Recent research suggests that some lifestyle changes are more helpful than others for treating the symptoms of GERD.

There are four types of treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): lifestyle measures, medication, surgery, and endoscopic procedures. Treating GERD is important. Untreated GERD can lead to serious complications, such as esophageal ulcers (nonhealing mucosal defects), esophageal strictures, Barrett’s esophagus (a disorder of the cells lining the esophageal mucosa, which may lead to cancer), and esophageal cancer.

Doctors often recommend lifestyle changes as the first-line treatment for GERD. These measures can include elevating the head of the bed during sleep, not eating late at night, and avoiding alcohol or spicy foods. However, a new study reported in The Archives of Internal Medicine (Volume 166, page 965) shows that not all of these changes are helpful in relieving GERD symptoms, and some may be unnecessarily restrictive.

Researchers looked at the results of 100 studies conducted on various lifestyle measures for GERD. Only losing weight and elevating the head of the bed showed a clear benefit in well-designed studies.

In comparison, there was little evidence to support avoiding many suspected GERD triggers, such as alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, spicy foods, citrus, carbonated beverages, fatty foods, and mint. The same was true for sleeping on your left side or avoiding food late at night.

Although there was evidence that some of these substances and practices can cause GERD symptoms, evidence was lacking that avoiding them will relieve symptoms. However, if you experience worsening GERD symptoms after eating certain foods or drinking specific beverages you should probably avoid them. In addition, you should certainly give lifestyle changes a chance before trying medication to relieve symptoms.