GERD and Heartburn

It’s likely that you’ve experienced that uncomfortable feeling caused by heartburn. It’s that burning feeling that moves into your chest and throat after eating a big or spicy meal. While heartburn isn’t necessarily dangerous when it happens occasionally, it can lead to gastrointestinal difficulties. Your doctors at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens, NY believe in the power of prevention, so they work with you to take steps to prevent the condition. A thorough diagnosis tells you if it’s an issue for which you need additional testing and treatment. Call now to get rid of your heartburn forever.

Heartburn is caused by acid reflux. If you had to describe the feeling, you’d say it feels like acid is running up and down your esophagus, the tube that leads from your mouth to your stomach. That’s exactly what it is.

GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is the medical condition that causes frequent heartburn symptoms. Heartburn-causing acid reflux occurs when the valve at the bottom of your food pipe doesn’t stay closed. Food and acid from your stomach flow back up into your esophagus.

Not everyone who has heartburn is likely to be diagnosed with GERD, but GERD is a common diagnosis if you suffer from heartburn often enough. GERD is not usually dangerous, but it’s often painful and inconvenient. If you don’t have it treated, it can create other health problems over time.

Stop Heartburn Now

Your lifestyle and diet actually play big roles in stopping the uncomfortable symptoms of heartburn. Overeating, eating too fast and eating before bedtime make you more likely to get heartburn or to inflame GERD symptoms. Obesity and wearing your belt too tight contribute to the abdominal pain you feel.

Fortunately, there are effective treatments for heartburn, and you can prevent it from coming back. Your best first move is to consult with a gastroenterologist at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens, NY. Your specialist suggests medications and lifestyle changes to make that eliminate, or at least reduce, your heartburn and GERD.

What Causes GERD?

Other lifestyle choices cause heartburn, which eventually can lead to GERD. These include:

• Smoking cigarettes
• Drinking alcohol frequently
• Overusing over-the-counter pain medicines, such as aspirin and ibuprofen
• Eating chocolate, spicy food, citrus, peppermint, tomatoes and fatty foods
• Drinking beverages that contain caffeine

Underlying medical conditions also may be the culprit. These causes include:

• Gastritis
• Ulcers
• Allergies
• Hiatal hernia
• Pregnancy

Get treated for GERD and heartburn at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center. It’s a multi-specialty practice, so if you need additional treatment from a different expert, you have direct access in the same facility.

What’s Going on with GERD and Heartburn?

GERD and heartburn both happen when your stomach contents move backward, up into your esophagus. A valve at the bottom of your esophagus is designed to let food into your stomach. If it malfunctions, food and stomach acid pass the other way.

While your stomach can handle the acid, your esophagus isn’t used to it. When the acid splashes on the inner walls of your esophagus, you experience pain. Over time, those esophageal walls scar.

Acid reflux is common. Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux. Your heartburn may even be accompanied by regurgitation. GERD is a more severe case of heartburn; it often leads to coughing or feeling like you have a lump in your throat.

Is Heartburn Dangerous?

Consulting with a professional expert is always your best move. Heartburn and GERD can be painful, and they may even keep you up at night or cause vomiting. Untreated, the conditions can lead to complications.

In addition to the discomfort of constant and severe acid reflux, you may develop a host of other complications over time. Complications include:

• Esophagitis or an inflamed esophagus
• Ulcers or sores that bleed, either in your stomach or esophagus
• Scar tissue formation that makes your esophagus narrower, which cause swallowing or breathing difficulties
• Barrett’s esophagus, a disease that puts you at a higher risk of developing esophageal cancer

Treatment and Prevention

Even if you just have occasional heartburn, consulting with experts at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center clarifies your options. Once your doctor confirms that you don’t have a more serious underlying condition, you’re given a set of recommendations for lifestyle changes that may include:

• Eating healthier
• Avoiding trigger foods and drinks
• Losing weight
• Quitting smoking
• Raising your head in bed

Taking too many over-the-counter heartburn remedies lead to complications. Your gastroenterologist provides guidelines as to how to use them most effectively. Other possible treatment options include:

• Prescription medications such as proton pump inhibitors or H2-blockers that you take before eating
• Promotility medication that helps your stomach empty food more efficiently, usually reserved if you have other, underlying conditions
• Fundoplication, which is a last-resort surgical procedure done to ensure your esophagus remains properly situated so fluid doesn’t flow backward

Your comfort and quality of life depend on proper digestion. As part of a healthy lifestyle, let your doctor know when you experience heartburn so that you can find out how to prevent it from getting worse. Contact the Medex diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens for an appointment to put an end to discomfort.

