IS IT HEARTBURN OR SOMETHING MORE?

Do you suffer from heartburn after eating, bending over or lying down? It’s that uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest or tasting food or acid after eating. If so, you’re not alone. But if you have heartburn more than twice a week, you may have a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD.

GERD happens when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus (the tube connecting your mouth and stomach). The acid irritates the lining of the esophagus, resulting in a burning sensation. Other symptoms may include chest pain, difficulty swallowing, chronic cough, burping, or regurgitating food or bile.

WHAT CAUSES GERD?

GERD can be caused by a variety of conditions or behaviors, such as eating large meals or eating too late at night.

“In some cases, GERD is caused by underlying conditions that prevent your stomach from emptying food as quickly as it should,” said Dr. Franz Schneider, a gastroenterologist with Houston Methodist Gastroenterology Associates at Clear Lake. “These can include gastroparesis or hiatal hernia.” Gastroparesis is a condition that affects the normal muscle movements in the stomach. A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of your stomach pushes through your abdominal muscles.

“Both conditions can cause delayed stomach emptying after eating, which creates a backup of fluid, bile and acid,” Schneider explained. “If left untreated, the acid contents of the stomach can irritate or cause injury to the esophagus.”

Get Relief

Treatment for these conditions varies depending on the type and severity of the symptoms. Experts recommend starting with these lifestyle changes:

■ Avoid high-fiber meals, especially before bedtime

■ Eat smaller, more frequent meals

■ Keep a food diary and cut out foods that trigger symptoms

■ Lose excess belly fat

■ Watch sugar intake if you are diabetic

When To See The Doctor

Visit your primary care provider when symptoms interfere with your sleep, ability to tolerate meals and daily life. They may recommend medication or refer you to a specialist for testing.

“Often the problem can be diagnosed with a simple gastric emptying test to measure how long it takes for food to leave your stomach,” Schneider said. If dietary changes and medications aren’t effective, surgery may provide relief. Common procedures include:

■ Endoscopic techniques for GERD: Surgeons use an endoscope to sew small stitches to tighten your esophageal sphincter muscle to reduce acid reflux. Endoscopic radiofrequency is another option. Controlled energy is transferred into the sphincter muscles making them tighter to prevent reflux.

■ Per-oral pyloromyotomy (POP) procedure for gastroparesis: This scarless surgery is performed through the mouth, so no incisions are needed. Using an endoscope, surgeons open the stomach muscle to allow food and acid to empty from the stomach more effectively. •