Medical professionals will sometimes recommend a change of lifestyle and eating habits, before they prescribe. Sometimes this is all a patient needs to do in order to minimize the effects of Acid Reflux.

However, when patients have tried the lifestyle changes, and still suffer from Acid Reflux, medical intervention may be required. A medical professional is most likely to prescribe one of the following, as these are the most common treatments after lifestyle changes have failed to solve the problem.

The prescription choice very much depends on the patients individual history and the specifics of their condition:

• Histamine antagonists, such as Tagamet
• Proton Pump Inhibitors, such as Prilosec
• Pro-Motility drugs, such as Reglan

As always, consult your medical profession in the first instance.

A new form of surgery, called transoral incisionless fundoplication, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2007. Unlike traditional acid reflux surgery, transoral incisionless fundoplication doesn’t require an incision.

The surgery repairs the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach. The surgeon goes through the mouth and down the esophagus to repair the sphincter.

Surgeons are undergoing training in the new procedure at hospitals such as Allegan General Hospital, located at Linn Street, Allegan, MI. The surgery is also offered by the GERD program of Long Island Minimally Invasive Surgery, located on Long Island, New York.

A two year study of the procedure concluded:

The results at 2 years supported the long-term safety and durability of TIF and its sustained effect on the elimination of heartburn, esophagitis, ?2 cm hiatal hernia, and daily dependence on PPIs.

Over-the-counter treatments that may help. Before you use any treatments, first consult your medical professional.

Common treatments for Acid Reflux include:

Antacids Brand names include Mylanta, Maalox, Gelusil, and Rolaids.

Medications To Reduce Acid. Includes cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), nizatidine (Axid AR) or ranitidine (Zantac 75).

Medications That Block Acid Production Proton pump inhibitors serve to block acid production. Proton pump inhibitors include lansoprazole (Prevacid 24 HR) and omeprazole (Prilosec OTC).

Prescription Medication For Acid Reflux

H-2-receptor blockers. Includescimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid) and ranitidine (Zantac).

Proton Pump Inhibitors. Includes esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec Rx), pantoprazole (Protonix) and rabeprazole (Aciphex).

Prokinetic Agents Helps empty the stomach. Can have side effects.

Surgery Can include surgery to reinforce the lower esophageal sphincter.

EndoCinch Endoluminal Gastroplication stitches placed in the stomach near the weakened sphincter.

Stretta System Creates scar tissue that forms as the esophagus heals helps to strengthen the muscles.

In the first two articles in this short series, we looked at the basics of what acid reflux illness is and how it links to other conditions.

In this final article, we’ll consider some of the standard tests that your medical professionals may perform, what they mean and what treatments may be available.

Once again, we re-confirm that this article must not be read as qualified medical advice. If you are unwell or think you are unwell, you must consult your physician as soon as possible.

Examinations

If you’re suffering problems with either severe or frequent acid reflux attacks, then don’t delay – see your physician.

As we outlined in earlier articles, it is extremely unlikely that this problem is indicative of anything more serious but unless you’re a doctor then you’re unlikely to be able to be entirely sure of that. So, let your physician do his or her diagnostic job!

Once you go along, it’s highly likely that you’ll receive a quick general examination to look at your overall health. This may include some gentle prodding around your stomach feeling for lumps and bumps etc.

This brief examination alone may eliminate some non-routine causes.

Given the nature of acid reflux attacks, it is highly likely that you’ll be asked a number of questions relating to both your lifestyle and the nature of the attacks. So, for example, you may be asked whether such attacks follow-on from eating or whether they appear not to be related to food. You may also be asked about the times and frequencies of such attacks.

This is all trying to provisionally identify some common denominators such as whether or not the attacks are occurring on an empty stomach etc.

However, this is one area where you can help with some preparation.

We’ve all felt pretty dumb at times when being asked some basic questions by a doctor (such as “what had you eaten before the attacks”) and being unable to answer because we just don’t know or can’t remember!

So in the run-up to seeing your physician, try and keep a diary relating to the attack including dates and times, what you had been doing, what you had eaten and when etc.

Tests

In many cases, you physician may decide that nothing further is needed other than some over-the-counter medication (see below). They may ask you to monitor the position and to report back to them if things do not improve. It’s also very possible that they’ll suggest you modify certain aspects of your lifestyle – perhaps, for example, to avoid eating spicy foods.

Depending upon a number of factors, your physician may wish to arrange for a number of other tests. Perhaps the most common of these may involve endoscopies of the esophagus. That’s a scary term that just basically means a tiny and flexible camera is inserted down the throat into the esophagus to check the condition of the lining.

