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Almost everything that is related to feelings of abdominal pain, pain in the stomach, and bloating is often interpreted as an increase in stomach acid. However, not all stomach pains are actually caused by acid reflux, it could also be due to GERD. That's why many people may think that acid reflux and GERD are the same. In fact, the two are indeed related, but actually two different things. What is the difference between stomach acid reflux and GERD?
What is acid reflux?
The stomach is one part of the digestive system that is responsible for breaking down incoming food so that it can be absorbed by the body. To facilitate this task, the stomach produces acids and enzymes. So, acid is deliberately produced by the stomach. However, if the amount of acid produced is too much it can cause stomach problems, such as stomach acid reflux.
Gastric acid reflux or also known as gastroesophageal reflux is the backflow of stomach acid or the rise of stomach acid into the esophagus. At low levels, stomach acid reflux is a normal part of digestion and of movement in the digestive system. Thus, reflux of stomach acid is not considered a disease.
Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, as long as stomach acid rises, you may feel food rising into your esophagus (without feeling nauseous or wanting to vomit), or feeling sour in the back of your mouth. You may also feel a burning sensation in the chest area otherwise known as heartburn. To avoid this, you should not eat foods that trigger stomach acid to rise, such as fatty foods, coffee, and chocolate.
What is GERD?
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or gastroesophageal reflux disease is a continuation of stomach acid reflux. If reflux of stomach acid occurs frequently, at least more than twice per week, then stomach acid reflux may have progressed to GERD.
GERD also usually shows symptoms, such as:
- Heartburnnamely a burning sensation in the gut
- Food seems to rise up into the esophagus
- Acid in the back of the mouth
- Nausea
- Gag
- Bloated
- Difficulty swallowing
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Wheezing
- Chest pain, especially when lying down at night
Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded that stomach acid reflux is a part of GERD which is a disease.
How can you prevent acid reflux and GERD?
Acid reflux and GERD can both be prevented by making lifestyle changes. Some things you can do to prevent acid reflux and GERD are:
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Applying the principle of eating little but often
- Try to keep your head higher (at least 10-15 cm) from your body while sleeping
- Avoid sleeping after eating. Give a gap of 2-3 hours between eating and sleeping.
- Avoid wearing tight clothes or belts
- Avoid or limit consumption of foods or drinks that trigger stomach acid to rise, such as soda, coffee, tea, oranges, tomatoes, chocolate, spicy and fatty foods
- Quit smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages
If these lifestyle changes haven't gotten rid of acid reflux, you may need to take medications, such as antacids (especially those containing magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide), H2 receptor blockers (such as cimetidine or famotidine), and proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole).
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