Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, otherwise known as GERD, is a digestive condition involved with the improper flow of stomach acid, or sometimes bile. GERD occurs when stomach acid or bile refluxes into the esophagus. As you can imagine, this backwards flow of acid irritates the esophagus, thus causing the signs and symptoms of GERD.
While they may be typically confused with each other, heartburn and GERD are two completely different occurrences. After all, occasional heartburn is a completely normal, and even common, occurrence. By monitoring the foods you eat and taking over the counter medications, such as antacids, you should be able to monitor occasional heartburn. If you begin to experience more frequent and severe heartburn, you should discuss this with your doctor, as you could actually be experiencing the signs and symptoms of GERD.
The first step in attempting to treat GERD will be to provide you with over the counter medications. When using medications, relief should be experienced within several weeks. If you are still experiencing the signs and symptoms of GERD after this time period, you should speak with your doctor. Your doctor may first recommend prescription medications. If this still proves to be unsuccessful, you doctor will provide you with the final option: reflux surgery. Since reflux surgery is a more radical option, it is usually only considered once all other options have been exhausted.
There are several options when it comes to reflux surgery for patients continuing to suffer from the symptoms of GERD. One such reflux surgery is known within the medical community as EndoCinch. The premise of this reflux surgery is simple: creating a barrier within the esophagus in order to prevent the backwashing of stomach acid or bile. The machine used in the completion of this procedure is actually similar to a sewing machine. This machine places stitches along the already weak sphincter, which is the root of the problem. Once the stitches are in place, they are then tied together, thus creating a barrier within the esophagus. With this type of reflux surgery, the stomach acid will be unable to pass through the barrier, effectively eliminating the signs and symptoms of GERD.
The EndoCinch is not the only reflux surgery available to those suffering from GERD. Other surgeries, such as the Stretta system and Nissen fundoplication, are being successfully performed on patients suffering from GERD. If you are experiencing severe symptoms of GERD that are preventing you from living a full life, you should talk with your doctor about undergoing reflux surgery.