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By Nurse Diane
Yesterday when I was at my dad's house - he started
talking about Thanksgiving dinner, and what all I wanted to see on the
table. As I started listing all the
dishes that I like - my mind started to wander about this article. It occurred to me that while I can eat
nearly everything without any problems, except weigh gain, there are other
members of my family who are not as fortunate.
This week is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness
Week (GERD).The most prominent symptom is heartburn. After eating such a big meal, such as a
Thanksgiving feast, you may have this symptom.
Occasional bouts of heartburn are not necessarily caused by GERD. When I would work in the hospital emergency
room - every Sunday we would have several patients come in with fears of heart
attacks. The reason being after a big
Sunday dinner, they would have indigestion.
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Some other symptoms
of GERD include:
- Chest Pain;
- Sore Throat;
- Hoarseness;
- Feeling of food being stuck in the Chest area;
- Frequent throat clearing;
- Coughing; and
- Regurgitation of food and liquids.
Treatment options include lifestyle modifications,
medications, surgery, or a combination of methods. Over-the-counter
preparations provide only temporary symptom relief. They do not prevent
recurrence of symptoms or allow an injured esophagus to heal. They should not
be taken regularly as a substitute for prescription medicines – they may be
hiding a more serious condition. If needed regularly, for more than two weeks,
consult a physician for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
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This week is Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease Awareness
Week For more information about GERD, visit this sitehttp://www.aboutgerd.org/site/about-gerd/gerd-awareness-week,
or call the GERD hotline at toll-free (U.S.) at 1-888-964-2001 to receive
information and support regarding GERD.
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