Patient/caregiver was educated on measures to plan for GERD diet recommendation as follows:
- Avoiding/observing moderation with certain foods, beverages, and meal patterns can prevent worsening of the GERD symptoms.
- Avoid eating closer to bedtime. Gravity acting in downward direction, prevents acid from traveling up into the esophagus and helps with preventing GERD symptoms. Eating closer to bedtime and laying down can eliminate the effect of gravity, contribute to return of acid contents into the esophagus, and make GERD symptoms more likely. Maintain an upright posture during eating and for 2 hours afterward the meal, before you go to bed.
- Avoid bending over or reaching below your waist for 2 hours after having a meal for any activity, such as, tying lace of the shoe or picking up items from the ground. These activities can increase the pressure on the stomach and cause reflux of acid from stomach, up into esophagus, more likely.
- Observe compliance with smoking cessation, if applicable. Smoking can relax the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus and can contribute to return of acid contents into the esophagus, resulting in GERD symptoms. Avoid smoking, especially after eating a meal. Smoking immediately after a full meal can significantly increase the risk for GERD symptoms.
- Avoid having tight clothing around the abdominal area, especially after eating meal. Tight clothing around abdomen can increase the pressure on the stomach and promote reflux of acid from stomach, up into esophagus, more likely.
