What is Gastric Reflux
Often men and women complain of pain in the chest, and the first fear is of a heart attack. However, in many cases, it is a case of acidity; and in many of these cases, it is a situation of gastric reflux.
Gastric reflux happens when gastric juices from the food eaten tend to come upwards into the food pipe that runs through the chest. This causes acidity and a burning sensation in the chest creating a fear of ‘chest pain’ and heart attack amongst sufferers. When the reflux happens, a sharp shooting pain goes through the rib cage area and there is a feeling of constriction in the chest. Sometimes, the symptoms may not be of chest pain but may be nausea, dizziness, uneasiness, bloated feeling, etc.
Once diagnosed, the basic treatment for gastric reflux is managing your dietary intake and some medication. Diet should be simple, non-oily and non-spicy as the oil and spice can create further irritation in the already sensitive food pipe. Further, it is necessary to maintain a record of when the reflux happens- is it triggered by certain food categories, or at certain times of the day. These triggers need to be managed accordingly in order to avoid recurrence of the reflux.
As regards medication, this must be prescribed by a medical practitioner. The medication usually includes as anti-nausea dose and an antacid. The former keeps the nausea away and the latter prevents acidity. The dosage and frequency of the antacid can vary depending upon the intensity of the gastric reflux.
A person having a tendency of gastric reflux can try the following (in order to manage the situation better):
- Eat small meals at a time
- Do not overeat or binge on heavy foods
- Do not lie down or sleep for at least two hours after a meal
- Avoid foods that are highly acidic or difficult to digest
Gastric reflux can occur in any person, be it an infant, toddler, child or adult. It is a difficult problem to determine, but once identified, is completely manageable with appropriate diet and medication.
