Heartburn/GERD + Original Articles

Heartburn Medications and Dementia Risk

Plus nine tips for managing GERD. Could your heartburn medicine be putting you at increased risk for developing dementia, a condition that causes a decline in thinking and learning? A new study suggests a possible relationship between popular heartburn drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and cognitive decline in later years.

5 Hardest Foods to Digest

Plus simple advice to better digest any food you eat. Indigestion by any other name—gas, bellyache, heartburn, upset stomach, bloating—is still indigestion, or the inability to digest food properly. Whatever you call it, a digestive problem can be inconvenient at best, and often downright painful. ...

Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture for GERD

Can this alternative therapy help soothe your GERD symptoms? Here s what you need to know. Got reflux? You’re not alone. While it’s not unusual to experience heartburn after eating spicy, fatty, or acidic foods, if you’re dealing with heartburn more than twice a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Twenty percent of Americans have this condition, which consists of heartburn and regurgitation (acid in your throat or mouth), as well as symptoms such as dry cough and trouble swallowing.

What is Esophagitis? 6 Facts You Need to Know

The lowdown on this often painful, but treatable, condition. If you've ever suffered from any kind of inflammation of your esophagus, the "pipe" through which food travels from your mouth down to your stomach, then you've experienced the condition known as esophagitis. Various factors can cause the esophagus to become irritated and painful.

When Chest Pain Doesn t Come from the Heart

The majority of chest pain isn t caused by heart attacks. Learn more about what might be causing your chest pain, and what you can do about it. Chest pain can be scary. If you experience it, visit your healthcare provider to rule out urgent heart problems and get a referral to a specialist. But your chest pain may not actually be caused by your heart: Non-cardiac (non-heart-related) chest pain affects up to 24 percent of the adult population, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Spice up Your Heartburn Treatment

Suffering from heartburn? Here are four natural remedies that could help you. Almost everyone experiences heartburn once in a while. But for some people, the burning and related discomfort after eating is a regular occurrence. But there’s good news: Certain natural spices may help douse the fire. What Is Heartburn? Heartburn,...

Got GERD? A Magnetic Implant May Help

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a promising new treatment may help provide relief from your symptoms. For the more than 20 percent of the population that suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eating a normal meal can be painful. GERD occurs when a structural defect in the lower esophageal sphincter enables stomach acid to work its way out of the stomach and up into the throat, causing pain and burning after eating.

Got IBS? Lower Your FODMAPs For Relief

GI specialists say 70 percent of people with IBS can reduce their symptoms by following a low-FODMAP diet. What are FODMAPs, and what role do they play in digestion? Up to 20 percent of Americans are estimated to have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). They put up with symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. While there is no cure for IBS, it can be controlled by identifying personal food triggers. Of those affected, emerging data suggests that up to 70 percent may find relief by following a low-FODMAP diet.

Surgery or Drugs to Address GERD?

Although both treatment options may effectively treat GERD, it's important to weigh the pros and cons of each. Severe GERD is hard to live with: Heartburn, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, and long-term complications that include strictures in the esophagus, Barrett's esophagus, and even esophageal cancer. But talk to a gastroenterologist and he'll say you can effectively control your symptoms and heal damage to your esophagus with medicinal therapy.

Alleviating GERD With Surgery: When to Talk to Your Doctor

The type of treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease depends on your symptoms and its effect on your digestive system. But how do you know if surgery should be considered? Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is very common. In fact, nearly 2 in 10 Americans suffer from this chronic condition. Not as common? People suffering from severe GERD symptoms. But it's those GERD sufferers that experience complications with the chronic condition.
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