There’s a good chance you won’t need to. Between 30 to 50 percent of people with GERD can find relief without going the medicinal route, depending on the severity and frequency of their symptoms, says gastroenterologist Joel E. Richter, MD, of Temple University. See whether the following lifestyle tweaks work for you.
FACE YOUR VICES
Alcohol is a major GERD trigger, and too much red wine seems to be the worst offender, says David Greenwald, MD, a gastroenterologist at Montefiore Medical Center, in New York City. Still a smoker? That habit makes this GI problem worse too.
ELIMINATE FOOD TRIGGERS
Sadly, a lot of our favorite foods top the list of GERD agitators: chocolate, tomatoes, citrus, caffeine, mint and fried anything. But instead of dropping them all at once, avoid just one potential culprit at a time and monitor how you feel. “If you’ve stopped eating tomato products for two weeks and your symptoms are better, you won’t have to give up coffee and chocolate,” Greenwald says.
LEARN TO CHILL OUT
“I keep a box of tissues in my office, because 90 percent of the time when I speak to a woman about abdominal discomfort, stress comes out as a major factor,” says Aditi Chhada, MD, a gastroenterologist affiliated with Hackensack University Medical Center, in New Jersey. GI docs have observed that patients who start using stress-reducing methods like massage also reduce their symptoms.
EMBRACE GRAVITY
“When you lie down, stomach acid is more likely to move up into your esophagus,” says Nnenna Okpara, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Woman and Infants Center for Women’s Gastrointestinal Disorders, in Providence. “Propping yourself up at an elevation of 30 degrees or higher will help control nighttime symptoms.” Try using a bed wedge ($80, medslant.com).
LOOSEN UP
If your menopot is straining your waistbands, it may be time to buy bigger clothes. “The pressure from tight-fitting clothes can back acid up into the esophagus, making symptoms worse,” Greenwald says.
WHEN YOU SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR
If lifestyle changes don’t bring significant relief, book an appointment with a GI specialist. Also visit one if you’ve been managing your own symptoms for five to 10 years. “The longer you’ve had a problem, the greater the likelihood that damage has occurred in the lining of your esophagus,” Okpara says. And if you’re experiencing GERD-like symptoms for the first time at age 50 or older, consult your doctor to rule out other potential health problems, such as heart disease, Chhada advises.
