Acidity, GERD and digestive disorder treatment in Neelankarai, ECR
Frequent heartburn, sour belching or gastric pain? Causes, home measures, when an endoscopy is needed and treatment for GERD at Healtree Hospital, ECR.
By the Healtree Hospital clinical team.
Acidity and GERD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) happen when stomach acid flows back into the food pipe, causing heartburn, sour belching and chest or upper abdominal discomfort. Occasional acidity is common; symptoms twice a week or more suggest GERD. Most people improve with meal and lifestyle changes plus medicines. The gastroenterologists at Healtree Hospital, Neelankarai, ECR treat GERD and arrange endoscopy when needed.
Common symptoms
- Burning in the chest or upper abdomen (heartburn), often after meals or at night
- Sour or bitter taste, regurgitation of food or fluid
- Belching, bloating and early fullness
- Chronic cough, hoarse voice or throat clearing
- Nausea
Causes and triggers
Reflux happens when the valve between the food pipe and stomach relaxes too often. Common contributors are large or late meals, lying down soon after eating, excess weight, smoking, alcohol, and spicy, fatty or fried food, tea and coffee. Pregnancy and some medicines, including painkillers, can also cause acidity.
Simple measures that help
- Eat smaller meals and finish dinner at least three hours before bed
- Raise the head end of the bed slightly
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Cut down on your personal trigger foods, alcohol and smoking
- Avoid regular use of painkillers without medical advice
When an endoscopy is needed
An upper GI endoscopy is advised when symptoms do not settle with treatment, or if there are warning signs:
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing
- Vomiting blood or black stools
- Unintended weight loss or anaemia
- New symptoms after age 50
Treatment
Acid-reducing medicines relieve symptoms and help the food pipe heal. The doctor will prescribe the right medicine and duration, and step it down once symptoms are controlled. If Helicobacter pylori infection is found, it is treated with a course of antibiotics. Long-term use of acid medicines should be reviewed by a doctor rather than continued indefinitely without a check.
Chest pain: rule out the heart first
Heartburn and heart pain can feel similar. If chest pain is severe, spreads to the arm, jaw or back, or comes with breathlessness or sweating, treat it as an emergency. Healtree Hospital's emergency department is open 24 hours.
See a specialist in Neelankarai, ECR
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. Our Medical Gastroenterology & Hepatology team at Healtree Multi-Speciality Centre & Hospital can assess your situation. The hospital is open 24 hours.
Specialists: Dr. Rajasekaran
Related services: Endoscopy & Colonoscopy, 24/7 Emergency Care
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between acidity and GERD?
- Acidity is occasional heartburn. GERD is when reflux symptoms occur twice a week or more, or cause complications, and usually needs medical treatment.
- Can GERD be cured permanently?
- Many people become symptom-free with lifestyle changes and a course of medicine. Some need longer or intermittent treatment, guided by a doctor.
- When should I get an endoscopy for acidity?
- If symptoms persist despite treatment, or if you have trouble swallowing, bleeding, weight loss, anaemia or new symptoms after 50.
- Is it safe to take antacid tablets every day?
- Short courses are safe. Long-term daily use should be reviewed by a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and the lowest effective dose.
Related reading
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