Do you experience swallowing issues, chest pain, or heartburn after meals? If so, you could be experiencing gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Acid reflux is no joke. Once you experience it, you will recognize it forever. Fortunately, assisted living homes in Hope Mills, NC can help you face the challenges of GERD.
It typically occurs when the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach does not close properly. That allows stomach acid to flow into the esophagus. Acid reflux can feel like dull chest pain that raises the issue of a heart attack. Actually, it can be difficult to distinguish between GERD and a heart attack.
How Assisted Living Homes Can Make Living with GERD Easier
Diet
Living with this condition is significantly easier if you have caregivers at your service who ensure you consume healthy foods that reduce the likelihood of acid reflux. Ideally, the meals you consume throughout the day should contain foods that do not cause heartburn. Reducing or avoiding food that causes this condition is the most effective way to fight acid reflux symptoms.
Medications
If you are like most senior adults, you are tired of taking medications. However, those that treat acid reflux symptoms are worth the extra effort. Assisted living caregivers often ensure that residents take their GERD medication as their doctors recommend. Ultimately, that helps them enjoy their waking hours and sleep soundly.
Early Meals
It is best to give your food a chance to digest before sleeping. Healthcare providers recommend stopping eating at least five to six hours before bedtime. If you enjoy a late-night snack like most people, give yourself at least two hours between your snack and sleep. Doing so will reduce your acid levels, minimizing the chances of acid reflux.
Most assisted living homes provide resident-centered meal service. That means providing each resident with a palatable, nourishing, balanced diet that meets his/her daily special dietary and nutritional needs while considering each resident’s preferences. If you require an early dinner to minimize the chances of acid reflux, no one will stop you.
Non-Medication Treatment Modalities
Assisted living communities can incorporate other treatment modalities into their residents’ daily regimens. For example, they include alternative GERD treatments like acupuncture, Manuka Honey, and other natural remedies.
Sleep Position
Your typical sleeping position can affect how acid reflux disrupts your daily life. Caregivers in assisted living communities encourage residents to elevate their upper body above the stomach to prevent acid from moving upward to the throat. That helps them enjoy restful nights uninterrupted by GERD symptoms.
Conclusion
An assisted living community can significantly impact your daily quality of life. These tips should help you have better control over your symptoms if you are living with GERD. Most importantly, such communities usually have a resident doctor who can deal with all medical issues, including acid reflux.
