Non Erosive Reflux Disease has been recognized as a form of GERD only in the recent decade and is considered an important achievement of help the patients of specific type of GERD to get the right treatment. While the definition of NERD has not changed over the years but its better recognition has not enabled the doctors to correctly identify the patients of NERD and make the count right. With Esophageal Impedence +pH monitoring it has become easy now to diagnose and assess the patients of NERD. Though therapeutic modalities still focus on acid suppression treatments but there is a growing awareness among the medical community at large that other therapeutic strategies should also be considered for NERD.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Surgical Treatment for Acid Reflux
Acid reflux can be a serious condition that requires proper treatment. There are many drugs in the market and using these drugs without a prescription could lead to side effects. In addition, stopping acid reflux medication often involves a recurrence of the disease and its symptoms.
While acid reflux can be curbed through medication and a proper diet, yet there are severe cases of acid reflux where changing your eating habits and lifestyle can sometimes prove be inefficient.
Besides medication and proper diet, there are many alternative solutions to get relief from acid reflux, which usually require surgery. Surgery for acid reflux is sometimes the best way to eradicate gastric reflux because it protects you from the irritation, discomfort and other side effects of medications.
While acid reflux can be curbed through medication and a proper diet, yet there are severe cases of acid reflux where changing your eating habits and lifestyle can sometimes prove be inefficient.
Besides medication and proper diet, there are many alternative solutions to get relief from acid reflux, which usually require surgery. Surgery for acid reflux is sometimes the best way to eradicate gastric reflux because it protects you from the irritation, discomfort and other side effects of medications.
Why surgery is effective against GERD or acid reflux
The gastric reflux (GERD) is a physiological condition caused by failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (muscular valve that connects the esophagus to the stomach). This occurs by the reflux of stomach contents into the throat through the esophagus. This condition occurs in babies, children as well as in adults.
Under normal conditions, the lower esophageal sphincter prevents the regurgitation of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. It may happen that the gastro-esophageal sphincter, whose task is to open and close in order to ensure the flow of food, is not functioning properly and that food can easily flow back from the stomach to the throat.
There are many drugs on the market but they are sometimes ineffective against the disease. If you are in this situation, surgery may be the solution because it treats the disease and its effects are long lasting. Surgery can correct these deficiencies by regulating the activity of the lower esophageal sphincter and prevent the reflux of gastric fluid into the upper part of the esophagus.
Under normal conditions, the lower esophageal sphincter prevents the regurgitation of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. It may happen that the gastro-esophageal sphincter, whose task is to open and close in order to ensure the flow of food, is not functioning properly and that food can easily flow back from the stomach to the throat.
There are many drugs on the market but they are sometimes ineffective against the disease. If you are in this situation, surgery may be the solution because it treats the disease and its effects are long lasting. Surgery can correct these deficiencies by regulating the activity of the lower esophageal sphincter and prevent the reflux of gastric fluid into the upper part of the esophagus.
Surgical procedures for the treatment of acid reflux
There are many surgical treatments but here are some of the main types of operations to treat acid reflux.
1. Laparoscopy or Nissen Fundoplication
2. Intraluminal Therapeutic Endoscopy
3. The Plicator system
Laparoscopy also known as the Nissen Fundoplication and the intraluminal therapeutic endoscopy are one of the most effective surgical procedures against gastric reflux. These surgeries are safe and recovery is guaranteed. The Plicator system is a relatively a new technique, effective and universally accepted.
They involve simple medical procedures and provide a lasting cure for patients suffering from severe forms of gastric reflux. Although surgery is often recommended to patients suffering from chronic acid reflux, it is also suitable for people with less severe forms.
1. Laparoscopy or Nissen Fundoplication
2. Intraluminal Therapeutic Endoscopy
3. The Plicator system
Laparoscopy also known as the Nissen Fundoplication and the intraluminal therapeutic endoscopy are one of the most effective surgical procedures against gastric reflux. These surgeries are safe and recovery is guaranteed. The Plicator system is a relatively a new technique, effective and universally accepted.
They involve simple medical procedures and provide a lasting cure for patients suffering from severe forms of gastric reflux. Although surgery is often recommended to patients suffering from chronic acid reflux, it is also suitable for people with less severe forms.
Nissen Fundoplication
The Nissen Fundoplication is the most practiced surgical procedure against acid reflux. The purpose of this operation is to strengthen the walls of the esophagus in the region adjacent to the stomach, which increases the pressure in proximity of the lower esophageal sphincter. By increasing the pressure at the junction between the esophagus and stomach, this prevents the stomach contents from refluxing back into the esophagus.
