Excerpt from an article by Gastroenterologist Jonathan LaPook
If you don't have classic symptoms of reflux you may still have acid bubbling up from the stomach into the esophagus, a condition called "gastro-esophageal reflux disease" (GERD). Over the past decade, research has suggested that acid reflux can cause atypical symptoms such as cough, hoarseness, sore throat, asthma, and even chronic sinusitis. GERD can also cause chest pain, especially if the acid causes the muscle in the esophagus to go into spasm.
Bonnie - if any of the symptoms Dr. LaPook suggest are chronic and have not been ameliorated, GERD should be a consideration. Dr. LaPook goes on to mention that he tries lifestyle medication first with his patients, which is always preferable to reflux medication.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
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Most of the “damage” of GERD occurs at night when patients are lying in bed and asleep!!!!!
Decreased Salivation – saliva contains a natural bicarbonate that actually reduces the acid levels in the stomach.
Decreased Swallowing
Decreased Gravity Mediated Drainage – lying flat does not allow gravity to keep the contents of the stomach in its place.
Decreased Perception of Heartburn – sleep paralysis.
which leads to:
Increased and prolonged exposure of the esophagus to acid reflux - Often without patient arousal.
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