Got GERD?
Heartburn is a serious medical problem for millions of Americans (8-page version)
At some time or another, almost everyone experiences heartburn, that burning sensation just below the breastbone or a bitter, sour taste in the back of the throat. Indeed, over 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a year and some 15 million Americans experience the symptoms each day.
The condition. The medical name for heartburn is acid reflux disease or GERD, which stands for gastroesophageal disease. GERD occurs when the valve at the end of the esophagus doesn’t keep the acid in the stomach out of the esophagus. Untreated, GERD can lead to serious medical conditions, including difficulty in swallowing and eating as well as a pre-cancerous changing of the lining of the esophagus called Barrett’s esophagus. People with GERD are also more likely to suffer from a hiatal hernia. With this common condition, (by age 60, up to 60 percent of people have it to some degree), part of the stomach protrudes through the opening designed for the esophagus.
Prevention. There are many ways to prevent GERD: stop smoking, lose weight and stay away from foods that can cause heartburn such as chocolate, coffee, peppermint, greasy and spicy foods, tomato products and alcohol. Raising the head of your bed sometimes helps. Over-the-counter medications can also be taken. Unfortunately, these remedies don’t always work, so talk to your primary care physician or consult a gastroenterologist about your options.
Treatment. Usually a physician will first perform an upper endoscopy to examine the upper digestive tract and find the cause of the problem. A thin flexible lighted tube called an endoscope is inserted down the esophagus, allowing the physician to examine the esophagus, the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine. The standard surgical treatment for GERD is a laparoscopic procedure called a Nissen Fundoplication, where the upper part of the stomach is wrapped around the valve at the bottom of the esophagus to strengthen it and increase its performance.
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