Do you or someone close to you have Chronic Acid Reflux (GERD or Heartburn)? As you probably know, GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. This is a very common problem that usually responds to relatively minor treatments for relief. Such as losing weight, stop smoking, diet changes away from trigger foods, elevating the head of your bed 6 to 8 inches, not eating for 3 to 4 hours prior to bedtime, taking something like Tums or Mylanta, etc. Sometimes, though, it can be a more major problem and require long term treatment with a medicine which reduces the amount of acid that is refluxed from your stomach back up into your esophagus.  The cells that line your stomach are designed to tolerate this acid. And remember that this acid and other chemicals in the stomach are produced to help digest food.  The cells that line your esophagus, however, are not made to tolerate this acid. So when acid inadvertently passes up into the esophagus (through reflux) the cells there are not happy. Inflammation then occurs and can cause pain or certainly discomfort. The other thing that happens is that the cells there try to change to accommodate the acid. Anytime a cell tries to change it can be a precursor to cancer.  This change in the cells in the esophagus over a period of time is called Barrett’s Esophagitis. This is precancerous. In other words, this could progress to esophageal cancer, which is very serious. My Aunt actually died from this and since I have been diagnosed with Barrett”s Esophagitis, I have done a lot of research on it. I am very familiar with the antacids and diets used to help me “live” with this problem. Now, how can I help you? If you have GERD I’m assuming you are under the care of a good Gastroenterologist and that he has done EGD’s on you. Especially if you have frequent bouts of pain from this and/or are unable to control your symptoms with over the counter medications such as TUMS or Mylanta or stronger over the counter meds. such as Nexium or Prevacid or Omeprazole, etc. Do your own research and of course notice things in your diet that you have found to trigger heartburn. Such things as citrus foods, highly spicy foods, and on and on. Please remember how important it is to control your pain as well as the fact that it is not recommended that you stay on some of these medications long term. I recently read an article that suggested that about fifty percent of people that stay on these antacids every day for very long times (like for years) can develop Chronic Kidney Disease. I’m not sure if I believe those statistics but I do know for sure that there is that possibility.You also need to know that you may respond better to some meds for GERD better than others. So don’t give up. Try different ones as well as some conservative changes as I’ve mentioned above. It is certainly not fun to have to give up many foods that you enjoy. And in your research you will note that “mint” and “chocolate” and several other foods can lower the tone of your lower esophageal sphincter which allows stomach acid to reflux back up into the esophagus. Also, if you have a Hiatal Hernia you are certainly more prone to acid reflux. But as I have mentioned, if you have chronic bouts of GERD, you need to be under the care of a good Gastroenterologist. You might also benefit from a good Dietician well versed in Diet changes for your problem.

If you have further questions for me, I would be happy to try to help you.

Thanks for listening.