Expert Primary Care for GERD
At AdventHealth Primary Care+, we know the pain and irritation of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can disrupt daily life. You deserve expert care that brings real relief. We’re here to help you feel like yourself again. Our chronic disease management team will partner with your specialists to deliver personalized, high-quality care on your schedule. With same-day, evening and weekend appointments, we make it easier to manage your health and feel whole in body, mind and spirit.
GERD Treatment and Care
A chronic condition, GERD occurs when stomach acid travels up the esophagus to the throat. This happens when the valve at the end of the esophagus — the lower esophageal sphincter — doesn’t close correctly, allowing acid to escape the stomach.
While there is currently no cure for GERD, your primary care provider (PCP) can identify treatment options that can help reduce or even resolve symptoms.
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Lifestyle Changes
Making changes to your daily life, like maintaining a healthy weight, eating smaller meals, quitting smoking, and avoiding fatty foods, spicy foods and beverages that can trigger symptoms, can help you control your GERD. Your PCP may also provide nutrition counseling services to help manage your condition.
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Surgical Options
Fundoplication is the most common surgical procedure for GERD, where the valve between the stomach and esophagus is fixed, and may be considered if medications and lifestyle changes are not enough.
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Medication Management
There are several different gastroesophageal reflux disease medications, including antacids, alginates, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole, histamine receptor antagonists (H2 blockers), prokinetics and baclofen.
Benefits of Visiting Us for GERD Treatment
Whole-person care is number one at AdventHealth Primary Care+. We treat our patients in body, mind and spirit with a range of services and benefits that all add up to comprehensive care.
We understand how busy life can get with managing a career, a family and a chronic condition like GERD. We try to make scheduling your appointments as easy as possible with many of our AdventHealth Primary Care+ locations offering evening and weekend hours, as well as same- and next-day appointments.
Many of our locations offer onsite labs, allowing for quick results for necessary blood work and x-rays that your PCP can use to check your esophagus. With no need to visit an additional location, you receive timely testing, diagnosis, and treatment — all in one place.
Our primary care team specializes in personalized care for all chronic conditions, including GERD. Whether you need a regular follow-up exam, lifestyle modification assistance, or a referral to a gastroenterologist, we’re here to support your health journey.
For added convenience, we offer virtual visits for certain aspects of GERD care, such as reviewing test results, medication management, lifestyle counseling or getting follow-up guidance. With secure, remote access to your care team, prioritizing your GERD treatment has never been easier.
Whether you have private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare or another major insurance provider, we want you to be able to seamlessly access the care you need. We make health care convenient and affordable for our communities.
Find GERD Treatment Near You
When you need expert care on your schedule and all close to home, look no further than AdventHealth Primary Care+. With more than 20 convenient locations, we make it easy to get whole-person care for you and your family with experienced providers and evening and weekend hours in your neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions About GERD
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Q:Question: Is there a cure for GERD?
A:Answer:While there is currently no cure for GERD, there are treatment options that can significantly reduce and even resolve symptoms. Schedule an appointment to talk to your primary care provider about your condition.
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Q:Question: What are the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease?
A:Answer:GERD is similar to acid reflux. However, while acid reflux happens occasionally, GERD is frequent and more intense.
The main symptoms of GERD include:
- Bitter or sour taste in the mouth
- Bloating
- Chest pain that is not cardiac disease-related
- Constant burping
- Continual need to clear your throat and/or cough
- Heartburn
- Hoarse voice
- Increased saliva production
- Nausea
- Regurgitation of stomach contents into the throat and mouth
- Sore throat
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Q:Question: What happens if I ignore my symptoms?
A:Answer:If not treated, GERD can lead to several serious complications, including:
- Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous condition where the lining of the esophagus changes to become more like the lining of the intestines
- Esophageal cancer
- Inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis)
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Q:Question: When should I see a gastroenterologist for GERD treatment?
