Tag Archives: GERD

Upset tummy? Or something more serious?

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The digestive system is a pretty complex set of organs. When something goes wrong, you usually know about it soon thereafter. Here’s how to tell whether it’s something serious. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Health Beat staff


From top to bottom, digestion is a pretty complicated process. And many digestive disorders can occur at almost any point along the journey from mouth to… well, you know.


Spectrum Health Medical Group gastroenterologist Ben Kieff, MD, shares the seven most common conditions and what to do about them.


The symptoms of many of these digestive diseases resemble each other, as well as other medical conditions or problems, Dr. Kieff noted. When in doubt, it’s always best to consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

1. Constipation is the most common digestion-related complaint.

  • Symptoms: Uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements.
  • Try this: Add fiber in your diet (think “an apple a day”), drink more fluids (go for eight glasses of water a day) and get more exercise (walk around the block).
  • When to get help: If constipation doesn’t go away, or if it seems to come out of nowhere, or if you’re in pain.

2. Lactose intolerance upsets the stomachs of up to 50 million Americans.

  • Symptoms: Nausea, cramps, bloating, abdominal pain, gas or diarrhea after consuming dairy products such as milk, cheese and ice cream. This is caused by the lack of an enzyme you need to digest the sugar in dairy products.
  • Try this: Limit dairy products and try lactase, an over-the counter pill to replace the missing enzyme.
  • When to get help: Now. Symptoms of lactose intolerance may resemble other medical conditions or problems.

3. Reflux (GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease) irritates 14 percent of the population.

  • Symptoms: Heartburn (acid indigestion), and in some cases, a dry cough, asthma symptoms and trouble swallowing. This happens when gastric acid flows from the stomach into the esophagus.
  • Try this: Avoid foods that trigger your symptoms, don’t eat just before bedtime, take antacids and other medications aimed at reducing stomach acid. And if you smoke, quit.
  • When to get help: If problems persist and diet and lifestyle changes don’t do the trick. Over time, GERD can damage your esophagus and can even lead to esophageal cancer.

4. Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) is gut-wrenching for one in 133 people.

  • Symptoms: Chronic diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain and gas, pale foul-smelling stool, anemia and more.
  • Try this: A gluten-free diet is a must. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. This may require a major change in your eating habits.
  • When to get help: Now. Symptoms of celiac disease are similar to those of other digestive diseases and intestinal infections.

5. Inflammatory bowel diseases (like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) attack 25 to 45 million people.

  • Symptoms: Diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue and more. Bowel disease may start if your immune system attacks your gastrointestinal tract.
  • Try this: There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but it may help to stop smoking, drink more fluids, exercise and experiment to see what foods you can eat safely. Smaller meals may help, too.
  • When to get help: Now. Find a doctor who won’t dismiss your symptoms and is willing to experiment with you for the best solution.

6. Gallstones are diagnosed one million times a year.

  • Symptoms: You could have gallstones without symptoms. If they grow larger or obstruct bile ducts, however, you may have a “gallstone attack” with pain, nausea and vomiting after a fatty meal, or at night.
  • Try this: If you’re diagnosed with gallstones during an ultrasound test, but you don’t have symptoms, take a wait-and-see approach before jumping into surgery.
  • When to get help: Immediately if you experience pain lasting more than five hours or sweating, chills, low-grade fever, yellowish skin or eyes and clay-colored stools.

7. Diverticular disease will pop up in one out of two seniors.

  • Symptoms: Cramps, bloating or constipation caused by inflammation of diverticula (small pouches) that bulge outward through the wall of the colon.
  • Try this: There may be a link to diet, so make sure yours includes 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day by eating whole grain foods, fruits, veggies and beans.
  • When to get help: Immediately if you experience pain on the left, lower abdomen, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills and cramping, as the diverticula may be infected.

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.



Top 10 ways to prevent GERD

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There are several things you can do to knock out reflux before it becomes a problem. Among them is avoiding spicy foods. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Health Beat staff


Unlike many other medical conditions, gastroesophageal reflux disease is almost completely preventable.


Most of us have suffered with the occasional bout of heartburn (also called acid indigestion). It’s that burning chest pain that begins behind the breastbone and moves up to the neck and throat. It happens when acids in the stomach back up into the esophagus and burn the lining.


“If you’re having heartburn or acid reflux more than twice a week for a few weeks, however, it could be GERD,” said Praveen Sateesh, MD, a gastroenterologist with Spectrum Health Medical Group. “GERD is a more serious and longer-lasting condition.


Over time, GERD can permanently damage the esophageal lining and lead to even more serious conditions such as Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal cancer.


“There are a number of different lifestyle modifications you can try to help calm the burn, or hopefully avoid it altogether,” Dr. Sateesh said. “But it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. What works for one person may not work for someone else. Keep trying, and find what works for you.”

1. Lose weight

Obesity is the leading cause of GERD. Lose weight if you’re overweight and don’t gain weight if you’re not.

2. Avoid foods known to cause reflux

Place these foods on your ‘do not eat’ list (or at least, ‘eat in moderation’, if you’re willing to take your chances):

  • Fatty foods
  • Spicy foods
  • Acidic foods, like tomatoes and citrus
  • Mint
  • Chocolate
  • Onions
  • Coffee or any caffeinated beverage
  • Carbonated beverages

3. Eat smaller meals

Large meals fill the stomach and put pressure on the area where the stomach and esophagus join together. This pressure makes reflux more likely. Smaller, more frequent meals are better.

