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What Do Pain In The Chest And Heartburn Indicate?
Brief Answer:
Recommendations for GERD
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Yes, what you are describing is consistent with GERD/acid reflux.
Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor and as you noted, can help with the symptoms. Zantac is an H2 acid blocker and can also work in place of the proton pump inhibitor, with fewer side effects (sometimes proton pump inhibitors can cause rebound symptoms on discontinuation). Dosing for Zantac is 150 mg twice a day or two at bedtime.
Things that can help GERD are avoidance of foods that seem to make it worse. Each person has their own particular foods that make it worse for them, so you might want to keep track to see if there are any patterns for you. But common foods that make it worse are alcohol, caffeine (cola, coffee), acidy foods such as citrus, tomatoes, spicy foods, peppermint (which relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, and chocolate. Cigarettes should be discontinued.
Large meals can increase GERD because of increased pressure and acid production. So if you are having problems with reflux symptoms, eat smaller amounts but more often.
Avoidance of lying down within a couple of hours of eating is a good idea because the acid has more chance of coming up.
You can buy special blocks to put under the posts of the head of the bed to elevate the head without increasing pressure on the abdomen, which using more pillows to simulate raising the head can sometimes do.
So those are some suggestions for dealing with this problem. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Recommendations for GERD
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Yes, what you are describing is consistent with GERD/acid reflux.
Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor and as you noted, can help with the symptoms. Zantac is an H2 acid blocker and can also work in place of the proton pump inhibitor, with fewer side effects (sometimes proton pump inhibitors can cause rebound symptoms on discontinuation). Dosing for Zantac is 150 mg twice a day or two at bedtime.
Things that can help GERD are avoidance of foods that seem to make it worse. Each person has their own particular foods that make it worse for them, so you might want to keep track to see if there are any patterns for you. But common foods that make it worse are alcohol, caffeine (cola, coffee), acidy foods such as citrus, tomatoes, spicy foods, peppermint (which relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, and chocolate. Cigarettes should be discontinued.
Large meals can increase GERD because of increased pressure and acid production. So if you are having problems with reflux symptoms, eat smaller amounts but more often.
Avoidance of lying down within a couple of hours of eating is a good idea because the acid has more chance of coming up.
You can buy special blocks to put under the posts of the head of the bed to elevate the head without increasing pressure on the abdomen, which using more pillows to simulate raising the head can sometimes do.
So those are some suggestions for dealing with this problem. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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