A big part of both diagnosing and treating your reflux is understanding your symptoms. Heartburn journals help identify the foods and bad habits that trigger your heartburn, in addition to telling your doctor more about whether you have a chronic condition. There are many benefits to keeping a heartburn journal, but here are five reasons why we recommend it to patients:
Read MoreThere are a number of different tests used to diagnose GERD, all of which we perform here at Tampa Bay Reflux Center. Which tests we use is based off each patient’s individual case and the severity of their symptoms, chances are that if GERD is suspected, however, you’ll be scheduled for at least one of the following procedures:
Read MoreWe’re all familiar with acid reflux. It’s one of the most on-the-rise ailments in the United States, with approximately 1 in 5 Americans experiencing weekly symptoms and over 60 million Americans experiencing symptoms at least once a month. Acid reflux happens when stomach acid splashes back up into the esophagus. It can be caused by situational occurrences (such as eating a very large meal) or as the result of a weakened lower esophageal sphincter.
Whether your reflux is occasional or frequent, there’s no denying that it’s incredibly uncomfortable. Acid reflux can present with a number of different symptoms, but the three most common signs of acid reflux are heartburn, regurgitation, and dyspepsia.
Read MoreYou 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.
Read MoreAt 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.
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