GERD
Avoiding Acid Reflux After Bariatric Surgery
Acid reflux is more than an uncomfortable condition that you have to live with. Instead, it is a testament to how our bodies function and whether we are on the right track. Before bariatric surgery, many patients have moderate to severe acid reflux because of the intra-abdominal pressure placed on their stomachs by excess visceral (belly) fat. This pressure forces stomach juices up through the lower esophageal sphincter and into the esophagus, often leading to the telltale burning sensation. Symptoms […]
Uncovering the Truth About “Acid” Reflux
Chronic acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD) is a significant and worsening condition affecting millions of Americans. As a result of the persistent obesity epidemic in the United States and worldwide, reflux has affected more and more of the population than ever before. While reflux may seem relatively benign, it can lead to far more severe consequences. The constant wash of acid from the stomach into the esophagus can create a precancerous condition known as Barrett’s esophagus. This is […]
GERD and Long-Term PPI Use
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are often very appropriate and effective for measurable acidic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease GERD. PPI use may be less appropriately prescribed in situations of functional dyspepsia (where recurrent indigestion has no apparent cause) and where motility problems of the GI tract may be responsible for heartburn symptoms often overlapping with symptoms of actual acidic GERD. Allergic esophagitis may also mimic GERD, and treatment with PPIs may have been attempted.