In some cases your physician may also ask for blood tests, x-rays and heart tests to rule out other typically unlikely causes.

It’s worth noting that asking for these tests usually does NOT indicate that your physician secretly suspects you have something serious. Many will ask for these tests just to be doubly sure and they are not cause for concern or anxiety.

Cancer

It’s sometimes possible to hear stories along the lines that “the cancer began with a lot of heartburn symptoms”.

In fact, it is very unusual for acid reflux symptoms to indicate any form of cancer. Of course, cancer of the esophagus does exist but it is extremely unlikely to be the cause of your acid attacks.

There is some evidence that links ongoing exposure of the cells of the esophagus to acid reflux attacks with a future increased risk of cancer of the esophagus. This though is extremely unlikely to be an issue for your individual situation though it may be an added reason why you should not ignore acid attack symptoms.

Treatments

You may find that your medical examinations ultimately prove unable to identify a cause. It’s possible that your only recommended treatment initially will be some basic pharmacy antacids perhaps accompanied by some diet and lifestyle changes as outlined above.

If that fails to solve the problem, your physician may recommend some more powerful drugs to basically help control your stomach acids. These may need to be taken once an attack commences or perhaps regularly as a prophylactic.

In some relatively rare cases, some surgical intervention around your sphincter muscle in the esophagus may be recommended.

In the vast majority of cases, the condition is relatively easily controlled though a ‘cure’ may not be available as such.

In the first article on this subject, we gave a general overview of acid reflux and some of the causes. In this article we’ll look at the subject in a little more detail and examine some possibly related medical situations.

Once again, please keep in mind two important points:

1. This article does not constitute qualified medical advice – if you’re experiencing symptoms or have concerns, you should consult your physician as soon as possible;
2. Acid reflux is only rarely indicative of a very serious underlying condition!

Acid Reflux – Sometimes A Mimic

In the first article we examined how typically the symptoms of acid reflux are perhaps best described as unpleasant rather than severe. Of course, that’s only for the majority of sufferers and if you’re one of the comparatively few that suffer severe symptoms then you’ll know that they can be quite distressing.

The reality though, is that in many, perhaps even the large majority of cases, the cause of an acid reflux attack is never clearly attributable.

Even so, sometimes the symptoms may mimic those of more serious conditions.

Some acid reflux sufferers have experienced chest, stomach and throat pains. In some cases these symptoms can seem similar to those of a heart condition and as a result, medical tests may be required to ensure that the problem really is attributable to acid rather than your heart.

Of course, it hopefully goes without saying that if you experience symptoms involving chest pains and burning sensations around your throat, neck and shoulders then you must get immediate medical assistance. Do NOT self-diagnose and assume it is only an acid attack unless you have previously had medical guidance on the same subject.

Acid reflux symptoms may also mimic the effects of some forms of poisoning, infection or allergic reactions. A severe acid attack may also lead to vomiting and a number of other symptoms that may seem similar to those of a range of more serious digestive disorders.

It’s also true that if you’re not used to them, the symptoms of a sudden attack of acid reflux may generate anxiety. Anxiety in itself can have a cumulative negative effect on your overall health and wellbeing as you sit there imagining just all of the potentially horrific things that could be wrong with you!

Underlying And Related Conditions

Some recognized medical conditions can lead to acid reflux or be closely related to it.

Esophagitis

The medical name for your gullet is the esophagus (spelled sometimes as Oesophagus).

Sometimes the cells that line your esophagus can become red, inflamed and quite sore. A common cause of this condition is in fact an acid reflux that irritates the cells. Strangely, when your esophageal cells are in this condition you may feel poorly and paradoxically, this can be mistaken for an acid reflux itself.

These cells differ between people in terms of their sensitivity to acid reflux. Many people that suffer acid reflux may not subsequently suffer from esophagitis to any significant degree. Others may have significant and ongoing discomfort.

Hiatus hernia

This condition arises when part of the stomach breaks through the diaphragm and protrudes forward into the chest area. This condition is known to lead (amongst other symptoms) to an increased likelihood of acid reflux attacks.

The condition requires specific medical treatment that is outside the scope of this article.

Cardiac and digestive illnesses

It cannot be stressed strongly enough that it is relatively rare for acid reflux to indicate a serious underlying cause but even so, it may in some instances be indicative of more serious illnesses. Further medical tests may be necessary to eliminate these unlikely possible causes.

Summary

In the next article we’ll look at some common medical tests and treatments for this condition.