Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), occurs when stomach acid flows backward into the esophagus, causing heartburn, chest discomfort, or regurgitation. At GastroCare LI, we provide comprehensive GERD treatment to reduce symptoms and protect the esophagus from long-term damage.
Untreated acid reflux can lead to more serious conditions like Barrett’s Esophagus or esophageal strictures. That’s why our board-certified gastroenterologists offer both lifestyle guidance and medical therapies to manage reflux effectively. If medications don’t work, we may recommend advanced procedures or further diagnostic evaluations like upper endoscopy.
Dietary habits, smoking, and obesity are common triggers of acid reflux. At GastroCare LI, we educate patients on how to make sustainable changes that minimize reflux symptoms. Our goal is long-term symptom control without over-reliance on medication.
Our clinic is equipped to perform precise evaluations using modern diagnostic tools, ensuring an accurate and fast diagnosis. We personalize treatment plans based on the severity of your symptoms and your individual risk factors.
Get relief from chronic heartburn and discomfort. Call GastroCare LI at (516) 825-8484 to speak with our acid reflux specialists.
What is acid reflux?
To understand acid reflux, it helps to think about how your upper digestive system works to move food into your stomach. When you eat, your teeth and saliva begin to break down the food into smaller pieces.
That food passes through your esophagus and into your stomach, where powerful acids quickly break food down even further. A ring of tough muscle tissue called the lower esophageal sphincter opens to allow food to pass into the stomach, then closes to prevent acid and partially digested food from moving backward into the esophagus.
Acid reflux is a condition that develops when your lower esophageal sphincter fails to fully seal the space between your esophagus and stomach. That allows a small amount of stomach acid to move into the lower part of your esophagus, where it can cause pain and other symptoms.
What are some signs I might have acid reflux?
Understanding the signs of acid reflux can help you know when it’s time to take action. Heartburn is a primary symptom and is felt as a burning pain that begins in your stomach and spreads upward to your chest or throat.
Additional symptoms of acid reflux include:
- Regurgitation of stomach acids
- Nausea
- Burping
- Bloating
- Unexplained weight loss
- Dark or bloody stool
- Persistent hiccups
If you experience these changes, schedule a diagnostic visit right away. There are treatments that can help acid reflux and prevent more serious complications.
What can be done to treat acid reflux?
It’s important to find a way to treat acid reflux. Left untreated, the condition can eventually cause damage to the tissues in your esophagus and throat.
Making changes to your diet and lifestyle are a great place to begin. Taking steps to eat smaller meals, raising the head of your bed, or sleeping in a more upright position can all be helpful. If you are overweight, dropping a few pounds can go a long way toward easing your symptoms.
Medications can help treat acid reflux. Some drugs work to decrease acid production, while others help by strengthening your lower esophageal sphincter or helping you empty your stomach faster.
When you rely on GastroCare LI for your digestive health needs, you can rest assured you’re in excellent hands as you move through the diagnostic and treatment process. Begin today by calling to book a visit, or schedule online with just a few clicks of the mouse.