You may have heard someone refer to “Barrett’s Esophagus” at some point in your life, but believe it or not they weren’t talking about their cousin’s internal physiology. Barrett’s Esophagus is actually a medical condition. It’s a serious complication of GERD that can result in patients, causing the normal tissue lining of their esophagus to change to tissue that resembles the lining of the intestine.

Although having GERD makes you a candidate for Barrett’s esophagus, it only occurs in a small number of patients. Approximately 10% of people who suffer from chronic symptoms of GERD will develop Barrett’s esophagus over their lifetime.

AdminFebruary 10, 2017Barrett's Esophagus, what is barrett's esophagus, symptoms of barrett's esophagusComment

Understanding Achalasia: Definition, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

At this point, most of us are familiar with GERD, a condition in which acid splashes back up from the stomach into the esophagus, resulting in frequent reflux. GERD is caused by a weakened lower esophageal sphincter, the valve between your stomach and esophagus. When the valve isn’t tight enough, it allows acid and food to travel back up.

Most surgeries used to combat GERD involve tightening the LES, but it’s all about finding the right balance. Tighten it too much, and you’ll find yourself dealing with the disorder on the other end of the spectrum: achalasia.

LINX® 101: Is LINX The Solution To Your GERD Issues?

Choosing which anti-reflux surgery is best for you can be difficult, and where these procedures vary the most significantly is in other areas like the pros, cons, recovery details, and cost. Here’s the breakdown for LINX® Reflux Management System:

AdminJanuary 19, 2017linx procedure, linx procedure for reflux, what is linx, pros of linx, cons of linx Comments

5 Ways Getting Anti-Reflux Surgery Will Change Your Life In 2017

There are many different ways to treat GERD, but anti-reflux surgery is by far the best way to efficiently relieve symptoms long-term because it’s the only method that actually treats the root cause of your GERD. Surgery is a scary word, but the anti-reflux surgeries we perform at Tampa Bay Reflux Center are minimally invasive, and the positive impacts they’ll have on your overall health and quality of life are well worth it. Getting anti-reflux surgery will change your life in a number of ways, but here are five key areas of your life where you’ll see the impacts:

The 3 Most Common Heartburn Medication Types (And Why None Of Them Might Be Right For You)

We’re all familiar with the narrative. You wake up at night with heartburn and an upset stomach wondering when you will get back to sleep. During the day after you eat you experience bloating, gas, indigestion, or discomfort. Your doctor tells you to you to try heartburn medications to control the symptoms, but you get to the store and there and hundreds of options. What type is really best for you, and should you even be taking medication in the first place?

AdminNovember 30, 2016heartburn medication, medications for heartburn, PPI's, side effects of PPI'sComment