Lasting Relief From Heartburn & GERD – Beyond Temporary Symptom Relief
If you regularly experience burning in your chest, acid taste in your mouth, bloating, or discomfort after meals, you may be dealing with heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Occasional heartburn is common, but frequent or persistent symptoms can interfere with sleep, eating, exercise, and everyday life. At Wild Horse Health, our General Medicine Department takes a comprehensive approach to digestive symptoms, looking at your symptoms, medical history, medications, diet, and other contributing factors to determine the appropriate cause and treatment.
Heartburn is a symptom caused by stomach contents moving backward into the esophagus. Despite its name, heartburn is not related to the heart. It commonly produces a burning sensation behind the breastbone and may occur after eating or when lying down.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when reflux of stomach contents repeatedly causes troublesome symptoms or complications. Occasional reflux does not necessarily mean you have GERD. However, frequent or persistent symptoms may warrant medical evaluation.
Not all chest discomfort is heartburn.
Seek immediate medical attention for chest pain or pressure that is severe, new, unexplained, or associated with:
You should also seek prompt medical evaluation for:
Some people experience reflux without the classic burning sensation. Symptoms involving the throat or respiratory tract can sometimes occur with reflux as well.
Our approach focuses on identifying the factors contributing to your symptoms rather than simply suppressing acid indefinitely.
Depending on your symptoms and diagnosis, treatment may include:
The goal is to find an effective approach while avoiding unnecessary long-term treatment when it is not indicated.
Reflux occurs when stomach contents move backward into the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter normally helps prevent this backward flow. When the barrier does not function properly, reflux can occur.
Not everyone responds to the same foods or lifestyle factors. Identifying your individual triggers can be more useful than following a long list of foods to avoid.
Common triggers can include:
These foods do not cause GERD in everyone, and eliminating foods unnecessarily can make your diet more restrictive than needed. We focus on identifying foods that actually correlate with your symptoms.
Some medications can worsen reflux or irritate the esophagus. Depending on the medication, examples may include:
Never stop a prescribed medication without discussing it with your healthcare provider.
The likelihood of developing GERD can increase with:
From your first visit, our goal is to understand why you’re experiencing reflux symptoms and determine the most appropriate next step.
Your visit may include:
Our goal is to help you control your symptoms while also making sure persistent or concerning symptoms are properly evaluated.
Many cases of uncomplicated heartburn and GERD can initially be evaluated based on your symptoms and medical history. Additional testing may be appropriate when symptoms are persistent, severe, atypical, or do not respond to initial treatment.
Medical History
We discuss:
Physical Examination
Your evaluation may include:
Additional Testing
Testing is not necessary for every person with heartburn or reflux. When appropriate, additional evaluation may include:
When specialized testing is needed, we can help coordinate appropriate gastroenterology evaluation
You do not have to figure this out alone.
Heartburn is a symptom of reflux. GERD is a chronic condition in which reflux causes troublesome symptoms or complications. Occasional heartburn does not necessarily mean you have GERD.
Eating can temporarily increase the pressure and volume within the stomach, making reflux more likely. Large meals, certain foods, eating quickly, or lying down soon after eating may make symptoms worse.
Reflux can become more noticeable when lying down because gravity is no longer helping keep stomach contents in the stomach. Eating close to bedtime can also increase nighttime symptoms.
Lifestyle changes can significantly improve symptoms for some people. Depending on the severity and cause of your GERD, medication may still be appropriate. The goal is to use the most appropriate treatment for your individual situation.
There is no universal GERD diet. Foods commonly associated with symptoms include fatty foods, spicy foods, chocolate, caffeine, mint, alcohol, carbonated beverages, citrus, and tomato-based foods. However, individual triggers vary.
Stress can influence gastrointestinal function and may make digestive symptoms more noticeable or worsen symptoms in some people. Stress may be one contributing factor, but persistent reflux should not automatically be attributed to stress.
Reflux can be associated with chronic cough, throat irritation, hoarseness, and other throat symptoms. However, these symptoms have many possible causes, so persistent cough should be appropriately evaluated rather than automatically attributed to GERD.
Not everyone with GERD requires an endoscopy. It may be recommended when symptoms are persistent, difficult to control, atypical, or associated with warning signs such as difficulty swallowing, bleeding, anemia, or unexplained weight loss.
Yes. Chest discomfort caused by heart disease can sometimes feel similar to heartburn. New, severe, unexplained, or exertional chest pain should not be assumed to be GERD. Seek urgent medical evaluation when there is any concern that chest pain could be cardiac.
Wild Horse Health is a cash-pay clinic. We do not bill insurance directly, but:
Whether your symptoms occur occasionally after meals or you’ve been dealing with persistent reflux for months or years, our General Medicine Department can help evaluate your symptoms, identify contributing factors, and determine an appropriate treatment plan.
Serving patients across Tempe, Phoenix, and the East Valley
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