Stop Acid Reflux Blog

Study Shows Need for Awareness about Acid Reflux Disease (ARD) and its Possible Long-Term Consequences

6.1 million Hispanics in the United States suffer from acid reflux disease(1), however a survey sponsored by AstraZeneca that was conducted in five U.S. cities with large Hispanic density, reveals that more than sixty percent (66%) of Hispanics are not familiar with common terms to describe the condition known as acid reflux. According to the new survey, although Hispanics are familiar with the symptoms of acid reflux, they don’t know that these symptoms may be part of a potentially more serious medical problem.

Suffering frequent symptoms of acid reflux, may not only affect everyday productivity and sleep, but can also cause potentially serious damage to the esophagus if not treated properly.

Acid reflux occurs when harsh acid passes back up into the esophagus, causing the inner lining of the esophagus to become irritated. A valve localized between the esophagus and the stomach called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) muscle stops closing properly, allowing the stomach acid to go up to the esophagus. This can irritate the esophagus. Despite low awareness of the condition, twenty-one percent (21%) of people interviewed said they suffer from acid reflux related symptoms; two or more times a week.

“Acid reflux may be serious and can be treated. It affects approximately 29 million Americans,(2)” said Pedro Jose Greer, Jr., M.D, F.A.C.P., F.A.C.G, gastroenterologist affiliated with Mercy and Baptist hospitals in Miami. “Acid reflux often requires chronic medical treatment to properly control acid levels or it may result in long-term consequences such as serious damage to the esophagus. Generally speaking, Hispanics suffering from acid reflux think the only cure is to drink homemade tea or stop eating some of their favorite dishes or condiments. This is simply not true.”

Survey Results:

– Seventy-eight percent (78%) of participants suffer from heartburn

– Sixty-six percent (66%) noticed acidic or sour taste in their mouth

– Fifty-seven percent (57%) suffered from belching

– Twenty-three percent (23%) of Hispanic women tend to suffer from the symptoms compared to sixteen (16%) of Hispanic men, few participants felt these symptoms warrant medical attention.

“In some people, their normal esophageal tissue may lose its healthy condition (and develop erosions),” said Dr. Greer. “Only a doctor can determine if someone has these erosions and treat them accordingly.”

Acid reflux is potentially serious and may be treated. For more information, please call (toll free) 1-866-271-7278. Select option 2.

AstraZeneca’s public education efforts expand beyond gastrointestinal health to a variety of important conditions affecting the Hispanic community including: cardiovascular disease, childhood asthma, mental health and oncology.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted in five markets (Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami and Houston) with 1,001 Hispanics from August 8-17, 2005 by Impacto Group LLC. This survey was sponsored by AstraZeneca. More information on the survey is available upon request.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of over $21.4 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, oncology and neuroscience products. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $9.6 billion healthcare business with more than 12,000 employees. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

About Acid Reflux

Of all the symptoms related to acid reflux, heartburn is the most common. Other symptoms of acid reflux can include: difficulty when swallowing (due to the acid that goes back to the esophagus) and regurgitation (sensation of stomach contents backing up into the throat).

Although acid reflux is caused by the back up of gastric acid into the esophagus, some foods or activities may also trigger these symptoms; for example, bending or lying down after eating, using tight clothing, eating chocolate, tea, alcohol or foods with high fat contents may trigger the symptoms. Doctors recommend keeping a journal to help them identify the foods and activities that benefit people who suffer from acid reflux. Likewise, it is important that persons suffering from these symptoms see a doctor who can evaluate them and recommend a treatment program.

1. Cheskin Research, August 2004
2. NHWS 2004, Consumer Health Sciences

(info from Hispanic PR Wire)

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, causing chest pain. Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, as it’s called technically, has nothing to do with the heart … or does it? Polish researchers report that people with existing coronary artery disease may also have GERD, and this can trigger constriction of the heart’s blood vessels and cause ischemia — restricted bloody supply that can damage the heart further.

However, this chain of events can be prevented with drugs that reduce the production of gastric acid, the team reports in the International Journal of Cardiology.

Dr. Slawomir Dobrzycki from the Medical University in Bialystok and colleagues had 50 patients with proven coronary artery disease undergo 24-hour continuous recording of the acidity in the esophagus and the heart’s electrical rhythm.

