Heartburn and acid reflux can spell constant discomfort, but GERD doesn’t have to control your life. At Oshi Health, we do things differently, taking a multidisciplinary approach to treating and managing digestive health symptoms like acid reflux and heartburn and chronic conditions like GERD.
If you’re living with a condition like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you probably know that symptoms like heartburn or acid reflux can impact your whole life. Mealtimes can feel like a minefield of potential symptom triggers. Reflux can cause throat irritation and breathing troubles that make it tough to stay active. Heartburn and reflux discomfort can mess with sleep, leaving you groggy and drained. Plus, everyday stuff like work, chores, and socializing can feel like a slog when you’re battling sleepiness and discomfort all day.
And, research shows a link between GERD and mental health, with many people experiencing anxiety or depression alongside their symptoms. Anxiety can even worsen reflux symptoms in some people.
Sick of living with uncomfortable symptoms that get in the way of life? Oshi Health is here to help you manage and find lasting relief from reflux and heartburn.
Our GI specialists, including registered dietitians, GI providers, and gut-brain experts, work together to figure out what works for your body. Diagnosing what’s really going on, creating a personalized treatment plan that makes sense for your life, and offering ongoing support so you’re never left hanging—all backed by rigorous clinical research.
Read on to learn more about how we tackle the root causes of acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at Oshi Health, so you can get back to living life to the fullest.
How we diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Getting to the root of acid reflux or GERD starts with understanding the whole you. At Oshi Health, our GI specialists dig deep, looking at your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle to put together a full picture.
They’ll ask you questions like when your symptoms show up, how often, and whether certain foods, situations, or behaviors seem to trigger them.
Your provider will also consider:
- Diet and food triggers
- Lifestyle and habits, like sleep and exercise
- Your medical and family history
- Stress and mental health
- Any current or previously tried medications and supplements
- Previous medical procedures
Got past test results? Great. No tests yet? That’s fine, too. We’ll review what’s relevant and only recommend additional testing if it’s truly necessary.
Here are a few things that might prompt additional testing:
- Problems swallowing
- Pain when swallowing
- Unexplained weight loss
- Anemia
- Blood in your vomit or stool
Using clear guidelines, like the Lyon Consensus and the Rome IV diagnostic criteria, we pinpoint patterns in your symptoms to reach a diagnosis—no A diagnosis of exclusion is when healthcare professionals reach a diagnosis by a process of elimination. Medical professionals might use this approach when there's no reliable diagnostic test or criteria for a condition. here.
One type of GERD, called reflux hypersensitivity, is what’s known as a gut-brain disorder. With a gut-brain disorder, your GI tract might appear “normal” with imaging, while you suffer from very real symptoms like reflux and heartburn. Experts believe DGBIs like reflux hypersensitivity are a result of a break in the communication between the brain and GI tract—a connection we take very seriously at Oshi.
GERD and acid reflux treatment that goes beyond the symptoms
Managing acid reflux and GERD is about more than addressing symptoms when they happen—it also involves understanding and treating the root causes to improve your overall well-being and quality of life.
Here’s how we approach GERD and reflux treatment at Oshi Health.
1. Dietary support
Our registered dietitians work with you to uncover potential food triggers and eating behaviors that might make symptoms worse—and find practical, sustainable solutions to help you feel better.
Common GERD food triggers include:
- Fatty or fried foods
- Spicy foods
- Acidic foods like citrus, tomato sauces, and vinegar
- Onions
- Chocolate
- Caffeine
- Carbonated drinks
- Peppermint
- Alcohol
Keep in mind, your personal triggers might vary (and you might even have some not listed here). A GI-registered dietitian can help!
Together with your Oshi RD, you’ll explore strategies like:
- Finding ways to stay hydrated throughout the day
- Eating more frequent meals
- Adjusting your portion sizes
- Avoiding eating 2-3 hours before lying down or going to bed
Your Oshi RD will guide you toward changes that fit your lifestyle—while still incorporating the foods you love. Other lifesetyle habits that may help with symptom relief include:
- Wearing looser clothing
- Adjusting your sleep position so your head is elevated
- Avoiding alcohol and tobacco
2. Personalized medication recommendations
When needed, medication can complement lifestyle, dietary, and behavioral changes. Your provider might suggest options like:
- Antacids to help with mild reflux and heartburn
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2 blockers, and alginate therapy to reduce stomach acid production
- Sucralfate to protect the lining of your stomach and esophagus
3. Gut-brain therapies
There’s a close link between stress and digestion (AKA the gut-brain connection), and managing it may help with GERD symptom relief.
Our gut-brain specialists are licensed psychologists and social workers trained in science-backed gut-brain behavior therapies to help you identify potential stress-related triggers causing excess acid production.
You’ll get evidence-based tools to help ease GI symptoms and manage the emotional challenges of living with GERD. They can also help you find the words to talk to the people in your life about living with digestive distress.
Gut-brain behavior therapies we use at Oshi
- Diaphragmatic breathing (AKA belly breathing)
- Mindfulness-based therapies like guided imagery and visualization
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH)
Ongoing care for acid reflux and GERD
While it can take time to heal from GERD, it’s possible to address the root cause of symptoms and find relief from chronic discomfort. If you’re healing from GERD, your Oshi Health care team can help you figure out an ongoing care plan that fits your unique symptoms, goals, and lifestyle.
Our providers work hard to provide you with the tools and knowledge to prevent symptoms. But we’re also here to help during flare-ups or whenever you need some extra support.
You can connect with your care team via 24/7 chat messaging or by scheduling a virtual appointment that fits your schedule—including on evenings and weekends.
Takeaway
Whole-person care for GERD and reflux means your treatment plan is tailored to you and just you. Oshi Health GI specialists work together to address the root cause of your symptoms by tackling diet, lifestyle, and the gut-brain connection—and help you take back control of your life.
Achieve lasting GERD and acid reflux symptom relief with Oshi Health: Schedule your first appointment in 3 minutes or less!
Frequently asked questions
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When you sign up for Oshi Health, you’ll start by seeing a GI provider who will work with you to determine if you could benefit from gut-brain and/or dietary support.
While care is tailored to your unique needs and preferences, most of our patients work with multiple specialists.
Research shows a multidisciplinary approach involving medical, gut-brain, and dietary care leads to better—and faster—outcomes than traditional care alone.
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You can schedule a virtual appointment with the providers on your care team whenever you need extra support. That includes evenings and weekends.
And if you’re already working with a brick-and-mortar GI provider, we’re here to support you between local in-person visits.
Oshi Health also offers unlimited, 24/7 chat messaging to current patients. Question about your care? Need a refresher about something you learned during an appointment? Wondering about test results? Send us a chat!
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Oshi Health is in-network with most major health plans—and our network is regularly expanding. As an in-network provider with most major insurers, our GI care services are billed through insurance, and any copay or deductible will depend on the specifics of the plan. Learn more on our pricing and insurance page.
To get a tailored cost estimate or to find out if you are eligible based on your plan details, click here to provide your member info.
Please note that we’re not currently in-network with Medicare or Medicaid plans.
*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality
Oshi is your partner in digestive health
Feel like your digestive concerns are running your life? You’re not alone—and we’re here to help you find lasting relief.
Oshi Health GI providers, gut-brain specialists, and registered dietitians work together to address the root cause of your symptoms and find solutions that actually work for you.
Whether you’re dealing with chronic digestive issues or unpredictable symptom flare-ups, our GI specialists deliver:
✔ Personalized care plans tailored to your lifestyle
✔ Science-backed strategies to calm your gut
✔ Compassionate, whole-person care
✔ And so much more!
Ready to take control of your gut health?
