Local Doctor’s Advice on Thanksgiving Day Eating – Slow Down!

imgresLocal Doctor’s Advice on Thanksgiving Day Eating – Slow Down!

Turkeys and taters and stuffing, oh my! While just the thought of a Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings is enough to make most people start salivating, the vision may look more like a nightmare for those suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

GERD affects 10 to 20 million people in the U.S., and occurs when stomach acid washes back up into the esophagus. The chance of this happening can sometimes be increased by eating quickly or consuming too much food at once – making Thanksgiving the “perfect storm” for GERD sufferers.

“If GERD remains untreated, besides great discomfort and inflammation of the esophagus, patients can sometimes experience more serious complications and permanent damage,” says Adrian Park, MD, chair of surgery at Anne Arundel Medical Center, who was recently named by Baltimore Magazine as a Top Doc in Minimally Invasive Surgery.

Dr. Park offers the following tips to help reduce GERD symptoms during the holidays:

 ·         Eat slowly. Don’t rush through meals. Slow down to give your stomach time to realize when it’s full.

·         Don’t overeat. Decrease portion size at meals or eat smaller meals throughout the day.

·         Wear loose-fitting clothing. Tight clothes put pressure on the abdomen and may increase GERD symptoms.

 ·         Avoid trigger foods and drinks. Fried or fatty foods, alcohol, sugary soft drinks, tomato sauce, chocolate, garlic, onions, and caffeine can all trigger reflux.

·         Stay active. Maintaining a healthy weight can alleviate GERD symptoms, so stick with your exercise routine throughout the holidays.

·         Don’t go to bed with a full stomach. Wait at least three hours after eating before lying down or going to sleep.

While these simple lifestyle changes may not completely eliminate GERD, they may help to alleviate symptoms. Anyone who continues to experience GERD symptoms for more than two weeks while taking over-the-counter treatments should consult a physician.

About Anne Arundel Medical Center

Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), a regional health system headquartered in Annapolis, Md., serves an area of more than one million people. Founded in 1902, AAMC includes a 384-bed not-for-profit hospital, a medical group, imaging services, a substance use treatment center, and health enterprises. In addition to a 57-acre Annapolis campus, AAMC has outpatient pavilions in Bowie, Kent Island, Odenton, Pasadena, and Waugh Chapel. AAMC is nationally recognized for its joint replacement center, emergency heart attack response and cancer care.  A leader in women’s services, AAMC delivers the state’s second highest number of births annually and has a Level 3 NICU. With more than 1,000 medical staff members, 3,900 employees and 750 volunteers, AAMC consistently receives awards for quality, patient satisfaction and innovation. To learn more, visit askAAMC.org.