Stress-related acid reflux on the rise, say experts

Carnatic musician Sudha Ragunathan has posted on Facebook saying she won’t be performing during the December music season “primarily due to a health issue, an acid reflux condition. Doctors have advised rest from stress and that has left me with no choice but to abide, for the sake of my music and my health”. Speaking to dtNEXT, Sudha said she consulted a doctor after feeling uneasy for a while. “The problem was identified as GERD or acid reflux and doctors said the best medicine was to be stress-free, she added. 

Doctors say there is an increase in health disorders like acid reflux, caused mainly by incorrect lifestyle practices. Most people are familiar with the condition where the swallowed food comes up the throat and often dismiss it as ‘heart burn’. However, it needs to be treated, if one wants to lead a healthy life. “In most cases, reflux is caused by mental stress. Ageing, hormonal changes and weight gain are the other reasons why people suffer from acid reflux,” says Dr Kosalya Nathan, lifestyle and anti-ageing specialist, Apollo Hospital. 

“Acid reflux is a digestive disorder affecting the lower esophagfus, where the swallowed food comes back up instead of passing into the stomach. Reflux means to flow back or return. People, including celebrities spend long hours at work and eat at irregular hours. People carry a lot of stress while eating and that should be avoided,” adds Dr Kousalya.

Simple lifestyle changes such as sitting down to eat meals at regular hours, doing breathing exercises, having a correct posture while sitting or walking and avoiding excessive eating would help a patient recover completely.