Chronic Gerd Symptoms and Acid Reflux: Medical and Advanced Surgical Treatment Options for Houston Health Articles | July 19 Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale , 2016
Erik B. Wilson MD, Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at Houston UT MIST, explains various treatment options for patients who suffer from chronic acid reflux. These options depend on each patient’s severity and duration of GERD symptoms. Although first-line treatment begins with lifestyle modification and acid-suppressing medications, for select patients, acid-reflux surgery remains an important and often underutilized tool in providing safe Cheap MLB Jerseys From China , long-term relief from GERD :
Gastroesophageal聽reflux disease (GERD) is a common digestive disorder that occurs when stomach acids or food particles travel back into the esophagus, the digestive passageway between a person’s stomach and mouth. The stomach acids irritate and inflame the delicate esophageal lining, creating a burning sensation commonly called heartburn or acid reflux. Though most people occasionally experience heartburn, those who suffer from GERD symptoms many times each week—a condition known as chronic GERD—should seek treatment from a medical professional who can identify the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
At Houston’s UT MIST Center for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, our approach to treating chronic GERD symptoms includes controlling pain and discomfort Cheap MLB Jerseys China , preventing further complications, and healing the damaged esophageal tissue. Our gastrointestinal surgery specialists have successfully treated thousands of Houston-area patients suffering from chronic GERD symptoms.
Our first course of action includes lifestyle changes, followed by pharmaceutical intervention. For patients who are still unable to obtain satisfactory relief, we offer advanced robotic, laparoscopic Cheap MLB Jerseys , and endoscopic reflux surgery, all of which have an impressive safety profile. Approximately 85 to 90 percent of our patients experience complete reversal of their GERD symptoms following minimally invasive or noninvasive reflux surgery at our institution. For morbidly obese patients (BMI over 35) who suffer from chronic GERD, bariatric weight-loss surgery remains the gold standard of treatment for this patient population.
GERD Symptoms and Causes
Common GERD symptoms include the following:
Painful burning sensation in the chest or throat Unpleasant sour taste in the mouth or back of throat Regurgitation of swallowed food and sour stomach acid Sore throat or hoarseness Lump in the throat Difficulty swallowing Persistent dry cough Halitosis (bad breath) Asthmatic wheezing Chest pain
Individuals who suffer from one or more of these GERD symptoms should seek treatment as soon as possible, especially if their symptoms have been present for many years. Left untreated, chronic GERD can lead to serious complications. Chronic GERD symptoms often cause inflammation and a thickening of the esophageal lining Cheap Authentic Jerseys , a defense mechanism in response to repeated exposure to stomach acid. Over time, these cellular mutations can lead to cancer of the esophagus.
The following are the most common causes of gastroesophageal聽reflux disease:
Because many of these GERD causes are potentially reversible, patients often experience relief from their GERD symptoms just by addressing the underlying cause. If morbid obesity (BMI 35 and over) is the primary cause of a patient’s chronic GERD, weight-loss surgery can improve both the acid reflux and other obesity-related comorbidities.
For others, however Cheap Jerseys Online , GERD is most likely caused by a functional disorder related to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle, which exists at the junction between the esophagus and the stomach.聽Because this sphincter does not completely close, food and acid can travel back into the esophagus from the stomach, causing painful heartburn.
Preliminary Heartburn Treatment Options
According to Shinil K. Shah, DO Cheap Jerseys Wholesale , Medical Director of Research in the Division of Elective General Surgery at UT Health McGovern Medical School, to treat chronic heartburn, UT MIST physicians begin by assessing the severity and longevity of a patient’s GERD symptoms. Those who have mild reflux are advised to modify their lifestyle to control symptoms. These conservative changes might include one or more of the following: weight loss, abstaining from eating before bedtime, restricting meal size Cheap Jerseys From China , eliminating foods and beverages known to trigger GERD symptoms, exercising regularly, and raising the head of the bed by six or eight inches. We also recommend that patients stop smoking.
In addition to lifestyle modification, early intervention for GERD symptoms typically includes taking over-the-counter medications to suppress acid and provide relief: antacids, H-2-receptor blockers (H2RAs) Cheap Jerseys China , or proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) that block acid production and allow the damaged esophageal tissue to heal. Some patients find that they need to increase the strength of their acid suppressors over time, so they may eventually require prescription-strength H2RAs or PPIs. Once a patient discontinues medication, symptoms will likely return.