Then the 23 patients found to have GERD were given the acid-reducing drug omeprazole to take twice daily for seven days. On the seventh day, the simultaneous ECG and acidity Holter monitoring was repeated.

Overall, 45 (21 percent) of a total of 218 episodes of heart ischemia seen on the ECG recording coincided with episodes of acid reflux. GERD patients had significantly more ischemic events.

However, by comparing the recordings obtained before and after treatment with omeprazole, the researchers concluded that the anti-reflux therapy reduced the amount of ischemia suffered by the heart.

They say a ‘’multidisciplinary approach'’ to evaluating patients with chest pain should be able to uncover the underlying problem and lead to the best treatment.

(info from Reuters)

Almost 20 percent of Americans suffer from recurring heartburn called Gastroesophageal Reflux disease, or Gerd. Gerd symptoms interfere with eating, sleeping, and daily living, and Gerd puts people at risk for complication and certain cancers including cancer of the esophagus.

There are a growing number of Americans who have Gastroesophogeal Reflux disease, also known as Gerd, which is defined as severe heartburn two or more times a week.

Previous studies and a new in Annals of Internal Medicine finds the the risk for reflux disease and its complications appears to be linked to weight gain.

Dr. Hashem B. El-Serag an MPH Associate Professor of Medicine at Baylor College and Michael E. DeBakey of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center believe that obesity raises the risk of refluxing more acid from the stomach into the esophagus and the possibility of cancer associated with Gerd.

According to Dr. El-Serag reflux disease can be treated with the over-the-counter antacids and stronger prescription medications. But the best and simplest way to combat Gerd is to maintain a health weight.

The researchers analyzed nine studies done from 1966 to 2004. Six studies showed a notable link between obesity and GERD.

“The association between BMI and GERD complications was markedly consistent,” write the researchers. None of the studies showed any GERD benefits from obesity, and the studies that didn’t strongly link obesity and GERD tilted in that direction, they write.

In eight of the nine studies, as BMI (body mass index — a measure of body fat ) rose, so did GERD symptoms, write the researchers, who set quality standards for the studies they reviewed.

What’s the Connection?

How does obesity make GERD more likely? The researchers aren’t sure.

They mention a few theories, including excess body fat compressing the stomach, the effects of food (especially fatty foods), and hernias. But they didn’t find evidence that settled the matter.

The GERD-obesity link should get more research, write Hampel and colleagues.

Meanwhile, they offer this advice: “It is prudent to counsel all overweight patients who present with GERD-related diseases that weight loss may help improve symptoms.”

( Sources: Hampel, H. Annals of Internal Medicine, Aug. 2, 2005; vol 143: pp 199-211. WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise: “Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) — Topic Overview.” News release, American College of Physicians.)

Darlene Van Hoos has always enjoyed spicy foods. What she didn’t like were the after effects.

Darlene has gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. She didn’t want to take medication indefinitely, so she jumped at the chance to be in a study using the Plicator.

The Plicator uses a guide wire to help doctors move the snake-like device through the esophagus into the stomach. The Plicator pulls back tissue where the stomach and esophagus meet. Jaws clamp down and deploy an implant that sutures the tissue.

Doctors tighten the valve between the stomach and esophagus, restoring normal anti-reflux barrier. The procedure replicates what’s done in surgery.

Because it’s done in a thirty minute outpatient procedure, doctors think patients will welcome the idea.

Darlene has noticed a big difference. Now she can experience the pleasure of eating without the pain of heartburn.

The Plicator has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration, and it’s available for heartburn sufferers.

What may seem like a cold or allergy with a scratchy throat that just won’t go away may not be your run-of-the-mill cold. It may be something much worse– acid reflux.

Bonnie Cano, a patient:
“You always feel like you have something stuck in the throat, a lot of hoarseness, a lot of post nasal it’s not fun.”

And when allergy medicine wasn’t making it go away– Cano headed in to see her Ear, Nose and Throat doctor. With a scope, Dr. Pandit could see it wasn’t a cold or congestion causing her discomfort, but acid reflux.

Dr. Rajiv pandit, an E.N.T. specialist:
“What happens is acid comes right out of there and spills over onto the voice box.”

And doctors are seeing more cases just like Bonnie’s.

Dr. Pandit:
“50% of the people that we diagnose with acid reflux have no heartburn.”

Because stress can be a trigger, doctors say they’re seeing younger people with A-Typical acid reflux. The prescription for bonnie… 3 months of medication. Within just two months there’s signs of improvement.

