GERD Awareness Week 2022: Everything You Should Know
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD, is a condition in which individuals experience an abnormally high amount of acid reflux. This is usually characterized by the individual experiencing mild to severe reflux symptoms that require medication or intervention more than twice per week.
How Is GERD Different from Occasional Reflux?
Patients who struggle with situational reflux will not have consistent symptoms and they will be linked to foods, beverages, or overeating. These individuals will not need the aid of over-the-counter acid reducers but may use antacids during a heartburn attack. Occasional use of antacids is not a health risk, but repeated usage of antacids is.
What Causes GERD? What Are the Risk Factors?
The base cause of GERD is a weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES can be weakened by a number of factors, such as abdominal trauma, being overweight, having been pregnant, hormonal imbalance, having a hiatal hernia, and others.
How Can I Protect Myself from GERD?
Realistically, there are only a few things you can do to prevent yourself from getting GERD in the first place:
Try to maintain a healthy BMI
Keep your hormones balanced
Quit smoking
Drink less alcohol
Don’t overeat on a regular basis
Is GERD a Lifelong Illness?
If you don’t find a treatment method that fixes the root cause of your GERD (a loosened LES), yes – you will be taking medication for life. Here at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we don’t recommend staying on PPIs or H2 blockers for life because they can cause some of these issues and more:
Malabsorption of magnesium and calcium
Increase your risk of developing pneumonia and a C. difficile infection
Poor digestion in later stages
Damage to the esophagus due to pepsin (a stomach enzyme) rather than acid
Is GERD a Serious Disease?
Many people think that because GERD is so common, that must mean that it isn’t a serious affliction that needs to be dealt with. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. GERD is a condition in which stomach acid is destroying your esophagus and sometimes entering your airways. This can lead to some very serious complications when left untreated:
Esophagitis
Esophageal cancer
Barrett’s esophagus
Asthma-like symptoms
So How Do You Actually Treat GERD?
If you want to treat the root cause of your GERD symptoms, you will need surgery. Your loose, weakened LES is a physical issue that must be physically corrected. Here at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we offer three different GERD surgeries for you to pick from with the help of your doctor. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options.