It creeps into one’s chest when he or she least expects it – an excruciating, pinching sensation. It follows large, greasy meals and stressful situations. Unlike the familiar bout of indigestion that calms after taking an antacid, this heartburn continues after two days despite diet changes and mild medications. What is the name of this ailment? It is officially called GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease and more commonly referred to as acid reflux disease. It occurs when digestive acid from the stomach backs into the esophagus (not designed to tolerate acid) creating extreme heartburn. The acid backup is enabled by a weak contraction of the valve between the esophagus and the stomach called the lower esophageal sphincter. Acid reflux disease is a growing epidemic that affects about one third of citizens in the United States with both long and short-term effects on health according to John Hopkins medical researchers. Fortunately, resiliency is possible with revolutionary treatments and lifestyle changes.
Why are so many Americans suffering from acid reflux disease? A huge underlying factor is excess body weight. After analyzing 20 studies on acid reflux disease, Douglas Corley, MD, a GERD Researcher at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California found significant evidence that overweight test participants, having a body mass index (BMI) of over 25, possessed a moderate risk of developing acid reflux disease; while obese test participants, having a BMI of over 30, withstood an extreme risk of contracting acid reflux disease. This leads to the conclusion that the more body weight individuals carry, the greater risk they have for developing acid reflux disease. Acid reflux disease is characterized by the symptoms of persistent heartburn as described above, stomachache, swallowing complications, sour taste in the mouth, persistent cough, and hoarseness. It is pertinent to consult a doctor immediately when one experiences chest pain, as it is sometimes life-threatening.
Acid reflux disease results in long-term damage to the esophagus, which continues to worsen if left untreated. One such effect is called erosive esophagitis or esophagus erosion in which stomach acid tears the lining of the esophagus, causing it to become irritated. Erosive esophagitis affects one in three people with acid reflux disease and is detected by a physician using an endoscope to photograph erosions and inflammation in the esophagus. One study reported by WebMD found that participants who consumed more fat and protein on a daily basis were at a higher risk of developing erosive esophagitis. Acid reflux disease can even go as far as to cause ulcers in the esophagus as well as esophageal cancer. The specific type of esophageal cancer that acid reflux can cause is called adenocarcinoma where cells in the lower esophagus are malignant according to WebMD.
Numerous treatments – both short term and long term – exist for acid reflux disease. The short- term medications, known as antacids, are taken to relieve mild symptoms by neutralizing stomach acid. Antacids include Zantac, Pepcid, and Tagamet. Long-term medications, known as H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors, are prescribed to treat more serious symptoms of acid reflux disease. They have the ability to both decrease stomach acid and help to heal esophagus damage. Examples of proton pump inhibitors include Protonix, lansoprazole known as Prevacid, omeprazole known as Prilosec (over-the-counter medication), rabeprazole known as Aciphex, and esomeprazole magnesium known as Nexium as mentioned by WebMD. Nexium, the most common and effective medication frequently advertised in magazines and on television commercials, is taken once a day to relieve heartburn and heal erosive esophagitis in four to eight weeks as reported by Medizine’s Healthy Living Magazine. On a negative note, the side effects of Nexium include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and headaches. An alternative treatment to taking long-term medications is to have Fundoplication surgery. As described by WebMD, this surgery strengthens the lower esophageal sphincter to cease acid backup.
In addition to taking medications, people who suffer from acid reflux disease are advised to make diet changes. According to www.purplepill.com, some of the foods to avoid include fried, fatty, or spicy foods; foods with tomato ingredients; citric fruits; onions and garlic; chocolate; peppermint; caffeinated drinks including soda, coffee, and tea; and alcohol. Doctors also recommend that acid reflux disease victims eat small portion sizes and discontinue eating three hours before bedtime to prevent acid from backing up into the esophagus.
Treating acid reflux disease must also be accompanied by lifestyle changes. These include reducing stress in one’s life, keeping one’s weight down, and quitting smoking and alcohol drinking. Other helpful tips, mentioned on www.purplepill.com, are to tilt one’s mattress or bed at an elevation of six to ten inches using a wedge, which prevents acid backup; and to avoid tight clothing that squeezes the stomach.
On the bright side, medical research continues to advance to effectively treat the rising cases of acid reflux. As mentioned above, medical treatments range from antacids that treat initial symptoms to H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors that heal long term damage to the esophagus and reduce stomach acid. Another essential treatment is making improvements in one’s eating and lifestyle habits such as selecting healthier food choices, managing stress, wearing looser clothing, and managing weight. These tips have all been recommended by medical professionals to enable remarkable recoveries from acid reflux disease.
Sources
Lichterman, G. (2007). “GERD-Girth Link.” Medizine’s Healthy Living.
http://www.purplepill.com
Ravich, MD, W., Talamini, MD, M., Norwitz, BS, L., Kalloo, MD, A. “Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Introduction.”John Hopkins Medicine.
Rhodes, M. (2008, March 31). “Esophageal Erosion and Ulcers Caused by GERD.”WebMD. Medical Reference from Healthwise.
