Heat, holidays and reflux: advice on what to eat

The gastroesophageal reflux it is an increasingly widespread disorder, it mainly manifests itself with regurgitation and burning and also affects the youngest. The triggering causes are often attributable to wrong lifestyles such as an unhealthy, sometimes fast and unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol, but stress and anxiety are also factors that can contribute to triggering it or making it worse. Not to mention, obviously, anatomical or functional dysfunctions.

“If you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux, unfortunately the disease will come on holiday with us in these weeks – explains Dr. Marco Soncini, president of Aigo (Italian Association of hospital gastroenterologists and digestive endoscopists) and director of the Asst medical area department of Lecco – therefore it is necessary to know how to manage it in order not to aggravate the disorders with a wrong diet or with inappropriate behaviors such as, for example, interrupting a therapy in course thinking that relaxation alone can work wonders. This will not be the case, and if in most cases after a cycle of treatments with acid antisecretives lasting 1 or 2 months, there is control of the symptoms, the interruption of the same will lead to a resumption of the disturbances and therefore to new medical checks and resumption of treatment, nullifying the beneficial effect of the previous treatment and in fact, even of the long-awaited holidays”.

It is therefore advisable not to consider the summer and above all the holiday period as the best occasion to interrupt a treatment but rather, a period in which to try a reduction in the dosage, or the frequency of taking the drug only when needed, perhaps in anticipation of a busy dinner.

“Certainly a well-balanced diet during the day avoiding large meals and alcohol intake will help us, together with regular physical activity such as beautiful walks in the mountains or relaxing swimming strokes, to leave the reflux at home and enjoy the well-deserved holidays” , recalls the president Aigo.

So here are some tips to keep in mind to better manage reflux disease even on vacation.

Cocktails, coffee and spicy foods: how much they affect reflux

“People suffering from gastroesophageal reflux easily recognize some agents favoring the onset or recurrence of symptoms, among these alcohol is undoubtedly among the most frequent when associated with large meals with a high fat content. In addition to alcohol also coffee, chocolate and green tea can help rekindle the symptoms and caution should also be reserved for spicy foods”.

Yes to ice cream at the end of the meal

“Fortunately – continues Soncini – our after-dinner can be rewarded with a cup of ice cream or a granita, remembering not to go to bed too early and not to lie down on the sofa right away, these are tips that apply not only in the summer and which should lead us to avoid being overweight or clearly obese, which are conditions that favor and aggravate gastroesophageal reflux”.

An emergency remedy to keep on hand

“For those who already have a known diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease and have to travel to exotic locations, perhaps with precarious health systems, it is advisable to obtain the drugs already in use without interrupting the therapy. In the event of an absence of disturbances, the drug it can only be taken as needed and in the case of proton pump inhibitors, usually in the morning, at least 20 minutes before breakfast”.

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When is it appropriate to perform an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (egds)

“In the case of typical symptoms and with an age of less than 55 years without warning signs (repeated vomiting, unexplained weight loss, dysphagia, anemia or the presence of gastrointestinal bleeding) it is not necessary to resort to an instrumental investigation in the first instance. verification of a state of helicobacter pylori infection and medical treatment based on proton pump inhibitors for 4 weeks are generally sufficient.Poor symptom control or persistence of symptoms – explains the doctor Aigo – makes it appropriate instead a egds, which is always recommended in case of age over 55. In these cases, the gastroenterologist specialist can intervene in support of the general practitioner, to complete the diagnostic-therapeutic path in the most appropriate ways and times”.

Prevention, in summer and all year round

In summary, as always, health begins at the table: taking care of one’s diet, which is simple, balanced and low in fat or trigger foods, without excesses is a good practice to be adopted every day and even during the longed-for holidays, accompanied by the limitation of alcohol intake and smoking and regular physical activity.