A:Answer:Normally, your AdventHealth Primary Care+ provider can fully diagnose and treat your GERD symptoms. However, they may provide you with a referral to a doctor who specializes in the gastrointestinal system — a gastroenterologist — if medications and lifestyle changes don’t work, you have unexpected weight loss or if the condition is affecting your daily life, such as making it hard to sleep or get through your day.
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Q:Question: How will my PCP collaborate with a gastroenterologist to manage my GERD?
A:Answer:Because you'll receive a referral for a gastroenterologist in our AdventHealth network of care, your PCP will stay in contact with them to discuss what medications and lifestyle changes you've already implemented, develop a new treatment plan and discuss surgical options if necessary.
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Q:Question: What medications might my PCP prescribe for GERD?
A:Answer:Your PCP may prescribe several gastroesophageal reflux disease medications for GERD, including drugs that reduce stomach acid production, such as histamine receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antacids for heartburn relief, prokinetic agents that move food through your digestive system quicker, alginates that stop stomach acid from coming up the esophagus or a muscle relaxer.
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Q:Question: How does my PCP monitor the effectiveness of GERD treatments?
A:Answer:After discussing and implementing lifestyle changes and both over-the-counter and prescription medications for your GERD, your PCP will monitor your progress through different tests, including pH monitoring to measure your body's acid reflux rate, as well as endoscopic procedures that use a camera attached to a flexible tube to view the lining of the esophagus. Additionally, your PCP will be available to answer any of your questions or concerns regarding side effects.
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Q:Question: When would surgery be considered for GERD, and how does my PCP work with a surgeon?
A:Answer:If medication and lifestyle changes don’t give enough relief, your PCP may refer you to a gastroenterology specialist to consider surgical options. The most common type of surgery for GERD is Nissen fundoplication, which helps strengthen and repair the lower esophageal sphincter valve between the stomach and esophagus.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerYour PCP will provide your gastroenterologist with a full medical history, including your GERD diagnosis, your treatment history and your current symptoms. They’ll work together to evaluate whether or not surgery is right for you. If it’s decided that surgery is your best treatment option, your team will provide you with all the information on what the surgery entails, as well as pre-operative and postoperative care.
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Q:Question: Can stress contribute to GERD, and how does my PCP address it?
A:Answer:Yes! Stress can have a major impact on your GERD symptoms. When you’re stressed, your stomach muscles may tighten, pushing acid into the esophagus. Stress can also cause the stomach to create more acid than it needs. And when stress leads to eating unhealthy foods, or too much food, this can also trigger GERD symptoms.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerYour PCP will work with you to implement stress management techniques like meditation and yoga, as well as make referrals to mental health professionals and support groups to treat any mental health conditions that may be adding to your stress.
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Q:Question: What tests might my PCP recommend to understand my GERD symptoms better?
A:Answer:If your PCP suspects you have GERD, in addition to a full physical exam, they will use testing to confirm their diagnosis. The two tests commonly used are a pH monitoring test that evaluates how much acid is in the esophagus over 24 hours, and an upper endoscopy to check for damage to the esophagus lining, such as ulcers.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerYour PCP may also prescribe an esophageal manometry, which checks how well the valve between the stomach and esophagus is working, or a special X-ray called a barium swallow, where you're asked to drink a solution so your PCP can better visualize the stomach and esophagus.
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Q:Question: How can my PCP help me manage GERD if I have other health conditions, like obesity or asthma?
A:Answer:As both obesity and asthma are risk factors for GERD, your PCP can help you manage them with medications and lifestyle changes, which should reduce your GERD symptoms. Your PCP can also help treat other health conditions that may exacerbate GERD, including hiatal hernia, connective tissue disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and gastroparesis.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerAlso, there are some medications known to potentially exacerbate GERD, including NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), for which your PCP can provide you with alternative options.
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Q:Question: How often should I follow up with my primary care provider for GERD treatment?
A:Answer:How frequently you visit your PCP depends on your overall health and the severity of your GERD symptoms. You should visit your PCP every six months to evaluate how medications and lifestyle modifications are working, and to see if adjustments or a referral to a gastroenterologist are needed.