How to Get Rid of GERD

Co-authored by Roy Nattiv, MD

Last Updated: September 18, 2022 References

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive disease. GERD occurs when stomach acid or, occasionally, stomach content, flows back into your esophagus because your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is not closing as it should. The backwash (reflux) irritates the lining of your esophagus and causes GERD. Both acid reflux and heartburn are common digestive conditions that many people experience from time to time. When these signs and symptoms occur at least twice each week or interfere with your daily life, you may have GERD.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Choosing Foods Carefully

1
Avoid fatty and spicy foods. These are the kinds of foods that will typically trigger heartburn and acid reflux.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Peter Gardner, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 25 August 2020.} In small amounts you might be able to continue eating them for a treat, but as a regular part of your diet, you need to cut them out.^{[2]
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Research source}
- Fried foods, particularly deep fried
- Foods with lots of chiles or hot peppers
- Creamy, buttery, or dairy-heavy foods
2
Stay away from alcohol and caffeine. Neither substance is easy for your body to process.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.} They also tend to dry out your mouth, which is bad for saliva production. Saliva helps your body break down and process your food.^{[4]
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Research source}
- You can have a drink of alcohol or coffee occasionally, but keep track of how you feel afterward -- if it exacerbates your symptoms you should probably try to never drink either.
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3
Steer clear of acidic foods. Acid reflux and heartburn can both be exacerbated by acid in your diet.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.} Unfortunately, they are common in many diets. Some of the common acidic foods to avoid are:^{[6]
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Research source}
- Citrus fruits
- Tomatoes
- Cocoa products (chocolate-based)
- Strawberries, although not super acidic, also exacerbate GERD symptoms.
4
Choose healthy foods. A varied diet of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats will help keep GERD at bay. Check the website below for help planning healthy meals.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
U.S. agency responsible for promoting good nutrition based on scientific research
Go to source} Some good choices include:
- Berries
- Apples
- Leafy greens
- Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower
- Whole grains like oatmeal, farro, quinoa, wild rice
- Lean meats like loin cuts and poultry
- Fish
5
Eat smaller meals more frequently.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Peter Gardner, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 25 August 2020.} Your body will be better able to process smaller amounts of food. With the smaller amounts, it’s less likely that your body will respond with GERD symptoms. Staying full means that you will probably need five to six small meals per day, rather than three large ones.
- Drink small amounts of water with each meal.
6
Wait at least three hours after eating before lying down.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Peter Gardner, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 25 August 2020.} You need to be upright for your body to properly process food, and it takes a while. Going to bed or laying down soon after eating is a very common cause of heartburn, as acidic stomach contents move back up into your esophagus. Stay upright for three hours after every meal or snack to prevent this.^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
Go to source}
- Also avoid bending over and lifting heavy objects after a meal, as the strain can also trigger GERD symptoms.
- If you absolutely need to rest, raise your head up on the bed so that you’re not completely horizontal. You might also consider sleeping with your head slightly raised to help digestion.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making Lifestyle Changes

1
Avoid smoking. As with alcohol and caffeine, tobacco dries out your mouth.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.} Without enough saliva, it’s easier for your body to produce the symptoms of acid reflux or heartburn. It’s also important to reduce your intake of secondhand smoke, which will produce the same issues. Tobacco also decreases the lower esophageal sphincter's ability to function properly.^{[12]
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Trustworthy Source
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
2
Wear loose-fitting clothing. Sometimes constricting clothes around your stomach can exacerbate GERD symptoms. Tight clothing can force the contents of your stomach up your throat, creating acid reflux.
- Avoid belts
- Try elastic-waist pants rather than jeans
3
Lose weight if you’re overweight. GERD symptoms can be reduced or eliminated if you lose weight.^{[13]
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Expert Source

