Stop Acid Reflux Blog

Many patients that Dr Whelan treats are suffering from acid reflux disease, also known as GERD, gastro esophageal reflux disease. GERD is a condition in which acid, bile, and partially digested food in the stomach back up into the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Heartburn is one symptom of GERD.

“Thirty to 40 years ago there were very few complaints of GERD, but today 30 to 40 percent of my patients have symptoms related to GERD,” Dr Whelan said. “The sphincter muscle [between the esophagus and the stomach] opens up inappropriately at times, causing GERD. Patients get inflammation, heartburn, nausea, the feeling of a lump in your throat, the sensation that food gets stuck.”

Dr Whelan said he gets referrals of patients who complain of sore throat or sinus problems that actually are caused by GERD. Some also have pulmonary disorders, characterized by a cough that will not clear, actually caused by GERD. “You don’t necessarily need heartburn to have a diagnosis of GERD,” he said.

Not everyone needs to be treated for GERD, which is a common disorder that usually can be relieved with antacids and other over-the-counter acid reducers and neutralizers. Some patients require prescription drugs to get relief.

Stress can make a lot of symptoms worse, Dr Whelan noted. On the other hand, lifestyle changes can help, such as reducing stress, losing weight, and cutting back or eliminating alcohol, fried fatty food, coffee, chocolate, and other foods that contain caffeine. Giving up smoking also helps, as does reducing the consumption of acidic beverages like grapefruit juice and orange juice.

“Some people can make all these lifestyle changes and still need the pill,” Dr Whelan said. “The pill does have possible side affects, however, such as headaches, belly pain, and diarrhea.”

When GERD is untreated, it can cause chronic inflammation that leads to scarring of the tissue. In some cases, the changes in the lining of the esophagus can lead to ulcers there, a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus, and occasionally cancer.

Some patients of Dr Whelan are diagnosed with celiac disease, an intolerance to anything made from gluten, an allergy to a protein in grains.

“It sets off an inflammatory response in the wall of the small intestine that causes bloating, cramps, abdominal pain, and terrible diarrhea,” Dr Whelan said. “It is a genetic disease and can cause anemia. Lack of vitamin D absorption can lead to osteoporosis in women.”

The treatment is simple avoidance of anything with gluten - anything made with grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. “The more we look for celiac disease, the more we find it,” he said.

Dr Whelan said many gastrointestinal disorders cause diarrhea and one of the most helpful things for patients is acidophilus, live cultures found in some types of yogurt, that restore the bacteria flora of the digestive tract. It is often recommended for patients who are taking antibiotics, he said, because the drugs can also kill the beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract, causing diarrhea and other problems.

(info from http://www.newtownbee.com/Features.asp?s=Features-2005-07-07-10-05-43p1.htm)