Intraluminal Therapeutic Endoscopy
The intraluminal therapeutic endoscopy is quite similar to the procedures described above; the only difference that it involves the use of an endoscope. This operation is fast and involves low risk. In general, patients recover quickly after operation and require no postoperative treatment.
This technique consists of introducing a small camera inside your stomach. With this, the doctor is clear and can thus carry out the operation. Despite anesthesia, this procedure is cumbersome and most patients do not opt for it. Given its radical character, laparoscopy is not the preferred option for patients.
This technique consists of introducing a small camera inside your stomach. With this, the doctor is clear and can thus carry out the operation. Despite anesthesia, this procedure is cumbersome and most patients do not opt for it. Given its radical character, laparoscopy is not the preferred option for patients.
The Plicator system
This is a new technique and much less cumbersome. The surgeon slides an instrument called Plicator within the patient's throat. A local anesthetic is administered to the patient. The valve is inserted and tightened to proper maintenance. This process takes 30 minutes and the patient leaves the hospital after a day. After a few years, the operation is repeated.
Conclusion
Thanks to technological advances and the multitude of innovative procedures that exist today, surgery against gastric reflux occurs quickly, safely and effectively. It would be wise to learn about the issue and to consider all types of treatments.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
10 tips for better digestion: relief from stomach problems
No one is ever safe from unpleasant effects of heartburn, constipation and indigestion. It may be useful to know some useful tips for better digestion and to mitigate or avoid stomach problems.
1. Decrease your intake of lactose: Your digestive problems may be due to lactose intolerance. Prefer rice, milk or soy, and foods rich in calcium.
2. Try slippery elm powder: Number of drugs, including antihistamines and antidepressants, may upset your stomach. To relieve acid reflux and digestive problems, take 1-2 teaspoons of slippery elm powder in a glass of hot water.
1. Decrease your intake of lactose: Your digestive problems may be due to lactose intolerance. Prefer rice, milk or soy, and foods rich in calcium.
2. Try slippery elm powder: Number of drugs, including antihistamines and antidepressants, may upset your stomach. To relieve acid reflux and digestive problems, take 1-2 teaspoons of slippery elm powder in a glass of hot water.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease- Causes, Treatments and Medical tests
Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux disease is used to refer to those patients with GERD who are unresponsive to treatment from proton pump inhibitors. Such patients are divided into two categories by the doctors:
- One those who have an aggressive form of GERD
- Other those who have GERD as a symptom of some other disease
Acid reflux and pregnancy: Causes and Tips to treat
Acid reflux, digestive problems and heartburn in pregnant women are often found a lot, mainly during the
last trimester of pregnancy. These minor ailments should not alarm the mother
because they are not serious conditions and present no hazard to her health.
However, they remain very unpleasant and bothersome.
What causes acid reflux during pregnancy?
For various reasons, many women tend to experience symptoms of heartburn during pregnancy.
One of these reasons why
heartburn occurs in pregnant women is due to the changing hormonal
secretions during pregnancy. One of the effects of changes in hormonal
secretions is the relaxation of the ligaments whose function is to keep the
lower esophageal sphincter closed, leaving the gastric acid and food to reflux into
the esophagus and throat.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Different types of Acid Reflux Disease
Most people know what Acid Reflux or the medical term for it- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is having experienced it during some part of their life. You would rarely find anyone who has not experienced it at least once in their lifetime. However, what most people are not aware of are the types of GERD that occur. You see, Heartburn can be due to different types of of Acid Reflux. Let us see these different types of GERD:
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease - GERD - What is Acid Reflux and causes
When you swallow food, it goes from your mouth to your food pipe (esophagus) and then into your stomach where the main digestion begins. After your meal has passed the esophagus, the lower muscles in your esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) closes off cutting the contact between the stomach and the food pipe. However, under certain conditions this muscle is not able to do its work properly due to few reasons- Too much acidic content in your stomach, less than the idea level of acid concentration in stomach and delay in the clearing of your food from esophagus.
When this acidic content is 'refluxed' back to your esophagus it causes a burning sensation. This reflux can send the acidic content even up to the back of your mouth. This happens to all of us occasionally and not a thing to worry about unless it happens more than once in a week. If acid reflux is happening too often then it can cause severe problem to your esophagus in the long run.
When this acidic content is 'refluxed' back to your esophagus it causes a burning sensation. This reflux can send the acidic content even up to the back of your mouth. This happens to all of us occasionally and not a thing to worry about unless it happens more than once in a week. If acid reflux is happening too often then it can cause severe problem to your esophagus in the long run.