Dr. Pandit speaking with Cano:
“The areas of redness are gone, the swelling is down.”

Cano:
“It’s nice to know I can actually do something to get rid of that throat problem I had.”

Doctors say cases like this can be cleared up with a few months of medication and a change in diet. That means not eating within three hours of bedtime, and avoiding spicy foods, caffeine and peppermint.

(info from http://www.kten.com/article.asp?id=9991)

They are the same thing.

Often referred to by the shorter names “acid reflux” or simply “reflux,” gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition, usually in conjunction with a weakness of the ring of muscle (hiatal hernia) that prevents stomach acid from backwashing up into the delicate esophagus.

GERD often causes cough, heartburn, gas and other annoying symptoms. The condition should be treated with drugs, such as Pepcid AC and others. If symptoms persist despite therapy, patients should seek out a gastroenterologist, because chronic reflux may lead to a premalignant condition known as Barrett’s esophagus.

The diagnosis of GERD is made during X-rays of the upper gastrointestinal tract or by endoscopy (viewing the esophageal and gastric linings through a fiber-optic tube).

QUESTION: Several months ago I went to an ear, nose and throat doctor about a sore throat that came on every night after going to bed. He said it was caused by acid reflux and told me to take Prilosec for a month. It works fine, but the package info is disturbing. It says to take it for 14 days and then wait before taking any more. The doctor tells me to keep taking it as long as it’s working so well. What should I do?

ANSWER: Prilosec suppresses the stomach’s production of acid. It’s a popular acid-reflux (GERD, heartburn) medicine. Readers will be surprised you take it to stop nightly sore throats. Acid reflux can have unusual symptoms — sore throat being one. Stomach acid can trickle upward into the throat and irritate it.

The instructions for Prilosec say to use it only for 14 days and then wait four months before starting another 14-day course. But read the instructions again. They also say to use it in this way unless you have been directed otherwise by a doctor. You have been directed to use it otherwise.

One reason for limiting its constant use has to do with the absorption of vitamin B-12. Stomach acid is necessary to absorb that vitamin from food. However, people who use Prilosec or medicines closely related to it for prolonged periods have not been shown to be at great risk for developing a B-12 deficiency.

Secondly, high doses and prolonged use of the medicine lead to tumors in some lab animals. Tumors have not been found in humans.

Many doctors have their heartburn patients take the medicine indefinitely. You can do so too.

Or, if you are willing to experiment, you can stop the medicine and see what happens. You might not develop sore throats. If you do, start it again.

The heartburn booklet discuss the symptoms and treatment of this common malady. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 501, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6.75 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

(c) 2005 North America Syndicate Inc.
All Rights Reserved

(info by Paul G. Donohue, M.D. from http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/072805/hn1.htm?date=072805&story=hn1.htm)

More than six million people in the UK are affected every day by indigestion: it accounts for almost one in 20 visits to the GP.

Also known as dyspepsia, it is a discomfort or burning feeling in the upper abdomen which can be accompanied by bloating, wind and nausea. It can be caused by eating too much too quickly, eating fatty foods or eating while stressed.

It may also indicate an underlying medical condition such as gallstones, ulcers or irritable bowel.

For some, the pain is so bad they feel like they are having a heart attack.

Heartburn, which is also called acid reflux, is a common form of indigestion which occurs when acid and digestive juices flow back up from the stomach to the gullet.

There are hundreds of remedies for indigestion, but which are the best?

# EAT MORE OFTEN

Smaller, more frequent meals will help prevent indigestion. The condition is often caused when acid needed in the digestion of food builds up in the stomach, causing inflammation and pain. The build-up can occur because of long gaps between meals, so try eating smaller meals more often.

Be careful about what you eat, too. Low-fat foods are thought to be beneficial, because fats in general are the most difficult part of the diet to digest.

# STOP SMOKING

Research based on more than 70,000 people shows that smoking is strongly linked to indigestion and acid reflux, when stomach acids flow back into the oesophagus.

Those who smoked daily for 20 years were 70 per cent more likely to have acid reflux. It is thought that smoking reduces the strength of the valve which stops stomach acids flowing into the oesophagus. Smoking may also cause greater movement of bile salts from the intestine to the stomach, making the stomach acids more harmful.

