Do you struggle with frequent heartburn and other symptoms of acid reflux? Your Joliet, Oak Lawn, and Lenox, IL, gastroenterologist, Dr. Kamran Ayub, can offer guidance and treatments that relieve your symptoms and prevent acid reflux flare-ups.

Heartburn isn't the only symptom of acid reflux

Heartburn often occurs when you have acid reflux, but it's far from the only symptom. The trouble starts when stomach acids flow backward into your esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. This backward flow can occur if the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus doesn't close completely.

The acids irritate the sensitive lining of your esophagus, causing an uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest. Other symptoms of acid reflux can include belching, a full feeling in your upper abdomen, hoarseness, laryngitis, or worsening asthma. A lump-in-the-throat sensation, a sore throat, excess saliva, and a bad taste in your mouth can also occur if you have acid reflux. Side effects from some medications may increase your risk of acid reflux.

How you can relieve and reduce acid reflux symptoms

Taking a few of these steps can be helpful if you have acid reflux:

• Lose Weight: Extra pounds may press against your stomach, forcing acids back into the esophagus. Losing even a few pounds may offer a simple way to prevent acid reflux:
• Change Your Eating Habits: Fried, fatty, and acidic foods can trigger acid reflux, as can caffeine, alcohol, garlic, and onions. Eliminating these foods, or at least limiting them, may help you avoid painful heartburn.
• Don't Lie Down or Exercise After Eating: Avoid lying down for at least two hours after eating. Vigorous exercise may also cause reflux. It's best to schedule exercise sessions before mealtimes.

See Your Gastroenterologist if acid reflux happens often

If making a few changes doesn't improve your symptoms, it's a good idea to pay a visit to the Oak Lawn, Joliet, or Lenox, IL, gastroenterology office. Frequent heartburn may be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disorder GERD), a condition that affects about 20 percent of people in the U.S., according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Your gastroenterologist may recommend an endoscopy to help him determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend the best treatment for you. The minimally invasive test allows him to view the lining of your esophagus and stomach using digital technology. Prescription and non-prescription medications that reduce or block acid production are often used to treat acid reflux.

Is acid reflux a frequent problem for you? Call (708) 475-5233 to schedule an appointment with your gastroenterologist in Joliet, Oak Lawn, and Lenox, IL, Dr. Ayub.