Heartburn, chest pain and cough? Try these home remedies for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Health benefits of ginger: Ginger's natural anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe the stomach. Consider adding fresh ginger to meals, drinking ginger tea, or chewing on a small piece of ginger to cure GERD (Image: Canva)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a common digestive disorder, involves stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus, leading to symptoms like heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, and cough. It's categorised into non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), erosive esophagitis (EE), and Barrett's esophagus (BE).

The primary cause, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a muscle valve between the esophagus and stomach.

While acidity and GERD are sometimes mistakenly used interchangeably, they represent distinct conditions. GERD refers to a chronic condition marked by frequent backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus due to a weakened lower esophageal sphincter, while acidity, or acid reflux, is a symptom commonly associated with GERD, causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat.

Several factors can contribute to this condition. Obesity, pregnancy, and certain medications can increase the risk of GERD by increasing pressure on the abdomen, thereby affecting the LES's function. Smoking and eating large meals or lying down right after eating can also trigger GERD symptoms. Furthermore, consuming certain foods and drinks, such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, and caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, can exacerbate the condition.

Here are 7 home remedies to help combat GERD

Avoid large meals: Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help reduce abdominal pressure and prevent the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) from relaxing inappropriately.

Avoid lying down soon after eating: After eating, stay upright for at least 2-3 hours to allow proper digestion and prevent stomach acid from flowing back into the esophagus.

Avoid trigger foods: Identify and avoid foods that trigger your symptoms, such as spicy foods, fatty foods, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol.

Add ginger to your diet: Ginger's natural anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe the stomach. Consider adding fresh ginger to meals, drinking ginger tea, or chewing on a small piece of ginger.

Chew gum: Chewing gum increases saliva production, which can neutralize stomach acid and promote swallowing, preventing acid reflux.

Manage your weight: Excess weight increases abdominal pressure, contributing to acid reflux. Losing weight if overweight can help alleviate symptoms.

Sleep with your head elevated: Elevating your head about 6-8 inches while sleeping can prevent stomach acid from rising into the esophagus. Use a wedge pillow or raise the head of your bed with blocks.