Acid Reflux Treatment

Controlling acid reflux involves a combination of lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, and, when necessary, medication. Key lifestyle modifications include eating smaller, more frequent meals to avoid overfilling the stomach, maintaining a healthy weight to reduce abdominal pressure, and avoiding trigger foods such as fatty meals, spicy food, caffeine, and alcohol. Quitting smoking is also crucial, as nicotine can weaken the lower oesophageal sphincter and reduce saliva production, which helps neutralise stomach acid. Elevating the head of your bed and avoiding lying down immediately after eating can further help prevent acid from travelling back up into the oesophagus.

Medications such as antacids containing calcium carbonate provide quick relief by neutralising stomach acid. Alginate-based products create a protective barrier over stomach contents to reduce reflux episodes. For persistent or severe symptoms, doctors may prescribe more potent acid blockers, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine-2 receptor antagonists like Pepcid AC, which decrease acid production in the stomach. Regular follow-up with your healthcare professional is essential to monitor symptoms and adjust treatment as needed.

Yes, acid reflux can often be prevented by adopting simple lifestyle and dietary habits. Avoiding large, fatty meals, especially close to bedtime, helps reduce the pressure on the lower oesophageal sphincter, which acts as a valve preventing stomach contents from moving back into the oesophagus. Eating smaller, frequent meals rather than heavy ones can also help manage acid reflux. Additionally, avoiding known trigger foods such as spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol can reduce symptoms.

Maintaining a healthy weight is another effective prevention strategy since excess abdominal fat can cause the stomach to push upward, increasing the likelihood of reflux. Sleeping on your left side and elevating the head of your bed have been shown in systematic reviews to reduce reflux symptoms by using gravity to keep acid in the stomach. Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake are also necessary measures, as both can weaken the lower oesophageal sphincter and irritate the oesophageal lining.

While acid reflux can often be well-managed and controlled, it is generally considered a chronic condition rather than one that is entirely curable. With appropriate lifestyle changes and medical treatment, symptoms can be significantly reduced or even eliminated. However, if left untreated, chronic acid reflux can lead to complications such as esophagitis, oesophageal ulcers, strictures, or Barrett’s oesophagus, which require ongoing care.

In some cases, when anatomical issues like a hiatal hernia cause acid reflux, surgical intervention may be considered to strengthen the lower oesophageal sphincter or repair the hernia. These surgical procedures, sometimes referred to as wrap-around procedures, involve the surgeon wrapping part of the stomach around the lower oesophagus and can provide long-term relief for severe cases.

Several strategies can help acid reflux symptoms go away or improve. Lifestyle changes such as eating smaller meals, avoiding trigger foods, quitting smoking, and elevating the head of the bed are foundational. Over-the-counter medications like antacids and alginates can provide quick symptom relief by neutralising stomach acid or forming a protective barrier.

For more persistent or severe acid reflux, prescription medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine-2 receptor antagonists reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach, helping to heal the oesophageal lining and prevent symptoms from returning. In rare cases, when medications and lifestyle changes are insufficient, surgical options may be explored.

Excess stomach acid itself does not typically cause diarrhoea. However, acid reflux and related gastrointestinal issues can sometimes be associated with other digestive symptoms, including diarrhoea, especially if there is an underlying condition affecting the digestive system. Some medications used to treat acid reflux, such as proton pump inhibitors, may alter gut bacteria or digestion, potentially leading to diarrhoea as a side effect. If you experience new or worsening diarrhoea, consult your healthcare professional to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.

Yes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be effectively treated. Treatment usually starts with lifestyle modifications such as avoiding trigger foods, losing weight if overweight, quitting smoking, and not lying down soon after meals. Over-the-counter medications like antacids and alginates help relieve symptoms.

If symptoms persist, more potent acid-suppressing medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine-2 receptor antagonists may be prescribed in cases where medication and lifestyle changes do not adequately control symptoms, or if there are complications such as a hiatal hernia, surgical options may be considered to reinforce the lower oesophageal sphincter or repair anatomical defects.