Homecoming Without Heartburn Drama, Here's a Doctor's Advice for GERD Sufferers
JAKARTA - The long and tiring homecoming journey is often a challenge for people with GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). Without proper preparation, the moment of gathering with family can actually be disturbed by complaints such as chest pain or a burning sensation in the stomach.
Professor of Internal Medicine Consultant Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist FKUI-RSCM, Ari Fahrial Syam, shared a number of tips so that GERD sufferers can travel home more safely. According to him, the departure time should be carefully chosen to reduce the risk of recurrence.
He advised GERD patients to travel at night or in a state of not being fasting.
"I recommend that he should travel home at night, that is, he is not fasting. Because frankly, if he travels during the day, for example, he will definitely be drained of all kinds of energy," said Ari in a health discussion with Primaya Hospital in Jakarta.
In addition to paying attention to travel time, GERD sufferers are advised to bring food from home so that hygiene and types of intake are more controlled. He reminded that you should not just buy food on the go, especially those that are at risk of triggering stomach acid such as fried foods, chocolate, and cheese.
According to Ari, every Lebaran period, hospitals in various regions often record an increase in patients with complaints of stomach ulcers or GERD due to poor eating habits. Therefore, reducing the consumption of oily foods during homecoming is an important preventive measure.
Stress factors are also no less influential. Long traffic jams during the homecoming flow can trigger excessive stomach acid production. To overcome this, he advised travelers to prepare activities that help keep the mood stable.
"Because it's definitely this road is jammed, so he also has to be ready with his gadget, there is a powerbank, which means it is maintained so that there is time, even though he is stuck but there is activity that is carried out so that the stress is also reduced," he said.
In addition, GERD sufferers are required to carry medicines that are usually consumed to relieve or neutralize stomach acid. Conditions on the road are not always predictable, and it is not always easy to find a pharmacy when symptoms suddenly recur.
For information, GERD is characterized by symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, to a bitter taste in the mouth. The risk of recurrence increases in individuals over 40 years of age, smokers, and those with a body mass index above 30 or the obese category. With proper preparation, the homecoming trip can still be carried out safely and comfortably even if you have a history of GERD.