4. Don’t lie down after eating

Gravity normally helps keep stomach acid where it belongs: down in your stomach. So wait at least three hours before you lie down after a meal and be sure to eat early to give your stomach time to empty before bedtime.

5. Elevate the head of your bed

Stomach acid, like water, does not roll uphill. Raising the head of your bed six to eight inches can help gravity keep gastric acid down in your stomach. Or, you can use a wedge-shaped support to elevate your head and upper chest. Don’t use extra pillows, as they only raise your head and will not help with GERD.

6. Review your medications

There are a number of medications that can affect your digestive system and increase your risk of GERD. These include:

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Calcium channel blockers (often used to treat high blood pressure)
  • Certain asthma medications, including albuterol
  • Anticholinergics (used to treat conditions such as seasonal allergies and glaucoma)
  • Bisphosphonates (used to boost bone density)
  • Sedatives and painkillers
  • Some antibiotics
  • Potassium
  • Iron tablets

If you’re taking any of these medications, talk to your doctor about switching to another drug that does not have the same effect on the upper digestive tract. Don’t, however, stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting your doctor.

7. Stop smoking

Some studies have found that nicotine can relax the muscles that keep the esophagus closed off from the stomach and can also interfere with your saliva’s ability to clear acid out of the esophagus.

8. Cut back on alcohol

As with smoking, alcohol can cause these same muscles to relax. Alcohol can also cause the esophageal muscles to spasm.

9. Wear loose-fitting clothes

Don’t wear tight clothing or belts that can constrict your stomach. Yes, this is permission to wear yoga and sweat pants!

10. Take an antacid

Antacids neutralize stomach acid before it backs up into the esophagus.


“If, after trying the above tips, you’re still experiencing GERD, see your doctor or a gastroenterologist for further evaluation,” Dr.Sateesh said. “There are several effective medications you can take to ease the symptoms of GERD.”


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.




When your heart’s on fire

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Find yourself in this aisle a bit too often? A doc shares info on when you should be alarmed. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Health Beat staff


The burning discomfort behind your breastbone that moves up toward your neck and throat. The bitter or sour taste of acid in the back of your throat.


Heartburn.


It’s caused when acid from the stomach flows backward, or refluxes, up into the esophagus, irritating the throat, vocal cords and entrance to the lungs.


For most, it’s a minor annoyance. But for some, it’s a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease, a condition that could lead to even more serious health problems.


How can you tell?

Give yourself an acid test

Here’s a simple self-test developed by a panel of experts from the American College of Gastroenterology:


1. Do you frequently have one or more of the following:

  • An uncomfortable feeling behind the breastbone that seems to be moving upward from the stomach?
  • A burning sensation in the back of your throat?
  • A bitter acid taste in your mouth?

2. Do you often experience these problems after meals?


3. Do you experience heartburn or acid indigestion two or more times per week?


4. Do you find that antacids only provide temporary relief from your symptoms?


5. Are you taking prescription medications to treat heartburn, but still having symptoms?


If you said yes to two or more of the above, you may have GERD. To know for sure, see your doctor or a gastroenterologist. In most cases, an endoscopy should be performed to evaluate the severity of GERD and identify the possible cause.

Don’t ignore your heartburn

Up to 20 percent of Americans suffer from typical symptoms of GERD, noted Praveen Sateesh, MD, a gastroenterologist with Spectrum Health Medical Group. These symptoms include:

  • Frequent heartburn (two or more times a week)
  • Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
  • Food sticking in the esophagus
  • Dry cough, hoarseness or sore throat
  • Regurgitation of food or sour liquid (acid reflux)
  • Sensation of a lump in the throat

While heartburn is the classic symptom, an estimated 65 percent of people with GERD experience atypical symptoms.


“These lesser-known symptoms are important to note because patients and their doctors may not associate them with reflux disease,” Dr. Sateesh said. “They therefore don’t pursue appropriate treatments.”


Atypical symptoms of GERD include:

  • Chronic cough
  • Persistent sore throat
  • Hoarse voice
  • Persistent postnasal drip
  • Chronic throat clearing
  • Choking
  • Dental erosion
  • Chest pain

Over time, Dr. Sateesh said, inflammation caused by GERD wears away the lining of your esophagus and can cause some serious complications:

  • Asthma, chronic cough and ear, nose and throat problems. These are known as extra-esophageal manifestations and the connection to GERD often goes unrecognized, even by health care providers.
  • Peptic stricture. This is a chronic acid injury and scarring of the lower esophagus. Patients often complain of food sticking in their throat, Dr. Sateesh said.
  • Barrett’s esophagus. This is a precancerous condition where the lining of the esophagus changes to resemble intestinal tissue. Once this happens, patients who initially experience heartburn won’t be able to feel the burning sensation any longer and incorrectly think the problem has gone away. Barrett’s is the No. 1 risk factor for developing esophageal cancer.
  • Esophageal cancer. This cancer is increasing at fast rate in the U.S. and results when GERD or Barrett’s is left untreated for many years.

To learn more about acid reflux and heartburn, including treatment tips, watch Dr. Sateesh on Fox 17 Morning Mix.



Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.