We can help you find a doctor. Call (718) 275-8900

Licensed by the state of New York, Medex is an Article 28 diagnostic and treatment center. Our physicians provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages in the Forest Hills, Queens area, for over 15 years. Start receiving expert care now by calling or scheduling an appointment online with one of the skilled specialists.

GERD and Heartburn — FAQ

1. What is GERD?
   Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition in which stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophagus, irritating its lining and causing symptoms like heartburn.

2. How does heartburn differ from GERD?
   Heartburn is a symptom—burning chest discomfort—caused by acid reflux. GERD is the chronic disease diagnosis when reflux occurs more than twice a week or leads to complications.

3. What are the common symptoms of GERD?
   Symptoms include frequent heartburn, regurgitation of sour or bitter fluid, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, chronic cough, throat irritation, and hoarseness.

4. What triggers heartburn and acid reflux?
   Common triggers include fatty or spicy foods, citrus, tomato-based products, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, peppermint, large meals, and lying down too soon after eating.

5. How is GERD diagnosed?
   Diagnosis may involve medical history review, symptom assessment, trial of acid‑blocking medications, endoscopy to visualize esophageal damage, and pH monitoring to measure acid in the esophagus.

6. What lifestyle changes help manage GERD?
   • Eat smaller meals and avoid late‑night eating
   • Elevate the head of your bed 6–8 inches
   • Maintain a healthy weight
   • Avoid trigger foods and beverages
   • Quit smoking and limit alcohol

7. When should I see a doctor for heartburn?
   Seek medical advice if heartburn occurs more than twice a week, persists despite over‑the‑counter remedies, interferes with daily life, or is accompanied by difficulty swallowing, weight loss, or chest pain.

8. What over‑the‑counter treatments relieve heartburn?
   Antacids (Tums, Rolaids), H2 blockers (ranitidine, famotidine), and proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole) can reduce or neutralize stomach acid and alleviate symptoms.

9. How long can I safely use over‑the‑counter PPIs?
   OTC PPIs are intended for up to 14 days of use. If symptoms persist after a treatment course or recur within four months, consult your healthcare provider.

10. Can prescription medications help GERD?
    Yes. Stronger-dose PPIs, H2 blockers, and pro‑motility agents (metoclopramide) may be prescribed to heal esophagitis, reduce acid production, and improve stomach emptying.

11. What complications can arise from untreated GERD?
    Potential complications include esophagitis (inflammation), esophageal strictures (narrowing), Barrett’s esophagus (precancerous change), and increased risk of esophageal cancer.

12. Are there surgical options for severe GERD?
    Yes. Procedures like Nissen fundoplication reinforce the lower esophageal sphincter, while newer endoscopic techniques (Stretta, LINX) use radiofrequency or magnetic devices to reduce reflux.

13. Can diet alone control GERD?
    Dietary modifications can significantly reduce symptoms but often work best in combination with medications and lifestyle changes for moderate to severe cases.

14. How does weight affect GERD?
    Excess abdominal fat increases pressure on the stomach, promoting acid reflux. Losing even 5–10% of body weight can improve symptoms.

15. Is it safe to drink coffee if I have GERD?
    Coffee can relax the lower esophageal sphincter and increase acid production, worsening reflux. Switching to low‑acid coffee or reducing intake may help.

16. Can stress cause heartburn?
    Stress doesn’t directly cause reflux but can worsen perception of symptoms and lead to poor dietary or lifestyle choices that trigger heartburn.

17. What role does sleep position play in GERD?
    Lying flat allows acid to move more easily into the esophagus. Elevating the head of the bed or sleeping on your left side can reduce nighttime reflux.

18. Can children get GERD?
    Yes. Pediatric GERD presents with regurgitation, irritability, feeding difficulties, and poor weight gain. Management includes feeding modifications and, if needed, medications.

19. When is endoscopy recommended for GERD?
    Endoscopy is indicated for alarm symptoms (dysphagia, bleeding, weight loss), chronic GERD lasting more than five years, or to screen for Barrett’s esophagus.

20. What follow‑up care is needed for GERD?
    Regular monitoring of symptoms, medication adjustments, periodic endoscopy if complications exist, and ongoing lifestyle support help manage GERD long term.