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GERD - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects a large amount of people every year in the United States. Characterized by signs such as heartburn, throat pain, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness and vomiting, GERD can be a difficult condition to live with. Mealtimes are most difficult, especially when eating foods that can contribute to GERD's symptoms, such as spicy or fried foods. Even certain activities such as lying down or bending over can worsen a person's symptoms. Only your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis of GERD symptoms, so seek medical attention if you think you have this problem. While GERD is a disease caused by gastric acid, there are a few things that people may want to avoid if they suffer from this condition. Specific foods can contribute to heartburn, which is a common sign of GERD. To keep track of what foods or activities trigger symptoms for you, consider keeping a journal to record what you were doing when symptoms struck. This will help you to avoid anything that triggers an attack for you, and ensure that you live as symptom-free as possible. Unfortunately, GERD cannot be cured. Luckily, there are ways to manage symptoms with medications or lifestyle adjustments. Your doctor can make an appropriate diagnosis and advise a course of treatment that will work best for you. In most cases, GERD is a chronic condition but there are instances (such as during pregnancy) where GERD will disappear once a specific event or time period has passed. Regardless, it is important to speak with your doctor before beginning any sort of treatment, because they are the only ones that can provide the exact treatment you need to help you live symptom free. Articles on GERD: |