Diet During Long-Term Reflux Disease
Wojciech Wiśniewski
2026-03-23
7 min. read
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Long-term reflux disease is a very prevalent ailment in which diet and lifestyle play a significant role. However, there is a lot of conflicting information about which products lead to an intensification of its symptoms – so it's worth carefully examining the latest scientific data.
Gastric reflux disorder General information
Gastroesophageal reflux disorder is one of the most commonly occurring diseases of the digestive system worldwide. In 2022, 13% of the global population reported its occurrence (S. Yuan, S.C. Larsson). In Poland, in 2014, 36% of patients who consulted a gastroenterologist received this diagnosis (M. Jarosz, A. Taraszewska). The disorder is characterized by recurring episodes of reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and in some cases even into the oral cavity. A high level of gastric acid results in the patient experiencing a burning sensation in the chest and an unpleasant taste in the mouth, which is commonly referred to as heartburn. There may also be problems with efficient swallowing, hoarseness, sore throat, recurrent infections of the upper respiratory tract and breathing difficulties. Reflux can also have a physiological character, e.g. during pregnancy, when the fetus presses on the stomach, causing the return of stomach contents. After childbirth, the symptoms usually disappear. However, if reflux episodes recur constantly, they cause discomfort and make everyday functioning difficult. If no treatment is initiated, reflux can lead to serious health consequences, such as swallowing disorders or esophageal cancer. The main causes include anatomical and histological abnormalities (e.g. narrowing of the esophagus), gender and environmental factors such as stress, smoking and improper diet. The treatment of reflux usually consists in pharmacotherapy with proton pump inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole or esomeprazole) that block gastric acid production.
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