What is HEARTBURN? Heartburn, contrary to what its name says, has nothing to do with your heart. It occurs when the lining of your esophagus is exposed to stomach acid. This causes irritation. Heartburn is typically described as a burning sensation in the middle of your chest that moves up your throat. It is sometimes described as food coming back in the mouth, leaving a bitter or acid taste. Almost everyone experiences heartburn once in a while, but if you have two or more episodes a week, this can be a sign of a more serious problem.
For many people with severe chronic heartburn, there may be underlying causes. G.E.R.D. (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is one of the most common causes. With G.E.R.D., acid from the stomach flows backwards into the esophagus. This often happens because the muscle that acts like a valve to shut out stomach acid is weak or stays open (as with a hiatal hernia). When the valve doesn't work properly, acid from the stomach pushes back into the esophagus, causing painful heartburn.
Medical therapies and basic lifestyle modifications may help reduce the symptoms, but the only way to fix the underlying problem that causes G.E.R.D. is through a surgical procedure.
To determine if you are a candidate for the procedure, several diagnostic tests should be performed. An upper endoscopy will test for any esophageal damage and identify a hiatal hernia or stricture. A 24 hour ph study measures the amount and number of reflux episodes and a manometry will measure the mobility of the esophagus.
G.E.R.D. Statistics
Approximately 106 million (40%) Americans suffer from heartburn at least once a month.
18 million (7%) people are chronic sufferers who must take over the counter (OTC) or prescription medications to relieve their sypmptoms.
1.66 million (.7%) have G.E.R.D. and do not get relief of their symptoms.
54% of patients diagnosed with G.E.R.D. are 18-59 years old with 53% being female and 47% being male.
G.E.R.D. may present a variety of common symptoms....
heartburn
regurgitation
trouble swallowing
respiratory problems
abdominal pain
chest pain
nausea or vomiting
belching
bleeding
long term complications include....
Esophagitis (irritaion of the esophagus lining)
Esophageal Ulceration (breakdown of the esophagus lining)
Esophageal Stricture (narrowing of the esophagus which causes swallowing problems)
Barrett's Esophagitis (irritation which is considered pre-cancerous)
In some cases, lifestyle modifications and medical management may reduce the symptoms. These include dietary modifications, elevating the head of the bed or sleeping upright, avoiding smoking, or utilization of medications (antacids, H2 blockers, or proton pump inhibitors).