# HERBS

Many different herbs are used for treating the condition, but there is little research on most of them. However, doctors at the University of Dresden Hospital tested a combination of extracts of bitter candy tuft, matricaria flower, peppermint leaves, caraway, liquorice root and lemon balm on patients with indigestion and found that symptoms in those who had the treatment improved significantly over four weeks compared with those who had a dummy preparation.

Artichoke leaf extract in capsule form is available in the UK and is also used widely in Germany. Research on 247 patients at the University of Essen showed that it not only reduced symptoms, but also improved quality of life. It is thought to speed up the flow of bile, which hastens the passage of food through the digestive system.

# CHEWING GUM

The physical act of chewing raises saliva levels of bicarbonate, a naturally occurring antacid that may act against acids in the digestive system.

“The alkaline saliva can neutralise acid that remains in the oesophagus after swallowing,” say researchers at Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

# ANTACIDS

The most widely used overthe-counter medication, they come in liquids, drinks, powder or tablet form, and often contain chalky compounds designed to neutralise acid.

Some contain magnesium or aluminium. Aluminium salts dissolve slowly in the stomach and start to work gradually to provide long-lasting relief, while magnesium salts act fast and neutralise acids effectively.

However, according to a report in Chemist & Druggist, magnesium salts can cause diarrhoea, while aluminium salts can cause constipation. Calcium salts are also quick acting.

# SODIUM BICARBONATE

One of the cheapest ways to tackle indigestion, baking soda - or sodium bicarbonate - neutralises acid quickly.

Stomachs naturally contain hydrochloric acid and too much of it leads to indigestion. The so-called ‘baking soda burp’ is a sign that this antacid is working. The burp is caused by the release of carbon dioxide gas - a natural byproduct when sodium bicarbonate reacts with the acid in the stomach.

# ALGINATES

Some antacids contain alginates, a range of purposemade compounds called rafting agents designed to sit on top of the acid like a foam raft and prevent it escaping into the oesophagus.

Taken at meals and bedtime, it creates a barrier to prevent the stomach contents splashing back up into the gullet.

Sodium alginate and magnesium alginate are among the compounds to look out for in antacid ingredients.

# H2 BLOCKERS

If antacids don’t work, these may. They work by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach and are available on prescription or lower doses can be bought at pharmacies.

They can reduce the amount of acid in the stomach by as much as 85 per cent and are available as both prescription and non-prescription medications. On prescription they are available as tablets, capsules, liquid and injections.

They can also be bought in pharmacies in lower doses for short-term relief.

# BISMUTH

Bismuth subsalicylate is a non-prescription drug that works by coating the stomach lining to protect it against the acid attack, as well as neutralising toxins and reducing inflammation.

It stimulates the passage of fluid across the wall of the intestinal tract, and neutralises some bacteria. It is also thought to increase the activity of intestinal muscles and lining.

Research on 48 patients in Germany shows that those who had half-hourly doses of bismuth had much reduced symptoms.

“It provided greater and faster relief than placebo for nausea, sense of fullness, heartburn, feeling of abdominal distention, and flatulence,” say the researchers. Bismuth is available as bismuth salts.

# PILLOWS

People who suffer from indigestion and heartburn can get some relief by raising the sleeping position of the head. Gravity helps ensure reflux is less likely. Research shows that night-time symptoms can be reduced by raising the head of the bed on blocks by 6 in.

# SURGERY

When all else fails, surgery for hiatus hernia and heartburn are possibilities.

Hiatus hernia is when part of the stomach slides through the diaphragm, the muscular sheet of tissue that separates the lungs and chest from the abdomen below.

This causes pain and heartburn. An operation called a fundoplication involves replacing the stomach back to its original position under the diaphragm.

The surgeons then wrap the upper few centimetres of the stomach around the oesophagus to make a new valve. This prevents acid reflux and heartburn recurring. Permanent stitches are used to keep the stomach in place.

(info from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=356310&in_page_id=1774)

One-third of Irish adults confuse the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion with pain associated with heart attack or angina, according to a new survey.

The study of 1,000 adults further shows that nearly 50% of Irish adults suffer from heartburn or indigestion, while 23% report that heartburn affects their sleep patterns.

Those who suffer from heartburn or indigestion say they have developed a number of coping strategies, according to the survey.

*Over 25% said they avoid certain foods

*16% admitted they watch their weight

*Over half use medication bought in a pharmacy or supermarket

*16% treat their heartburn or indigestion with prescription medicine

*15% do not treat their symptoms at all.

