Recovery & Support for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

At NYU Langone, our specialists offer continued support after treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If you have been treated with medication, or if your doctor recommends lifestyle changes alone, regular follow-up visits allow your doctor to track changes in your symptoms and manage your treatment, with the goal of alleviating symptoms and preventing the condition from worsening. If you have had surgery, your doctor meets with you for regularly scheduled follow-up examinations to monitor your progress and ensure that your symptoms don’t return.

During follow-up appointments, particularly if you had severe acid reflux symptoms before treatment, your doctor may perform a routine endoscopy to check for changes in the esophagus that might indicate a complication, such as the rare but serious Barrett’s esophagus, a condition in which precancerous cells appear in the esophageal lining. In this exam, the doctor inserts a flexible tube with a camera at its tip down the throat to examine the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine.

People with GERD may also benefit from the following services offered at NYU Langone.

Smoking Cessation

Doctors strongly encourage people with GERD to quit smoking. Smoking promotes increased acidity in the stomach and can weaken the function of the esophagus, the tube that carries food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach. NYU Langone’s Tobacco Cessation Programs can help you quit smoking for good.

Nutritional Support

For many people with GERD, certain foods, such as fried foods, spicy foods, and citrus, can play a role in triggering symptoms. An integral part of managing GERD is determining which foods trigger your symptoms and eliminating them from your diet.

Registered dietitians and nutritionists are available at NYU Langone to help you create a diet plan that helps you to manage symptoms and prevent them from worsening.

Weight Management

Carrying excess weight on your body, particularly around the midsection, can contribute to the occurrence of GERD, because it puts pressure on the stomach, forcing acid and other stomach contents upward into the esophagus. If you are overweight, losing weight can help to alleviate your symptoms.

At NYU Langone’s Weight Management Program, our specialists create a weight loss plan that’s appropriate for you. They can also offer advice on nutrition and exercise.