Understanding GERD and its Symptoms
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a medical condition that occurs when the stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus causing heartburn, acid reflux, and regurgitation. The most common symptoms of GERD include a burning sensation in the chest, difficulty swallowing, frequent burping, and pain between the shoulder blades.
Cause of Pain Between Shoulder Blades Due to GERD
Pain between shoulder blades is often the result of GERD. As the acidic reflux rises up towards your throat, it can irritate the nerves in your back, leading to discomfort and pain between your shoulder blades.
15 Tips for Managing Pain Between Shoulder Blades Due to GERD
1. Seek Medical Help
If you experience frequent pain between your shoulder blades or other GERD symptoms, it’s essential to seek medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. They can properly diagnose the root cause of your pain and provide you with effective treatment options.
2. Watch What You Eat
Identify and avoid food that triggers GERD symptoms, such as fatty foods, caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol. Instead, choose lean protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
3. Eat Smaller Meals
Eating smaller meals throughout the day helps to regulate your digestion and reduce the likelihood of acid reflux symptoms. Large meals can trigger GERD symptoms and lead to pain between your shoulder blades.
4. Avoid Eating Late at Night
Avoid eating a few hours before bedtime as this can cause stomach acid to flow back into your esophagus while you are lying down, leading to discomfort and pain between your shoulder blades.
5. Quit Smoking
Smoking not only leads to several health problems but also contributes to GERD symptoms. Quitting smoking will not only help relieve GERD pain but also lead to overall better health.
6. Wear Loose Clothing
Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes, especially around your stomach, as it can contribute to GERD symptoms like heartburn and pain between shoulder blades.
7. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess weight can increase pressure on the abdomen, causing acid reflux and pain between shoulder blades. Maintaining a healthy weight through a well-balanced diet and regular exercise helps in managing GERD symptoms.
8. Elevate Your Head While Sleeping
Use a wedge pillow or elevate the head of your bed by 6 to 8 inches to maintain gravity and prevent stomach acid from flowing back into your esophagus while you are sleeping.
9. Manage Stress
Stress can contribute to GERD symptoms, including pain between shoulder blades. Try to incorporate stress-reducing activities into your daily routine, such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.
10. Use Over-the-Counter Medications
Antacids, such as Tums or Rolaids, can help neutralize stomach acid and relieve GERD pain. Over-the-counter antacids and acid reducers like Pepcid AC can help relieve GERD-related pain and discomfort.
11. Take Prescription Medications
If over-the-counter medications don’t work, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that reduce stomach acid production and relieve GERD symptoms.
12. Avoid Bending Over
Bending over or leaning forward after eating can trigger GERD symptoms and cause pain between shoulder blades. Instead, sit upright and take a short walk to aid in digestion.
13. Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking plenty of water helps to flush out stomach acid and reduce the chances of acid reflux. It also helps in maintaining your overall health and wellbeing.
14. Chewing Gum
Chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva that can neutralize stomach acid and reduce GERD symptoms like pain between shoulder blades.
15. Get Active
Incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine as it helps in managing weight and reducing GERD symptoms. However, avoid vigorous exercise after eating as it can trigger acid reflux symptoms.
Final Thoughts
Pain between shoulder blades due to GERD can be uncomfortable and disruptive to our daily lives. It’s essential to take preventative measures by avoiding trigger foods, seeking medical treatment, taking prescribed medications, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By incorporating these practical tips into our daily routine, we can manage GERD symptoms and live a healthy, pain-free life. Want to know more about the topic? gerd back pain between shoulder blades, we suggest this to improve your reading experience and expand your understanding.
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