Heartburn is a burning sensation that is felt in the chest when stomach acid moves from the stomach up to the food pipe. This backflow from the stomach is also termed acid reflux.

Dublin GP Dr Micheal O’Brien said anyone suffering from heartburn or indigestion should consult their local pharmacist or GP.

The research was commisisoned by Gaviscon.

(info from http://www.irishhealth.com/?level=4&id=7881)

GERD is a very simple disease to keep under control. If it is left untreated, however, complications may result

A late-night snack can sound appealing, but for the estimated 60 million Americans currently living with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, it could mean a restless night. Bedtime eating is among the culprits of occasional acid indigestion, also known as heartburn. While not uncommon or a major concern, heartburn becomes a problem when it occurs more than once a week.

A little ring of muscle located at the bottom of the esophagus, known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), separates the stomach from the esophagus. It opens and closes in response to food moving from the esophagus into the stomach. In normal function, the LES is supposed to remain closed while stomach acids help to promote digestion.

When this muscle is weakened, it cannot completely close off the stomach from the esophagus. This “leaky seal” allows the stomach acids to flow back up through the esophagus toward the mouth. This burning feeling in the esophagus — which is located behind the breastbone — is what we call heartburn or acid indigestion. It is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The weakening or relaxation of the muscle is what causes GERD. Not everyone who has GERD experiences heartburn, however, so it is important to be aware of the other symptoms of this disease. Wheezing or coughing, frequent burping, pain in the chest, difficulty swallowing, bad breath and hoarseness in the morning are all symptoms of the disease. Symptoms may also be worse after eating, bending over or lying down.

A hiatal hernia can form at the opening (hiatus) of the diaphragm where the esophagus joins the stomach. When the muscle tissue around the hiatus becomes weak, the upper part of the stomach may bulge through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. The size of the hernia often correlates with the severity of GERD.

GERD is a very simple disease to keep under control. If it is left untreated, however, complications may result, such as a bleeding ulcer in the esophagus or the formation of scar tissue, called a stricture, which prevents swallowed food and liquids from moving through the esophagus.

Of even greater concern is a complication of chronic GERD — relatively unknown to the public — called Barrett’s Esophagus. The condition develops in 10 to 15 percent of patients with chronic GERD. A cellular change takes place in the esophagus known as metaplasia, which can predispose to dysplasia, which are precancerous cells. Occasionally, Barrett’s Esophagus can develop into a form of cancer known as esophageal adenocarcinoma.

The good news is that, in most cases, the incidence of acid reflux can be prevented or drastically reduced through lifestyle and diet changes. Avoiding spicy foods, chocolate, caffeine, tomato-based products, citrus fruits, garlic, and onions, as well as fried and fatty foods, can reduce symptoms significantly.

When considering mealtime, eat the last meal of the day three to four hours before bedtime and avoid bedtime snacks. Pay attention to portion sizes. Even overeating healthy food can have the same adverse effect as eating foods which precipitate GERD.

Just as diet changes can inhibit the occurrence of acid reflux, lifestyle adjustments can also eliminate GERD. Maintain a healthy weight, exercise (but not too soon after eating), quit or significantly reduce smoking, and elevate the head of the bed about six inches.

Making these changes early on can arrest the development of complications related to GERD.

If you are experiencing heartburn, indigestion or belching more than once a week, and/or regularly using over-the-counter antacids, visit a gastroenterologist to receive an EGD test. This test involves the passage of a lighted flexible tube through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach and upper intestines. The EGD is the single best test to evaluate the esophagus for damage from GERD. The gastroenterologist can take both pictures and tissue samples — a biopsy. Early detection of GERD may prevent the more complicated conditions of Barrett’s Esophagus and possible esophageal cancer.

For more information about GERD, Barrett’s Esophagus or endoscopy, contact the American College of Gastroenterology at (301) 263-9000 or visit www.acg.gi.org. To find a University Medical Center at Princeton gastroenterologist near you, call (888) 742-7496.

©PACKETONLINE News Classifieds Entertainment Business - Princeton and Central New Jersey 2005

(info by Glenn L. Osias, M.D. in collaboration with Gloria N. Beck from http://www.pacpub.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1091&dept_id=535412&newsid=14865592&PAG=461&rfi=9)