GERD Chest Pain – What Is GERD Symptoms And Proper Diet For It
Why GERD Causes Chest Pain
GERD, or Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease, is a condition in which bile, acid and partially digested food particles in the stomach start to travel in an upward or reverse direction and move from the stomach into the tube that carries the food from the mouth to the stomach. This tube is known as the esophagus. Partially digested food contains significantly strong acids as well as enzymes that break down the food. When these substances come in contact with the esophagus, they cause a significant amount of irritation, inflammation and pain. The stomach remains unaffected by the combination of the acids and enzymes due to a presence of a protective layer that lines the organ. However, this protective lining is not present in the esophagus. The condition is increasingly and exceedingly common and affects 1 in every 4 Americans. It is also important to note that about 80% of the individuals that suffer from heartburn also suffer from hiatal hernias. A hiatal hernia is said to exist when a part of the stomach bulges into the chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm. This opening is naturally present to allow the esophagus to pass through the diaphragm and into the abdominal area.
GERD is likely to be aggravated when performing actions that place a significant amount of stress on the stomach such as bending over, lifting heavy objects, lying down (especially on the back) or even after finishing a heavy meal. The condition can also be brought on by other conditions such as pregnancy or obesity.
Diet For GERD
Some changes in a person’s lifestyle will help considerably reduce the discomfort that the condition causes. Drinking small amounts of chilled, fat free milk or mineral water every one or two hours will make the burning sensation mild. Drinking cumin seeds mixed with water will help prevent the formation of gas in the stomach which will result in a reduction of the frequency in which a person has a GERD attack. Following a specific diet is an extremely important way of taking care of the condition. One should avoid any fruits or vegetables that have a high acid content. Some examples of these include tomato, grapefruit, lemon and oranges. With regards to meats, ground chuck, chicken nuggets and marbled sirloin have the tendency to trigger an attack. A diet rich in vegetables like beans, baked potato, cabbage, broccoli and carrots are highly recommended, while a high intake of fish is also known to be extremely beneficial.
