERD?
Where to go from here

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What is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the abnormal backflow, or reflux, of stomach acid and juices, the chemicals that break down food in the stomach, into the esophagus, the tube that leads from the throat to the stomach.

See an illustration of the esophagus.

GERD occurs when the valve between the lower end of the esophagus and the stomach (the lower esophageal sphincter) does not close tightly enough. The main symptom of GERD is a frequent uncomfortable feeling of burning, warmth, heat, or pain just behind the breastbone, commonly referred to as heartburn. Overeating or bending forward after eating occasionally causes heartburn and a sour taste in the mouth. Occasional heartburn does not mean you have GERD. In GERD, the reflux—and heartburn—last longer and occur more often.

Treatment for GERD is aimed at reducing reflux of stomach acid and juices into the esophagus, preventing injury to the lining of the esophagus, or helping it to heal if injury has already occurred. Preventing GERD from recurring and preventing other complications of GERD are also treatment goals.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are the same thing.
1. True
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Heartburn is the main symptom of GERD, but occasional heartburn does not mean you have GERD. In GERD, heartburn lasts longer and occurs more often.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is correct

   Heartburn is the main symptom of GERD, but occasional heartburn does not mean you have GERD. In GERD, heartburn lasts longer and occurs more often.

   

Continue to Why is it important to include lifestyle changes in treating GERD?
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Why is it important to include lifestyle changes in treating GERD?

Although making changes to your lifestyle probably will not cure your gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), they can provide relief from symptoms and make you more comfortable. Heartburn, the main symptom of GERD, can cause significant pain and discomfort during the day, keeping you from being productive at work and from leading an active life at home. Changes to your lifestyle that reduce GERD symptoms can help you stay focused at your job and make other activities more enjoyable.

In addition to discomfort during the day, GERD symptoms can keep you awake at night and can affect your sleep in the long term. Changing your sleeping position and habits can help you avoid GERD symptoms at night, allowing you to sleep better.

GERD symptoms that go untreated or persist despite treatment can turn into more serious problems. GERD can cause irritation, inflammation, or wearing away (erosion) of the lining of the esophagus (esophagitis), as well as craterlike sores (ulcers) in the lining of the esophagus. Some people who have symptoms of GERD may develop a condition called Barrett's esophagus that can lead to cancer of the esophagus.

Test Your Knowledge

1. If you don't treat symptoms of GERD, they will go away.
1. True
   

   The answer is incorrect

   GERD symptoms that go untreated or persist despite treatment can turn into more serious problems, including esophagitis, ulcers, and Barrett's esophagus.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is correct

   GERD symptoms that go untreated or persist despite treatment can turn into more serious problems, including esophagitis, ulcers, and Barrett's esophagus.

   

Continue to How can I modify my lifestyle to relieve symptoms of GERD?
Return to Lifestyle modifications for gastroesophageal reflux disease

How can I modify my lifestyle to relieve symptoms of GERD?

There are many changes you can make to your lifestyle that can help to relieve or lessen symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These are some suggestions.

Quitting tobacco use

If you smoke or chew tobacco, stop. The nicotine from tobacco relaxes the valve between the esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter). This can allow stomach acid and juices, the chemicals that break down food in the stomach, to back up (reflux) into the esophagus, which causes heartburn.

Because the nicotine in tobacco is addicting, stopping the use of tobacco is more difficult than simply changing a habit. Those who successfully quit using tobacco usually use a combination of strategies that may include:

• Professional counseling, either by telephone or in person.
• The use of medications, to help overcome the addiction to nicotine.
• Participation in a proven smoking cessation program.
• Having a support group of peers who are also quitting or who do not smoke.

The use of more than one of these strategies greatly improves your chances of successfully quitting. Quitting tobacco use may require several attempts. Most people who smoke make 5 to 7 attempts at quitting before succeeding.

For more information, see the topic Quitting Tobacco Use.

Changing your eating habits

Developing healthier eating habits, losing weight if necessary, and avoiding foods that increase symptoms of GERD may make heartburn less likely to occur. Take your spouse or partner along with you when you go to your doctor to discuss diet habits. It will be easier to make changes in your diet if your family understands what you need to do and why.

Changes you should make include avoiding alcohol and coffee and eating smaller, more frequent meals. If you are overweight, lose weight. Being overweight puts additional pressure on your stomach and increases the likelihood of heartburn occurring. Even losing a few pounds can help.

Certain foods are associated with reflux. Though the foods will not cause GERD, they can aggravate the symptoms, and avoiding them can help reduce heartburn. These include citrus fruits, chocolate, fatty and fried foods, garlic and onions, mint-flavored foods, spicy foods, and tomato-based foods like spaghetti sauce and pizza.

Reducing pressure on your stomach

Putting pressure on your stomach may push stomach juices into your esophagus, causing heartburn. Some ways to reduce heartburn include the following:

• Avoid lying down for 2 to 3 hours after eating. When you are lying down, the contents of your stomach can push against the valve between the esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter). Sitting up allows gravity to help food and stomach juices from the esophagus drain back into your stomach.
• Avoid eating large meals and snacks just before bedtime.
• Avoid tight clothing over your stomach. Tight belts, waistbands, or panty hose may push against your stomach and make your heartburn worse.
• Use care when lifting and bending. Bending over tends to increase the amount of stomach acid that can get into your esophagus. When lifting, bend at the knees to avoid bending over.

Improving sleep position and habits

Raising the head of your bed 6 in. (15.24 cm) to 8 in. (20.32 cm) will help keep stomach acid from flowing into your esophagus when you are sleeping. You can do this by putting blocks underneath your bed frame or by placing a foam wedge under the head of your mattress. Using extra pillows will not work.

Lying down shortly after eating will also increase the chance of getting heartburn. Do not lie down within 3 hours of eating.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Being overweight can make GERD symptoms worse.
1. True
   

   The answer is correct

   Being overweight puts additional pressure on your stomach and increases the likelihood of heartburn occurring. Even losing a few pounds can help.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is incorrect

   Being overweight puts additional pressure on your stomach and increases the likelihood of heartburn occurring. Even losing a few pounds can help.

   
2. Quitting smoking is good for me, but it will not affect symptoms of GERD.
1. True
   

   The answer is incorrect

   The nicotine from tobacco relaxes the valve between the esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter). This can allow stomach acid and juices, the chemicals that break down food in the stomach, to back up (reflux) into the esophagus, which causes heartburn.

   
2. False
   

   The answer is correct

   The nicotine from tobacco relaxes the valve between the esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter). This can allow stomach acid and juices, the chemicals that break down food in the stomach, to back up (reflux) into the esophagus, which causes heartburn.

   

Continue to Where to go from here
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Where to go from here

Now that you have read this information, you can begin to make some lifestyle changes to relieve your GERD symptoms. If you have any questions about these changes or need help making them, contact your health professional.

If you would like more information about GERD, the following resources are available:

Organizations

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