Digestive Disorders Treatment
GERD Reflux or heartburn, which affects millions of people a day, may indicate that you have GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
In addition to being painful and causing difficulty swallowing, GERD can damage the tissues of the esophagus over time due to reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus can lead to strictures and even esophageal cancer.
Reflux is usually accompanied by a warm or burning sensation that rises from the center of the abdomen to the chest, sternum, or sternum. You may even feel a sour taste in your mouth, or even have food or liquid in your mouth, especially at night. Pregnancy, some medications, alcohol, and certain foods can cause heartburn.
Treatment options include drugs that lower acid levels, such as proton pump inhibitors (Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix) and H2 blockers (Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet, and Zantac).
In severe cases of GERD, surgeons can perform laparoscopic surgery to tighten the loose muscles between the stomach and esophagus to stop the buildup of stomach acid. However, with proper medication and lifestyle changes, this is rarely necessary.
