Heartburn Relief

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid-reflux disease, affects about 50 million people in the U.S. GERD can cause painful swallowing, nausea, heartburn and can even lead to cancer, in some cases. It's particularly bad at night when a person lies down causing painful, sleepless nights.

Reflux happens when the valve between your stomach and esophagus do not properly close. Many people suffering from GERD try antacids or prescriptions, which block the production of acid in the stomach and also protect the esophagus from damage. In addition to trying medication, some people try eating smaller meals, sleeping on an incline and eliminating acidic foods from their diet to help alleviate symptoms.

However, when medication and lifestyle changes don't provide relief, it may be time to consider surgical treatment for GERD.

Diagnosing Esophagitis ( inflammation of esophagus ) is important and requires treatment to avoid progression to Barrett’s esophagus, which can a harmful condition. The most common surgery for GERD is fundoplication, which repairs the hiatal hernia and wraps the top part of the stomach around the end of the esophagus to reinforce the lower esophageal sphincter.

The good news is that surgical procedures aimed at relieving GERD and chronic heartburn can often be minimally invasive. This type of procedure is less jarring to the system and can offer faster recovery and less downtime.