Acid Reflux (GERD)
That burning after meals is stomach acid splashing up where it doesn't belong. Small changes fix a lot.
drdavidanderson.com · patient guide
What is it?
A small valve between your stomach and food pipe (esophagus) is supposed to stay closed after you eat. In reflux, it lets stomach acid splash upward. That causes burning in the chest, a sour taste, burping, and sometimes cough, hoarseness, or a lump-in-the-throat feeling — especially at night or after big meals.
What can I do?
- Eat smaller meals, and nothing within 3 hours of lying down.
- Raise the head of your bed on blocks — gravity works all night.
- Notice your triggers: coffee, alcohol, chocolate, mint, spicy or fatty foods, citrus, and tomato are common ones.
- Lose extra weight, and skip tight belts and waistbands.
- If you smoke, quit — smoking weakens the valve.
What about medicines?
Antacids (Tums, Maalox) work for occasional symptoms. For frequent symptoms, famotidine (Pepcid) or a "PPI" like omeprazole (Prilosec) works better — take a PPI 30–60 minutes before breakfast, not with it. If you find yourself needing these daily for more than a few weeks, talk to us instead of just refilling forever.
When should I call?
- Trouble swallowing, painful swallowing, or food feeling stuck.
- Losing weight without trying.
- Vomiting blood or dark "coffee-ground" material, or black, tarry stools — call the same day.
- Heartburn most days despite the changes above, or new symptoms starting after age 55.
Your plan — we fill this in together