Heartburn, Acid Reflux & GERD: What To Do? 

There are several reasons and triggers on why these painful illnesses happen. Let's find out the causes, how to avoid it, and of course, the remedies or medications. 

What might be the culprit of your suffering? 

1. Consuming fatty and spicy foods. 
2. Drinking coffee, tea, alcoholic beverages.
3. Smoking
4. Overweight 
5. Stress and Anxiety
6. Anti-inflammatory Painkillers
7. Hiatus Hernia (part of your stomach moves up into your chest)
8. Tight clothing
9. Lying down after a meal
10. Flatbeds

What To Do To Avoid This:

1. Eat 3-4 hours before going to bed.
2.. Choose comfortable clothing. Tight jeans can cause stomach discomfort that can cause acid reflux.
3. Avoid consuming raw onions and garlic. 
4. Avoid chocolates. 
5. Don't eat a lot of bread or anything that contains too much starch. 
6. Raise 1 end of your bed 10 to 20cm by putting something under your bed or mattress so that stomach acid does not travel up towards your throat.
7. Avoid consuming lots of water when eating.
8. Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
9. Lessen your intakes on spicy and fatty foods, especially fried foods. 
10. Eat on time ALWAYS.
11. Eat foods that are rich in probiotics.
12. Find time to relax.

What are the possible remedies/OTC medications?

1. Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey
Apple cider vinegar neutralizes the acid in your stomach plus the antibiotic property of honey. (It is not advisable to drink apple cider vinegar for moderate to severe acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD)
2. Chewing gum to dilute the acid.
3. Take Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) 30 minutes before breakfast. PPIs work by blocking the site of acid production in the parietal cell of the stomach. (This is why you need to consult your doctor to determine if it's Omeprazole, Pantoprazole, etc. that you need)
4. Take antacids such as Magnesium-Aluminum Hydroxide/Simethicone. Please be aware though that while taking this, the absorption of other drugs can be affected. Hence, it is advisable to take your other medications 2-3 hours before or after taking this. 
5. Once you started to feel like vomiting, take Domperidone. Domperidone is an anti-sickness medication.

The next time you are wondering what goes wrong, recheck the list and make sure you followed it to avoid the discomfort caused by these.

Authors Note: Please don't self medicate. It is important for you to consult your doctor first before trying these medications mentioned to determine if it's the right drug for you. 

If you feel weak and continues to vomit, go to the ER immediately to avoid severe dehydration.