If you suffer from nausea, vomiting, or heartburn, you know firsthand that it can disrupt your life. You may be prevented from doing activities that you enjoy, and episodes can be triggered by eating certain foods.
At Lehigh Gastroenterology Associates, Dr. Ahmed Hasan, Dr. Andrew Schwartz, and Dr. Mahreema Jawairia will find the root cause and help you address it. We aim to relieve your discomfort and pain. We can see you at any of our three locations in Lehighton, New Tripoli, and Allentown, PA.
What is GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD, is a condition that happens when the contents of your stomach come back up into your esophagus. This can be painful and uncomfortable and may lead to heartburn, nausea, or vomiting. Though this can happen to everyone from time to time, if it happens repeatedly, you should talk to your doctor about GERD. GERD is persistent and can lead to complications over time if it is not treated. It can cause gastrointestinal hemorrhage from esophageal ulcerations and can cause Barrett's esophagus, which is a precancerous condition. Prolonged GERD is also associated with Cancer of the esophagus and Larynx.
What causes GERD?
Several issues in your digestive tract can cause GERD. For example, your lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a ring of muscle that forms a valve where your stomach meets the esophagus, may be weaker than it should be, or it might relax when it should not. This sphincter should remain closed except during swallowing, but it might not close tightly enough. This can cause undigested stomach contents, often very acidic, to re-enter your esophagus.
GERD can be a complication of other gastrointestinal diseases, such as Hiatal hernia, Gastroparesis, and IBS. It is more common in people with obesity, pregnant women, or tobacco smokers.
GERD may also be caused by certain medications such as high blood pressure medicines, benzodiazepines/sedatives, antidepressants, asthma medications, or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Ibuprofen.
How is GERD treated?
GERD is commonly treated with medication and lifestyle changes. For some people, this condition can be triggered by certain foods. Avoiding those foods can help the condition resolve. It may also be caused by how you eat, and a doctor may advise you to remain sitting or standing for a couple of hours after meals instead of lying down.
You can take medications to assist with this condition. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medications like antacids or H2 blockers, which reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. You may recognize brands like Pepcid or Zantac. Your doctor may also prescribe a medication such as omeprazole.
We specialize in diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal discomfort and diseases at Lehigh Gastroenterology Associates in Allentown, New Tripoli, and Lehighton, PA. Our goal is to help you live a healthy and symptom-free life. Call (610) 379-0443 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ahmed Hasan, Dr. Andrew Schwartz and Dr. Mahreema Jawairia.