Peter Gardner, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 25 August 2020.} Avoiding fatty foods, for example, can both help you lose weight and stop heartburn and acid reflux. Exercise can also both help your body process food and help you lose weight.^{[14]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- Keep track of the calories you consume. If you want to lose weight, decrease the number of calories in your diet.
- Start an exercise program. Exercise is an important complement to eating less and losing weight.
- Drink water before you eat -- it can help fill you up and hydrate you before you eat, helping you eat smaller portions.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Taking Medicines for GERD

1
Choose an antacid.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Peter Gardner, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 25 August 2020.} They help neutralize the gastric acid that can cause GERD symptoms.^{[16]
X
Expert Source

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 14 October 2020.} Widely available at grocery stores and pharmacies, antacids like Tums and Rolaids are a quick and easy way to feel better. Keep in mind, however, that they only last a few hours, so long-lasting GERD symptoms might need something different.^{[17]
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Research source}
- Read the label of your chosen antacid carefully to get the right dosage. Take the tablet or pill only after the heartburn or acid reflux has kicked in.
2
Consider an H2 blocker. H2 blockers are available both over-the-counter and as a prescription. Pepcid and Zantac are common over-the-counter varieties, and can last significantly longer than a chewable antacid like Tums or Rolaids.^{[18]
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Research source} They help your stomach stop producing acid (the cause of acid reflux).
- Doctors sometimes prescribe both an antacid and an H2 blocker, to first neutralize and then stop the acid that causes GERD symptoms.^{[19]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
- H2 blockers come in both chewable and pill form, and you typically take them as you begin to feel the symptoms of GERD.^{[20]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
3
Ask your medical professional about PPIs. PPIs, or Proton Pump Inhibitors, are prescription drugs that help your stomach stop producing acid. They can also help in healing your esophagus, if your GERD has advanced to the point that it is damaged. Keep in mind, however, that PPIs are not recommended for long-term use.^{[21]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Monitoring Your Symptoms

1
Make sure you are experiencing the symptoms of GERD. If it’s something else, you will probably need to visit the doctor to check what it might be. Chest pain, particularly coupled with arm pain or shortness of breath, might be a heart attack. Classic GERD symptoms include:^{[22]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Heartburn
- Hoarse or dry throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Acid reflux (food or sour liquid coming back up into your mouth)
2
Seek medical attention if these symptoms occur often. This would mean if you are having to take antacids or other heartburn remedies more than twice a week. Keep in mind that many women experience these symptoms during the early stages of pregnancy -- GERD and morning sickness often present as the same ailments.
- New mothers should see a doctor if GERD symptoms don’t decrease after giving birth.
3
Visit your doctor if GERD continues. If you have made diet and lifestyle changes that should keep the GERD in check, yet it continues, seek medical attention. Discuss possible next steps with your doctor. In some cases, GERD will require surgery to completely cure it.^{[23]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Surgery to cure GERD would fix the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), allowing it to close properly after your body has processed your food. It can be performed laparoscopically, requiring minimal incisions and requiring a short hospital stay.^{[24]
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  Research source}
- Without treatment, GERD can eventually lead to more dangerous complications. One of the most common is "Barrett's esophagus," a condition that increases the risk of esophageal cancer.^{[25]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the main cause of GERD?

Peter Gardner, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Peter W. Gardner, MD is a board certified physician who has practiced Gastroenterology and Hepatology for over 30 years. He specializes in diseases of the digestive system and liver. Dr. Gardner earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and attended Georgetown Medical School. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine and then his fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Connecticut. He is a previous Chief of Gastroenterology at Stamford Hospital and remains on the staff. He is also on the staff of Greenwich Hospital and New York (Columbia) Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Gardner is an Approved Consultant in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology with the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Peter Gardner, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

GERD can be caused by many things such as your genetics, being overweight, eating fatty foods, and overeating.
Question

How can I deal with the symptoms of GERD?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

You can take antacids to deal with the symptoms of GERD. There are several over-the-counter as well as prescription-strength antacids.
Question

What are the things you should avoid if you have GERD?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol if you have GERD. Besides this, eliminate acidic foods and caffeine from your diet.