Do the Holidays Give You Heartburn?

Overeating on Thanksgiving is a tradition in many households – one that can produce some very uncomfortable results.

It is no coincidence, then, that November 20 – 26th is the 13th Annual GERD Awareness Week.  Affecting up to 1 in 5 adults in the US, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition that develops when the backflow (or “reflux”) of stomach contents causes troublesome symptoms and/or complications.  The most common symptoms are chronic heartburn and acid regurgitation.

A Snapshot of the GERD Community at PatientsLikeMe

What can you do to treat GERD?  According to the 1,055 patients who report GERD at PatientsLikeMe, some of the commonly prescribed treatments include Omeprazole (Prilosec), Lansoprazole (Prevacid), Esomeprazole (Nexium) and Ranitidine (Zantac).  Click on each medication name to see the treatment evaluations submitted by our patients, who share their experiences with effectiveness, side effects, cost and more.

Then, there’s also watching what you eat.  While GERD is not caused by diet, it can be aggravated by certain habits.  To make this Thanksgiving a little more pleasant, consider avoiding the following foods and beverages:  chocolate, onions, fried foods, acidic foods, fatty foods, peppermint, caffeine, carbonated beverages and alcohol.  Eating late at night can also contribute to nighttime heartburn that leaves you restless and sleep deprived.

Ready to take control of your GERD before it threatens another holiday?  Join PatientsLikeMe to share your experiences, find support and learn from other patients like you.  That way, you’ll head into Thanksgiving armed with a little more knowledge and a lot more people who can relate.

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